hom we rescued so kindly
from the mother sub are going to get the same medicine that we do."

He paused for a moment to let the import of his words sink home.

"But, Herr Schmidt, we do not propose to stay down here and wait for
death to claim us," he continued calmly. "Life is sweet to us just
as it is sweet to you. We are all here together, prisoners and
captors, and if we live you live; if we die you die.

"Now here is what I propose to do. This, as you see, is a former
U-boat of your navy that fell into our hands. You are a brave German
captain and I am sorry to have had to sink your ship. But there is a
way that you can save yourself and the men who survived with you.

"We are going to ascend in a few minutes. You are to open this
conning tower and call out to the commander of this destroyer overhead
that your U-boat has accidentally stumbled into this net. I am
going to stand right here beside you in the conning tower with this
revolver pressed squarely between your shoulders. We understand
your language and can hear every word you say. If you decline to
obey orders or make one false move you die instantly. You are going
to direct your men here in the hold to work themselves out on the
deck of the _Monitor_ fore and aft. Mr. Hammond will go with the party
forward, Mr. Wainwright aft. They will be armed, with instructions
to shoot the first man who seeks to give an alarm. Your men will cut
the cables and release this vessel.

"And now, what do you say? Either comply with our plan or stay here
and die with us."

Herr Schmidt blinked for a full minute at the electric bulb over the
compass. Then he looked from McClure to Jack and then at Ted, the
trio of American officers gazing intently at their prisoner, grim
determination written on their faces. He must have read in their
eyes their willingness to die rather than submit tamely to surrender,
for he turned in a moment to McClure and said:

"I vill do as you command."

McClure at once directed Jack and Ted to get down into the hold and
change into the uniform of petty German officers, several such
costumes having been found in the _Monitor_ at the time of her capture.
At the same time McClure ordered the German prisoners brought into
the control chamber where he had Bonte, the wireless man, explain
the situation to them in detail. Jack and Ted returned shortly and
all was in readiness for the daring ruse.

"Remember, now, the first man who