about five to one
`` Wait here until we see what they propose doing , '' Jack ventured . `` I think , '' laughed Ned , `` that we 'll bunch your advice and utilize it all . We 'll hide in some deep spot until we see what they 're up to , and then we 'll fight . '' `` I reckon they are about five to one . '' This from Frank , who preferred meeting the enemy on dry land . `` Oh , we ca n't come to a hand-to-hand battle , '' Ned replied . `` We 've got to fight submarine fashion . ''