"Not while the United States pocket-book is such a fat one, and so well built for paying war expenses," grinned Eph. Then his look became more solemn, as he added:
"But we don"t want ever to get into a naval condition where it will be easy for some other country to s.n.a.t.c.h that fat pocket-book out of our hands."
"Let"s go along, fellows. Drowning and confusion to all possible foes afloat," proposed Hal, the one who could never see "war" on the horizon.
"After a winter on hot sodas, it"ll be a relief to know that the druggist put in icecream soda to-day."
So the three boys turned and made their way to the drugstore. While they were exploring with spoons the bottoms of their gla.s.ses, the street door opened. Herr Professor Radberg looked in, then came in, beaming condescendingly on the young men.
"Ach! You young men are just the ones I wish to see," he exclaimed, resting one hand on Eph"s shoulder, the other on Hal"s.
"Lots of folks will pay for that privilege," declared Eph, solemnly.
"Yes? Well, I will pay, too--you shall see. I shall look for you at the hotel, in just one hour. One hour--remember."
"Have you a telescope?" inquired Eph, calmly.
"A telescope. Eh?" inquired the German. "What for?"
"You might need it in looking for us," Eph replied.
"Then, in one hour, I shall see you--at the hotel!"
"You"ll be lucky, if you do," grinned Eph.
"Eh? I do not know that I understand," responded Herr Professor Radberg, slowly.
"If you"re figuring on seeing us," Eph went on, gravely, "I"m afraid you"re in for bad news."
"Bad news? Ach! What do you mean, young man?"
"Just what I said," replied Eph.
Professor Radberg looked so puzzled that Hal Hastings broke in, quietly:
"Professor, unless I"m much in error, you want to see us about a proposition that we enter the German naval service."
"Hush! Not so loud," warned Radberg, looking suspiciously around.
"There"s nothing we have to keep quiet about," Hal went on. "You have already spoken to our captain, Jack Benson, about this matter."
"Ach! Yes."
"And Jack has refused."
"Your captain is a fool!" cried the German.
"Then we serve a fool, because he"s our captain," retorted Hal, quietly, though there was a flash in his eyes.
"I shall look for you two at the hotel in one hour," declared the German, impressively.
"My friend, Mr. Somers, has already told you that you"ll be using your eyesight to poor advantage, then," Hal answered.
"What do you mean?"
"Why, I mean, Professor, that you can"t possibly persuade us to go to Germany and tell your people anything that we know about the Pollard submarine boats, or any other type."
"But you shall be well paid!"
"Professor, what would be your price for selling out your country to the United States?" asked Hal, gazing fixedly at the German.
"You insult me!" cried the German, his face growing red. "I am a patriot."
"Yet, you insult us by thinking that we would sell our country," went on Hal, coolly.
"Are you two going to be as big fools as your captain?" demanded Herr Professor Radberg, almost incredulously.
"Bigger!" promised Eph, with a grin.
"Ach! Well, we shall talk this all over when you come to the hotel in an hour," replied the German. He turned and left the store.
"Now, I don"t doubt," mocked Hal, "he has gone away firm in the belief that we"ll keep his appointment."
"He"ll wake up after a while," laughed Eph Somers.
After indulging in a second ice cream soda the submarine boys started down the street toward the Farnum shipyard where the Pollard boats were built.
As they pa.s.sed a street corner they heard a cautious:
"Hss--sst!"
"Now, who threw that our way?" demanded the irrepressible Eph, turning swiftly. Then he added, in a tone so low that only his comrades could hear:
"Say, fellows, I"ll bet that cost something!"
"That" was, a rather undersized little man, of perhaps thirty. Dark of hair, and sparkling of eye, the stranger"s rather pallid face was partly covered, in front, by a short goatee, of the French "imperial" sort, and a moustache whose points were waxed out in fierce military fashion.
It was the stranger"s apparel that had attracted Eph"s notice particularly. The stranger was arrayed almost exquisite fashion; his clothes were of finest texture and latest Parisian type. His little, pointed shoes were almost as dainty as a girl"s. Though the day was warm the stranger was gloved, and handled a cane in the head of which a handsome amethyst shone.
"I wonder how that got through the custom house?" was Eph Somers"s next undertoned question.
"Ah, good morning, gentlemen," greeted the stranger, coming toward them, all smiles and bows. "Av I have not med ze mistake, zen I am address ze torpedo boys."
"Right-o," drawled Eph. "Regular human torpedoes, as touchy as gun-cotton. Why, I am due to explode this moment!"
Though the stranger looked puzzled at first, his face rapidly broke into a cordial smile.
"Oh, ah! I understand. You mek what is call ze American joke, eh? You have little fun wiz me."