"Meppy dot vas a lucky t'ing," vouchsafed Carl, "seeing as how Pons iss madt pecause ve vouldn't go afder der _Pom_ mit der _Grampus_."
"That's just what we did, though, although we didn't intend making any such move. We shall now have the pleasure of turning the _Pom_ over to Captain Pons."
Making their way through the bulkhead door, Matt, Dick, and Carl gained the hatch, threw it open, and crawled out on the submarine's deck.
The _Pom_ was lying between the _Grampus_ and the _Salvadore_. When Matt, Dick, and Carl showed themselves there were loud cheers from Glennie and Speake. Pons, on the bridge of the war ship, could be seen jumping up and down like a pea on a hot griddle, waving his hands and yelling. The war ship was too far away for the boys to hear what Pons said.
"I'd about given you fellows up!" exclaimed Glennie. "When that confounded tow line parted, my hopes parted with it. We saw you sink and throw the Japs into the water, and we were sure you'd gone down to stay."
"The Japs got ashore, did they?" asked Matt.
"Well, Glennie, come along here and take us off. I want to go to the war ship and make a report to Captain Sandoval."
Glennie brought the _Grampus_ close to the French boat, and the three boys transferred themselves to their own craft.
"I vouldn't trade vone oof der _Grampuses_ for a tozen of der _Poms_," asserted Carl, as they were borne away in the direction of the _Salvadore_.
"I don't know how seven Japs ever stowed themselves away inside the _Pom_," muttered Dick. "They must have been packed in there like sardines."
"They managed to do a pretty fair amount of work, too," said Matt. "Not the least of it was lassoing me and pulling me into the water."
As the _Grampus_ approached the war ship, Captain Sandoval leaned from the bridge with his megaphone.
"Motor Matt, king of the motor boys!" he shouted. "Ah, ha, _amigo_, you are as full of surprises as the egg is of meat."
Captain Pons failed to join Captain Sandoval in his amiable sentiment. Pons shook his fist.
"R-r-rascal!" he shouted. "He is mos' contemptible!"
"Throw over your sea ladder, captain," called Matt; "I want to come aboard and talk with you."
"_Gracias!_" cried Sandoval. "I am delighted, _amigo_."