"That occurred to me, sir," Dave admitted, "and at first I couldn"t find the answer, but at last I did."
"I shall be glad to hear that answer."
"The submarine, let us suppose, sir, discharges one torpedo with such accuracy as to sink the British battleship. Why could not another torpedo be fired immediately, which would not strike, but would rise to the surface and be afterwards identified when found as an American torpedo? For a torpedo that does not strike and explode can be so adjusted that it will afterwards sink or rise and float. And this torpedo that rises can be of American pattern."
"But where would the plotters secure an American torpedo?" demanded Admiral Timworth.
"The plotters, if they had a secret factory, could make some torpedoes of the American type, provided they had obtained the services of a draftsman and workmen familiar with the American torpedo."
"That could be accomplished, in this wicked old world of ours," nodded Admiral Timworth, after an interval of deep thought. "I won"t declare that I think it really has been done. Yet your various reports to me, Mr. Darrin, convince me that plotters really intend to sink a British battleship and lay the blame at our country"s door. And such a deed might really provoke English clamor for war with our country."
In the Admiral"s quarters a long silence followed.
At length the fleet commander looked up.
"Captain Allen," he asked, "what do you think of Mr. Darrin"s surmise?"
"It looks probable to me," said the "Hudson"s" commanding officer promptly.
"It looks likely to me, also," sighed Admiral Timworth.
Then the famous old sea-dog brought his clenched fist down on his desk with a bang.
"Malta shall be our next stop," he declared. "We shall see whether any band of plotters can put such a plot through while we are watching!
All mankind would shudder at such a tragedy. All the world would side with England and condemn the United States and her Navy! Gentlemen, I now believe that Mr. Darrin has revealed the details of a plan that will be tried. We must prevent it, gentlemen! We shall prevent it--or some of us will lose our lives in the effort to stop it! Darrin, you shall have your chance in helping us to stop it. Mr. Dalzell, you, too, shall have your chance! And now--Malta."
CHAPTER XVIII
SURIGNY"S NEXT MOVE
In the Grand Harbor, overlooked by the town and fortress of Valetta, on the island of Malta, there lay at anchor the British dreadnaught "Albion," the cruiser "Wrexham" and the gunboat "Spite."
Less than half a mile away lay the American battleships "Hudson" and "Allegheny" and the cruiser "Newton."
It was early evening now. During the day, soon after the arrival of the American craft, the usual visits of courtesy had been exchanged between the two fleets.
Admiral Barkham, of His Majesty"s Navy, received a most disagreeable shock while in conference in Admiral Timworth"s quarters. In other words, he had been accurately informed of all that was so far known to the American fleet commander.
"But it is impossible," declared Admiral Barkham. "Quite impossible!"
"It would seem so," replied Admiral Timworth. "Yet the outcome will be the best proof in the matter. Sir, with your help, I propose to catch that submarine, should she appear in these waters."
"She will not appear," declared the Englishman. "I am convinced that such a thing is impossible. Only madmen would undertake to accomplish such a horrible thing. True, we have enemies who employ submarines in this war, but they do not dare to use them in attacking battleships.
Nor would plotters without the backing of a government dare try it."
Then Admiral Timworth caused Ensigns Darrin and Dalzell to be summoned. They came. Admiral Barkham listened to their story, his gaze all the time fixed on their earnest faces.
It was impossible to doubt the word of two such intelligent young officers. Admiral Barkham found his doubts vanishing. He was prepared to admit that such a crime as he had heard discussed might be in course of planning.
"Of course I know the fellow Gortchky," admitted Admiral Barkham, "and also that trouble-breeder, Dalny. Yet this is something amazingly more desperate than they have ever attempted before. I now admit, sir,"
turning to Admiral Timworth, "that there is good reason to suppose that such a plot may be afoot."
"The "Maine" was sunk in Havana Harbor," rejoined the American Admiral, dryly. "That incident sent two nations to war. Might not something like the "Maine" affair be attempted here in Valetta Harbor?"
Sitting with bowed head the British admiral looked most uncomfortable.
"At all events," he said, "it is certainly a matter of duty for the officers of both fleets to be on the lookout, and for them to work in concert. Yet I still find it all but impossible to believe what my judgment tells me might be possible."
"You are going to advise the officers of your fleet, then?" asked Admiral Timworth.
"I think so," replied the Englishman slowly.
"In the American fleet," said Admiral Timworth, "very few officers will be told outside of those who are going to be charged with keeping a lookout for the submarine."
At a sign Dave and Dan withdrew, leaving the two fleet commanders in earnest conversation.
"It"s hard for an Englishman to conceive of such a crime as being possible, isn"t it?" asked Dan, with a melancholy grin.
"Perhaps it"s to the honor of his manhood that he cannot believe in it," Dave answered gently, as the chums sat in the latter"s quarters.
Dave and Dan had been excused from ship duty on account of other duties that were likely to be a.s.signed to them at any time.
[Ill.u.s.tration: "Admiral Barkham listened to their story."]
Half an hour after the chums left the Admiral"s quarters an orderly summoned them to Captain Allen"s office.
"Both admirals are convinced," said Captain Allen, when Dave and Dan had reported, "that the crime, if it is to be attempted, will be tried at night. As there are still a few hours before dark Admiral Timworth wishes you to take one of the launches and go alongside the British flagship. There will you find three or four young British officers ready to join you. You will all go ash.o.r.e in Valetta and remain there until nearly dark. You will circulate about the town, as sight-seers usually do. While ash.o.r.e you will keep your eyes open for glimpses of the Gortchky-Dalny plotters and their subordinates, whom you may find there. Admiral Timworth particularly desires to know whether any of that unsavory crew have reached Malta."
The launch being ready alongside, Dave and Dan, both in uniform, went at once over the side. They were soon alongside the "Albion," and a voice from deck invited them aboard. There the officer of the deck introduced them to four young English officers. Three minutes later the party went aboard the launch, and headed toward sh.o.r.e.
Outside of the forts and garrison buildings the town is a small one, though at this time there were several places of amus.e.m.e.nt open on two of the princ.i.p.al streets.
Through these places the party strolled, seemingly bent only on having a good time.
"Have you seen any of the bally spies?" murmured one of the young English officers, Whyte by name.
"Not a sign of one," Dave answered in a low tone.
"What if they"re not here?" persisted Whyte.
"It may be that none of them will show up at Malta," Darrin answered.
"Or it may be that those who do come will come only on that submarine we are looking for."
"I would like to meet one of those plotters," grumbled Dorcliffe, another of the English party and the possessor of a bulky frame and broad shoulders.