The return trip was made without incident.  The wounded were hurried aboard the ship where their injuries could be attended to.  The unwounded prisoners were promptly locked up below with the other captives.  Then Frank and Jack, accompanied by young Cutlip, went to Jack’s cabin.  The third officer held the bridge.

Frank gave an account of the events of the night as briefly as possible.  When he had concluded, Cutlip again asked: 

“Will you release my father now, sir?”

“Certainly,” said Jack.  “You have borne yourself right bravely, and we have much to thank you for, as has your country.  It is too bad that your father is not of a different stripe.”

The boy’s face flushed.

“He’s a good father in many ways, sir,” he said, “but he seems to be scared to death of the Germans, especially of their submarine boats.”

“We’ll have him up here before we let him go,” said Jack.  “Mr. Hetherton, pass the word to have; Cutlip brought to my cabin.”

Lieutenant Hetherton left the cabin.  He returned a few moments later accompanied by two sailors, who walked on either side of the older Cutlip.  The man was still bound.

“Remove his bonds,” Jack instructed.

Cutlip’s hands were released, and he rubbed them together as he eyed the group in the cabin.  His eyes rested on his son.

“So!” he exclaimed, “I had an idea you were at the bottom of this.”

“But, father—­” began the boy.

“I’ll attend to you later,” said the father, “not that I’ll have need to, probably, for the Germans will attend to both of us.  What ails you, anyhow?  Don’t you know that the Germans eventually will be masters of the world?  If we stand in with them, it may help.”

“The Germans will never be masters of the world,” said Jack.  “You are laboring under a delusion, Cutlip.  Your son is a brave boy.  Not only did he warn us of the presence of a German submarine off the coast, but he rendered such other assistance that the entire crew has been either killed or captured.”

Cutlip showed his surprise.

“You can’t mean it!” he exclaimed.  “Why, how could you overcome them.  They are supermen.  Ever since the war started I have been reading about them.  They are wonderful fighters—­marvelous.”

“Your trouble, Cutlip,” said Frank, “is that you have read too much about them.  I know that the country has been flooded with German propaganda, but I’d no idea it had affected anyone like that.”

“But—­” Cutlip began.

Jack silenced him with a gesture.

“You’ll have to change all your ideas now, Cutlip,” he said.  “You see that the German is not a superman.  We have beaten them.  Besides, your country is at war with Germany.  Only a traitor, or a coward, would refuse to help his country.”

Cutlip seemed a bit startled.

“I guess that’s true,” he said at last.  “Yes, I guess you’re right.”