They found that he was rather a small man, with a cunning face. He did not look very much like a German, and possibly had been picked out for his hazardous pursuit on that very account.
To their surprise he addressed them in the best of English.
"I am an American citizen, you must know, and I have the papers to prove it. My name is Hans Larsen and I came from Sweden many years ago."
"Oh! is that so?" remarked Frank, who had lately read that many Germans across the sea had been able to secure the naturalization papers belonging to others in order to cross to Sweden or Italy without being taken prisoner by the English naval men, and Frank rightly guessed the spy had fortified himself in that way so as to have some means for escaping death in case of capture.
"Then what were you doing hidden in that locker?" demanded Billy.
"I have no money, and I was hungry," said the man. "I came here to pick up something I could sell for a few sous, and get some bread. Then I heard voices and afraid to be seen I crawled under there. Let me go and I shall never bother you again."
"They say a lame excuse is better than none," he remarked, "but when Frank pulled that fierce-looking gun out of your pocket I saw a bright coin fall to the floor. Here it is, and a gold coin in the bargain. An English sovereign at that. I wonder why anyone should go hungry long in Dunkirk these days with all that money in his pocket? Don't try to trick us, my man. We know why you were hidden in that locker, and you don't need to be told what a spy can expect when caught in the act."
The man shut his teeth hard together, and gave a little groan, but said nothing. He evidently expected that the fate he may have dared so often had at last found him out.
"What's the next thing on the program, Frank?" asked Billy.
"I must go to town and see Major Nixon," came the prompt reply.
"You mean so as to hand this prisoner over to his charge, don't you?"
"I want to get in touch with the civil authorities, and make certain arrangements looking to his detention for several days," explained Frank.
The spy started and looked eagerly at the speaker. His dry lips moved as though he were trying to voice the sudden hope that had flashed through his brain; but no sound followed. Still it could be seen that his despair was not as complete as before.