Jack.

"Prize?" repeated Professor Radberg. "You will say so!"

Then, leaning forward once more, and speaking in his most impressive
voice, Herr Professor Radberg continued:

"Herr Benson, we are going to take you into the German Navy!"

The Professor now leaned back to watch the effect of his words.

"Are you going to do it when I'm awake?" asked Jack, curiously.

"Nein! I do not understand you."

"Are you going to take me in by force, or wait until you catch me
asleep?" questioned Captain Jack Benson.

"Ach! Do not be silly, boy!"

"I might say the same to you, Professor," replied Jack Benson,
composedly, "but we'll let it pass. How are you going to get me into
the German Navy, and what are you going to do with me after you get me
there?"

"How?" cried Professor Radberg. "Why we are going to pay you a very
handsome sum of money, and we are going to give you a most honorable
position in our imperial service. And--"

Here Professor Radberg leaned forward once more, lowering his voice
considerably.

"There are three of you boys, all experts at the Pollard works. Well,
we are going to take all three of you into the German navy, and we will
do something very handsome for you all."

"The other fellows will be delighted when I tell 'em what's coming their
way," smiled Captain Jack.

"Ach! So? Of course."

"Now, what do you propose to do with us in your navy?" Jack went on.
"Are you going to make officers of us?"

"Officers?" repeated Herr Professor Radberg, slowly. "Well, no, Herr
Benson. We could not exactly do that. Our officers are, as you will
understand, very--what is your English word?--aristocratic. They
could not be quite persuaded to take American commoners as their brother
officers. That you would not expect, of course."

"Certainly not," young Benson agreed. If there was a slight tinge of
sarcasm in his it was lost on the German, whose brow cleared as he went
on, heavily:

"No, no, my young friend; not officers. But you shall all three have
very honorable positions, and handsome sums of money to pay you for
entering our service. We in Germany know the rank which you young men
have won as submarine experts, and we shall not be niggardly, for we
have determined to have you in our service."

"I hope you'll pardon me," proposed young Benson. "There is just one
point that has been overlooked. You tell me that you are authorized
to come to Dunhaven and kidnap my friends and my