The three entered the cabin.  Inside, Frank made out several big sacks scattered about the floor.  “Potatoes,” he said, and looked further.  There he also found an extraordinary amount of salt meats and a bountiful supply of vegetables.

“Looks like your good father had been very busy,” he said to young Cutlip with a smile.  “That’s what the Germans will have the whole world doing for them if we don’t lick ’em.”

“You’re right there, sir,” agreed Lieutenant Hetherton.

“Well,” said Frank, “we’ll leave these things as they are.  It will help divert suspicion from young Cutlip here when the Germans find his father is not on hand.  But I guess there is nothing more we can do now.  Come, we’ll go outside.”

Frank now saw to the disposition of his men.  These, as he had decided, he stationed on three sides of the cabin.  He himself took command of the men on the left, Lieutenant Hetherton commanding the right wing and a sailor named Hennessy the left.  A short time later the sailors who had conducted Cutlip the elder to the Essex returned and took their places.

“Did he go along peaceably?” asked Frank of one of the newcomers.

“Well, he kicked once or twice,” replied the man, “but he went along all the same, sir.”

Frank grinned.

“Just so long as you got him there,” he said.

“Oh, he’s there, all right,” grinned the sailor, “but when I left he was threatening to have the whole American navy down on us and hoping that these German submarines shoot us to little pieces.”

“I think we’ll do most of the shooting, if there is any to be done,” said Frank dryly.

There was silence in the ranks after this, for it was now growing dark and it was possible that the Germans might appear at any moment.  Every man strained his eyes as he peered through the trees.

Inside the cabin a faint light glowed.  Young Cutlip was in there, playing a braver part than could his father, doing his best for his country as enemies threatened her existence.  Frank smiled to himself.

“A nervy kid,” he muttered; “yet, I wish I didn’t have to use him.  I shall take especial care that no harm comes to him.”

He grew silent.

In the distance came the sound of tramping feet—­many of them.  Gradually they drew nearer and directly Frank could hear voices.  Heavy, guttural voices they were and the tongue they spoke was German.

Up to that moment Frank had not been at all sure in his own mind that the Germans would return to the cabin, as they had told the Cutlips.  Nevertheless, here they were, and the lad’s heart leaped high.

“They must be pretty close to starvation to take such chances,” the lad muttered to himself.  “Wonder why they don’t try a raid on one of the nearby towns?  Guess they don’t want to stir up any more trouble than possible, though.  Well, we’ll get ’em.”

Frank peered from his hiding place.  The Germans were in sight now, and approaching the house four abreast.