"No, no!" exclaimed the Lieutenant-Commander, shaking his head. "Not Deutschland--Sverige. That's one result of being a philatelist, Macquare," he added parenthetically. "The old boy evidently understands you, sir," remarked the Lieutenant. "He didn't seem at all chirpy at the prospect of being ordered to Germany." Casting off, the submarine passed across the bows of the _Stor Afan_, and, steadying on her helm, resumed her former course, while the fishing-boat, when last seen, was observed to be hauling in her nets and standing towards the Swedish shore. Lieutenant-Commander Stockdale had barely finished his belated lunch when it was reported to him that Kapitan-Leutnant von Hoppner urgently desired an interview. "Does he, by Jove!" exclaimed the Hon. Derek. "'Urgently desires'--I like that. I'll send for him when I'm ready." It was the Sub's trick with Mr. Macquare, but the Lieutenant-Commander sent a message requesting Fordyce to come to his cabin. Then, having set the log-book within hand's reach, and slipped a marker between the pages relating to R19's passage through the Sound, the Hon. Derek signified that he was agreeable to receive Kapitan-Leutnant von Hoppner in his cabin. The prisoner appeared under the charge of two petty officers. He was in uniform, his saturated clothes having been dried; he had carefully upturned the ends of his bristling moustache and brushed back his yellow hair from his beetling forehead. The Hon. Derek rose to meet his involuntary guest, taking no notice of the fact that von Hoppner bore himself more like victor than vanquished. "Well, Kapitan-Leutnant, for what do you wish to see me?" asked Stockdale, courteously offering the Hun the best chair in the sparely-furnished cabin. "I wish to know," replied von Hoppner, "what you have done with the man who was brought on board this vessel with me?" "Quite a thoughtful request," commented the Hon. Derek. "Naturally any officer worthy of the name would be anxious concerning the welfare of his subordinates. (And you kicked up a shindy because the poor blighter was told off in your precious company," mentally added Stockdale.) The German inclined his head. He was too thick-skinned and puffed up with arrogance to detect the faint tinge of caustic wit in the British officer's words. "As a matter of fact," continued the Lieutenant-Commander, "the man was seriously wounded, as you are doubtless aware. Without proper medical attention his life would be threatened by remaining in the closed compartment of a submarine, so I took what I consider to be the most humane course possible and set him on board a Swedish craft." "You set him on board a Swedish craft!" repeated von Hoppner. "I do not understand." "I made a plain statement," said the Hon. Derek. "If I can elucidate matters----" "I thought you were bound either for Stockholm or Carlscrona," interrupted the German. It was the Hon. Derek's turn to express astonishment. "What made you think so?" he asked.