It must be confessed that Barry was the only one of the men who appeared to give much heed to him.

They seemed to be dazed by the stupendous fact that had been announced to them, and to be adjusting themselves to that fact.
When he had finished his lengthy and excited speech Brand took up the discourse.
"Of course you don't think of going immediately," he said.

"We have this expedition in hand." The men made no reply.

Indeed, they hardly seemed to hear him.
"You don't mean to say," continued Brand with a touch of indignation in his voice, addressing Duff, the recognised leader of the party, "that you would break your engagement with this party, Mr.Duff ?" Duff glanced at him, then looked away in silence, studying the horizon.
The world was to him and to them all a new world within the last few minutes.
His silence appeared to enrage Brand.

He turned to Barry.
"Do you mean to tell me, sir, that you approve of this?
Do you consider it right and fair that these men should break their engagement with us?
We have gone to great expense, we have extremely important interests at stake in this exploration." Barry stood looking at him in silence, as if trying to take in exactly what he meant, then in a low and awed tone he said: "It is war! War with Germany!" "We cannot help that," cried Brand.