“Well,” said Captain Griswold, “you’re a British naval officer and should know something, whether you do or not.  But I’ll tell you right now I hope the submarine doesn’t show up again.”

Nevertheless, Captain Griswold was doomed to disappointment, for the U-87 did reappear.

It was almost 6 o’clock in the evening when all on board were startled by a cry from the lookout.

“Submarine on the port bow, sir.”

Instantly all became confusion on the big merchant ship.  Passengers, of whom there were perhaps fifty, became greatly excited.  Every man on board strapped on a life preserver, and waited for he knew not what.

The fact that, directly astern, the Essex, British destroyer, was in plain sight and trailing them, did not allay their fears.  Came a shot from a gun mounted forward on the submarine, a signal to heave to.

“Obey it,” said Jack, to Captain Griswold, on the bridge.

Captain Griswold ordered his engines stopped.

“I’ll keep out of sight for a moment,” said Jack.  “The commander may come on board.”

He stooped down in the shelter of the pilot house.

The submarine drew close to the Ventura, and a voice hailed Captain Griswold: 

“Thought you’d get away did you, you Yankee pig.”

It was the voice of the German commander.

“Oh, we may get away yet,” said Captain Griswold.

“Don’t depend on the destroyer this time,” shouted the commander of the submarine.  “I see her approaching, but she won’t be soon enough.  I’ll sink you and submerge before she can fire a shot.”

“Well, you big cut throat,” shouted Captain Griswold, losing his temper, “why don’t you do it?”

“You dare to talk to a German officer like that?” thundered the submarine commander.  “You shall be sunk immediately.  But first I wanted a word with you.  I just wanted to tell you what fate I hold in store for you.”

“It’s my opinion,” said Captain Griswold, “that you’re a big bluff, like all the rest of your stripe.”

Meantime, realizing that the German commander did not intend to board the Ventura a second time, Jack crept from the shelter of the pilot house unobserved and stole across the deck until he was beside the rail just above the U-Boat, whose sides almost scraped the Ventura, so close were the two vessels together.

Jack removed his coat and his cap, which he dropped on deck.  Then he stood up in full view of the German submarine commander.  The latter gazed at him carelessly, for without his cap and coat Jack showed no sign of being a British naval officer.

Jack took in the scene about him with a careful eye.  The German commander stood close to the conning tower.  There were perhaps half a dozen men beside him, presumably his officers.  The commander was directly below the spot where Jack stood.

One of the Germans, Jack noticed, kept a close eye on the approaching Essex and from time to time spoke to the commander in a low tone.