"I have an idea that no good for Germany will come from this," said Lord Hastings. "Still," said the prisoner hopefully, "it may be all right. The United States will endeavor to stay out of the war on any pretext. Besides, she is woefully slow to act, as has been proved by her actions toward Mexico. Therefore this may be overlooked." "Don't you believe it," cried Frank hotly. "The United States will protect her citizens and property the world over." "Well," said the German with a scornful smile, "it's about time she began to do it." "What do you mean?" asked Frank taking a step toward the prisoner. "Do you mean we are all cowards?" "Well, hardly that," replied the German, with a faint smile, "but----" "But nothing," cried Frank. "We don't raise such things as cowards in the United States." The German lifted his eyebrows skeptically, and Frank grew angrier. "You'll try us too far some of these days," he said, "and we'll do you like Dewey did some of your ships at Manila. He said: 'Get out of my way and don't interfere with me or I shall send you all to the bottom.'" The German's face flushed. Plainly he also was growing angry. "If you try it," he said, "you'll wish you hadn't." "Why?" demanded Frank. "Do you think you can lick us?" "I don't think there is any question about it!" was the reply. "Well, don't you ever fool yourselves!" exclaimed Frank angrily. "We----" "Here, here," exclaimed Lord Hastings at this juncture, laying a hand upon Frank's arm. "No more of this. Remember, Frank, that this man is a prisoner and should be treated courteously." Frank drew away grumbling. "Then he wants to let my country alone," he protested. The German, also, would have continued the argument, but Lord Hastings settled the matter. "Not another word of this," he said sternly, and Frank and the prisoner bowed to this command. "There she goes," cried Lord Hastings suddenly, pointing to the sinking ship. All gazed toward the vessel. Slowly she rose high in the air, seemed to hang in the very air for a few brief moments, then dived and the waters closed over her. The American Steamship _Bosnia_, torpedoed by a German submarine or shattered by a German mine, sank to the bottom of the North Sea. CHAPTER XXII. IN THE MEDITERRANEAN. "And I guess we might as well sink, also," said Lord Hastings. "Wait a moment," protested the German prisoner. "What are you going to do with me? You remember you promised me my liberty before we entered the Baltic." "That is true," replied Lord Hastings, "but so far no opportunity has presented itself. There has been no chance to fulfill my promise." "Well," said the prisoner, "I am willing to take a chance. Give me a boat and enough provisions for a day, and set me adrift." "But you may not make shore that way," protested Lord Hastings.