Hamerton glanced at his watch. It was just after seven o'clock, at which hour their jailers were wont to bring in the prisoners' breakfasts.
"They've discovered we've broken ship," he said. "Hans and company have found that our cells are empty. Now comes the fun."
It seemed as if the caves in the sandstone cliffs surrounding the Zeppelin station disgorged human beings, for within a few seconds of the alarm being given two hundred men were drawn up in divisions, while their officers were discussing amongst themselves the probable reason for the unexpected summons.
Up ran a portly sergeant-major. He was almost out of breath, yet he spoke in such a loud voice that the Sub was able to interpret every word.
"A message has just come through on the telephone, Herr Major," he announced; "those rascally English spies have escaped. The general orders are that all commanding officers shall post double sentries over all confidential posts; the rest of the men are to be employed in the search. No leave is to be granted until the spies are recaptured."
The major shrugged his shoulders. He was not at all pleased with the telephone message, since he had arranged to spend the following Sunday at Flensburg.
"Why have we not turned out the bloodhounds, sir?" asked a captain. "The scent must be hot."
"All the dogs were taken across to Sandinsel yesterday, Herr Major," announced another officer, a tall, fair-haired subaltern. "Colonel Dietrich wished to try the hounds on a trail laid on the sand."
"And, as a result, we have two English spies roaming over the island," added the major. Then, giving the order to march, he led the four companies under his command up the steep incline. "Now the fun commences," observed Detroit, when all seemed quiet once more. "Thank goodness they have no suspicions that we made our way here!"
"And it's lucky for us that the bloodhounds are away," rejoined Hamerton. "One never knows; they might be able to follow a trail in spite of a couple of ounces of pepper."
Before Detroit could express his opinion a deep baying sound came from the heights above.
Both men looked at each other as if to say: "We counted our chickens before they were hatched;" then, without a word, they made their way to a different part of their place of concealment whence they could command a view of the summit of the artificial cliffs.