From the start the German officer made himself, perfectly at home, and, although the boys had thought of remonstrating, he was allowed the freedom of all parts of the ship. He went below, when, he felt so disposed, and returned when he was ready. "It seems to me that our gallant colonel is taking things almost too free and easy," Frank had remarked to Jack, at one of their daily conferences. "So he is," Jack had made reply, "I'll have to, speak to him about it." He did so, and was somewhat taken aback at the officer's manner of receiving the rebuke. "I meant no harm," he replied, with an air offended dignity, "but, of course, if you do not wish me to go below, I shall not do so." However, he had quickly seemed to forget this and neither lad, because of his apparent sensitiveness, had the heart to remind him of it. It had just struck four bells two days later a Jack stood on the bridge alone. Frank had gone to his cabin and lain down. He felt somewhat ill, and decided that a rest was what he needed to put him in condition again. Jack, having just ordered a slight alteration in their course to the man at the wheel, signaled the engine-room for more speed. There was no response to the signal, and Jack tried it again. Still there wits no response. "That's funny," said the lad to himself, "the bell was working all right a moment ago. Guess I'll go and see what's the matter." He called the second officer, who took the bridge while Jack went below. As he made his way to the engine-room, he was brought to a sudden stop at the door. He heard a familiar voice inside, speaking in a tone of great satisfaction. "Colonel Von Roth, or I'm much mistaken," Jack fold himself, laying a hand on the door. "I wonder--" Struck with a sudden thought, he drew back suddenly, and then laid his ear to the door. "You dogs!" came the colonel's voice from within. "Thought to get away with this ship, did you? Well, I'll show you!" Without a moment's hesitation Jack opened the door and sprang inside. The action almost cost him his life. He had expected to find no enemy but the German officer in the engine-room, but in this he was sadly mistaken. The room was full of men. The colonel had laid his plans carefully, and they had worked out to his satisfaction. In a moment when the attention of the sentry guarding the captives had been attracted elsewhere, Von Roth sneaked up on him from behind and struck him a heavy blow with his fist. Then, tying the prostrate man, the colonel had possessed himself of the guard's key and removed the irons from some of the German prisoners. He did not wait to release all of them, for he was too anxious to try his plan of retaking the ship. Therefore, when he had freed twenty-five men, he led them quickly to the engine-room, thinking first to capture their strategic point and to take care of the rest of the ship's crew later.