er going to remain here also?" questioned Ned.

"I am very sure of it!" smiled the commander. "I believe that several
members of the guard are quite prepared to insist upon his staying here
until the knowledge he now possesses would be of no use to his own
country. Yes," he added, "Mackinder will remain!"

"I hope matters will be arranged so that we shall soon be able to leave
for home," stated Ned. "We are not anxious to leave good company, but we
would like to get away from the scene of so much trouble. We want to
remain strictly neutral, and think the best place for that is at home!"

"I haven't a doubt of your neutrality!" declared the officer heartily.
"You may be assured that I shall do everything to help you. I believe I
can arrange so that certain privileges will be granted. It will not be
necessary, I am sure, to confine you to one of the buildings."

"Thank you!" replied Ned, gratefully. "You are most kind."

"And now, if you please, we will go ashore to meet the officer in charge
of this place," stated the other. "You will like him, I'm sure."

Congratulating themselves on the kindness shown in their behalf the boys
prepared to leave the Sturmvogel. They collected the kits of the four who
had left Amsterdam on the Lena Knobloch. As they gained the dock they
found the small boat in which they had left the schooner. It was
evidently being preserved as evidence of the circumstance of the rescue.

Already the work of provisioning and fitting the vessel was in progress.
The wireless had been busily used during the last few hours of their
voyage to the end that just the supplies needed were waiting at the
wharf. A huge coal barge fitted with a "whirlie" had drawn up alongside.
Great buckets of coal were pouring into the bunkers, while porters
carried all sorts of stores and supplies aboard. Cases of ammunition were
being hoisted aboard and stowed in their proper compartments.

Stepping along the dock, dodging wagons loaded with fresh provisions and
stores, the boys kept pace with their friend, the commander.

Presently they reached one of the buildings given over to the use of
offices. Here they were admitted into a room, where they found the
officer in command of the island.

A short conversation in German served to inform this gentleman of the
situation so far as the commander of the destroyer could report. At the
end of the recital the boys were addressed by the one they had been
brought to visit, who h