"Offense? What did he do?"
To the whole party Jack explained how Kamanako, that same morning, had been caught spying upon the controlling mechanisms of the submarine boat.
All the young skipper"s hearers were satisfied, then, to leave the j.a.panese there to work his own way out, since no one feels any sorrow over the punishment of a spy.
"Gunpowder and doughnuts! But you did get square," chuckled Eph, as the submarine party turned back to the automobiles.
"So that j.a.panese was a spy, you said?" murmured Mlle. Nadiboff, in a low tone, as they walked along.
"Yes, beyond a doubt," Jack a.s.sured her.
"It must seem strange to be a spy," murmured the young woman. "It must give one a strange feeling."
"Yes, and a mighty mean feeling," agreed Jack, coolly.
As he spoke he raised his eyes carelessly to her face. He did not make the glance so significant as to betray his real thoughts.
Mlle. Nadiboff did not flinch nor change color under that brief scrutiny.
Instead, she appeared to be almost lost in thought as she walked along.
Suddenly she clutched at the young captain"s arm.
"I wonder if you would do something very great, to please me?" she murmured, questioningly.
"I"d certainly like to have you try me," responded Jack Benson, in an equally low tone. He spoke the truth, too, for he believed that this charming but dangerous companion was scheming some sudden move in her plans as, a spy. He wanted to find out what that move would be. Above all, if it were possible, he wanted to get knowledge of which foreign country she represented.
"Won"t you contrive to drive alone with me in my car, when we reach it?" she whispered, coaxingly.
"And leave your chauffeur behind, also?" asked Jack, smiling.
"That will not be necessary. I do not mind him. But I have much that I wish to say to you, my Captain. As for your friend--pardon me, but he is dull, and--"
"Quiet, I think you mean, Mademoiselle," interposed Jack. "Hal"s worst enemy, if he had one, would hardly call him dull."
"Anyway, my Captain," murmured the young woman, "he does not interest me, and I do want a few words with you."
"This charming young spy," muttered Benson quickly, to himself, "is beginning to feel that I"m not enough interested to be coaxed away from my duty by flatteries. I take it she means to show her real hand, and try to play it in earnest. If that"s the case, I want to know what she is going to say."
Aloud he replied:
"It will be easy enough to send my friend away with the others, Mademoiselle. When we reach the automobile all I shall have to do will be to look straight at him."
"Ah! You have a code of signals--you two?" Mlle. Nadiboff laughed, delightedly.
"A code?" repeated Jack. "No; we have never needed one. But my chum is an unusually bright and quick young man."
CHAPTER IX
"DOG, WHO IS YOUR MASTER?"
Seeing Jack and the young Russian woman so interested in their talk, the others had gradually strolled away from them.
Hennessy had already succeeded in securing an invitation to return to Spruce Beach in Mr. Farnum"s hired auto.
Hal Hastings presently turned, as though to step over to Mlle. Nadiboff"s car, but he caught a swift look from Jack, and turned back. Hal had not yet heard of the grave suspicion against the young woman, and could not guess what this move of his chum"s meant. Hastings, however, was swift to take the hint.
"You have not overstated your friend"s intelligence," murmured the young Russian gleefully. "At a short look from you he retreats."
"Oh, Hal and I always understand each other," smiled Jack.
"That is very interesting. And yet I do not like Mr. Hastings as I like you," replied the young woman.
She looked at him with a friendly, little flash in her eyes. Had Jack been a few years older, and not warned, he might have been snared by this experienced flirt. As it was, he did not take the trouble to answer her last little speech.
Just before they stepped into the car Mlle. Nadiboff uttered a few quick words, in some foreign tongue, to her man at the steering wheel. The auto sped away. Jack noted only, at first, that they were now going further from Spruce Beach. The road down which they drove, however, was a beautiful one, and the submarine boy did not much mind where they went, provided he could find out how Mlle. Nadiboff meant to make the approach against his loyalty to the submarine company.
"Do you know, my Captain, that you are hardly a flattering escort?"
began Mlle. Nadiboff, after they had whirled along for a mile or more.
"Why not?" Jack inquired, bluntly.
"Have you noticed how I seem to please most men?"
"I saw that several were very anxious dance with you last evening, and that, whenever you were seated, men flocked about your chair."
"Why do you suppose they did that?" challenged Mlle. Nadiboff.
"Because you are a very handsome woman, and the men admired you," Benson answered, plainly.
"Ah! Then you think I am handsome?"
"I haven"t a doubt of it," Jack answered.
"Do you admire me?"
The challenge came plain and direct. Mlle. Nadiboff now gazed searchingly into the submarine boy"s eyes.
"I--I think you a very handsome woman to look at," Captain Jack admitted, readily.
"Is that all you have to say?"
"I--I am afraid I do not understand you, Mademoiselle."
"You have no desire to be especially gallant to me? It would cause you no jealousy if you, saw that I preferred the company of other men?"