"Then don't try me too far," said Jack quietly. "To my mind, men like you
and your cowardly followers should be put out of the way the same as a mad
dog; and certainly there is no law against killing a dog."

"I warn you," said the German, taking a step nearer the lad, "to be more
choice in your words."

"Silence!" Jack thundered, "and don't you dare step toward me unless I
tell you to do so." He turned to Frank. "Take those men below and put them
in irons," he ordered.

Frank stepped forward to obey, and again the German commander protested.

"You can't do that," he said. "My men are prisoners of war and as such are
entitled to all the usual courtesies."

"They are, eh?" asked Jack. "Then I'll modify that order a bit,
temporarily, Mr. Chadwick, will you kindly bring irons for this man here,"
and he indicated the German officer. "I want his men and all our
passengers to see how he looks in shackles, which he should have been made
to wear long ago."

Frank hurried away. The German commander, after taking one step back at
Jack's words, stepped quickly forward again. His hand went to his side and
he produced a long knife. Then he sprang.

Jack smiled slightly, stepped quickly to one side and with his left hand
caught the German's knife arm. He twisted sharply, and the knife dropped
to the deck.