“You are right,” said Davis.  “Now, when we take possession of this vessel we will be our own masters.  No one to tell us what to do.  We won’t have to risk our lives for some one else’s gain.  And what booty we can get shall be evenly divided among us.  There is rich prey upon the sea.”

“But first,” said one of the sailors, “to come into possession of this vessel, we shall have to dispose of Commander Bernstorff, his lieutenants, and others of the crew.”

“How,” exclaimed one of the others suddenly, “how if some of the others would join us?  I have no doubt they would if approached in the right way.”

“We don’t want too many,” protested the third.  “The fewer of us, the fewer to share in the spoils.”

“True enough,” said Davis, “but we must have men enough for a crew.  I, of course, shall command.  You three will be my officers.  We must have a crew.”

“How about the English sailors?” asked one of the Germans.  “They must be dissatisfied.  Here they are prisoners and will be kept under guard until the end of the war.  Certainly they should be willing to join us.  It will mean freedom and a share in the rich spoils.”

“With which to retire when the war is over,” put in another.  “Why, we can go to America and live at ease for years to come.”

“Which is my plan exactly,” declared Davis.  “Yes, we must have a crew.  Hans, do you think you could approach these prisoners?”

“Leave that to me, sir,” replied Hans with an evil wink.  “I think I can convince them, sir.”

“Good; but in the meantime, do not talk this among yourselves.  I believe we had better wait until after the end of the expedition we are now on.  Vigilance, probably, will relax then.  In the meantime, we must try and show ourselves to be perfectly loyal to the Kaiser.”

“Very well, sir.”

“All right then,” said Davis.  “You fellows clear out now.  I want to get a little sleep.”

Silently the three conspirators made their way from the traitor’s cabin.  No one saw them go and the success of the plot seemed assured as the U-16 continued on her journey, Lord Hastings, Frank, Jack and the other British aboard unaware and unsuspecting.

Shortly after dusk of the night upon which the German under-sea fleet expected to spring its coup, the U-16 lay upon the calm surface of the water still some distance from the point set for the gathering of the submarine flotilla at the midnight hour, and likewise a considerable distance from Dover.

Explaining his reason for stopping here, Lord Hastings said:  “There may be British patrol boats about—­probably are.  I want you boys to remain in charge here, while I take a boat and try to reach the British authorities.”

“One of us had better go along, sir,” declared Frank.

Lord Hastings considered this a minute.

“I don’t know but you are right,” he finally said.  “Frank shall go.  Jack will take command in my absence.”