"Then what are they there for?" Mrs. Wheaton wanted to know.

Jack and Frank laughed, and Captain Stoneman allowed a smile to wrinkle
the corners of his mouth.

"Well, they won't dare attack us," said Mrs. Wheaton. "If they do the
United States will make Germany pay for it."

"I guess Germany is not worrying about the United States right now,"
said Jack quietly.

"We'll make her worry," declared the woman.

"We're going to declare war and then the Kaiser will wish he had let us
alone. Besides, there are probably American ships of war off the coast
of South America. They will not allow us to be molested by a German
raider."

"But, perhaps they won't be able to help it," mother, said the girl.

"Of course they will be able to help it," said the mother. "Now don't
talk about this foolishness to me any more."

She arose and left the table. Her daughter followed her a few moments
later.

"If the Germans get her they'll find they have caught a tartar,"
declared Jack.

"So they will," declared Captain Stoneman.