"Well, Mr. Benson," broke in Captain Magowan, crisply. "Why do you hesitate?"
"I believe, Captain," Jack went on, "that there are several questions that can yet be asked."
"Ask them, then, Mr. Benson," directed the president of the naval board.
"Yes, sir. Yet I would prefer that the questions be asked on deck, in the presence of the entire crew, and also of the naval officer who had been stationed on this craft during the cruise."
Ensign Pike was the officer of the Navy who had been on board the "Thor."
Pike had remained up on the platform deck during this scene.
"Very good," nodded Captain Magowan. "We will return to the deck. I can see that there are many questions to be asked."
On the deck, on first boarding, Jack Benson had noticed the absence of Fred Radwin. While they were below Jack had caught a glimpse of Radwin in the "Thor"s" engine room.
When the naval board and the others reached the deck Captain Magowan had Captain Driggs, of the "Thor," and the members of the boat"s crew lined up together.
"Have you any questions that you wish to ask, Mr. Benson?" the president of the board inquired.
"Yes, sir. At the time that the torpedo pa.s.sed our boat I would like to know just who of the "Thor"s" complement were below."
"Can you answer that, Mr. Driggs?" demanded Captain Magowan.
Driggs was a bronzed, shrewd-looking man of forty, with a face that looked rather sound and wholesome.
"Yes, sir," replied Driggs, promptly. "Mr. Radwin had volunteered to relieve the man on duty in the engine room. Mr. Radwin was below at the time, sir."
"And who else?"
"No one else at that time, sir."
"I think I can confirm that, Captain," broke in Lieutenant Danvers. "I had just studied the deck of this craft through my marine gla.s.s, and I remember remarking to myself that Radwin appeared to be the only one of this boat"s complement who was not on deck."
Fred Radwin was now summoned, Captain Magowan and Jack both plying him with questions. It all came to nothing, however. Radwin remained wholly cool and gave his inquisitors no satisfaction.
Ensign Pike stated that he had had no knowledge of any torpedo having been driven from the "Thor." Yet Pike admitted that this might very easily have happened without his knowing it, since the discharge of a torpedo would hardly make enough noise to carry from below to the after part of the platform deck.
"But, anyway," insisted John Rhinds, blandly, "you must admit, Captain, that our possession of the full number of torpedoes allowed us is proof positive that we haven"t been firing even one of them."
"That showing is certainly in your favor, Mr. Rhinds," admitted the president of the naval board, coldly. "I cannot see that the evidence at present available allows of my ordering anyone under arrest. I am bound, in view of the fact that suspicion has pointed your way, to state that I intend to leave the corporal and four of the marine privates aboard. On the home cruise a marine sentry will be posted, all the time, close to the after port of your torpedo tube."
"It is humiliating--very," sighed Mr. Rhinds. "Still, I shall be the last to offer any objection to any arrangement that seems wise to the members of the naval board."
The corporal and four of his marines were therefore left under command of Ensign Pike, with instructions to see to it that constant guard was kept by the torpedo tube.
No allusion to the evidence could be made before the members of the cutter"s crew on the way back. Captain Magowan led his own party to the office of the commander of the gunboat.
"Er--gentlemen--" began Magowan, slowly, "I must admit that our most elaborate case of circ.u.mstantial evidence seems to be knocked into a c.o.c.ked hat by the one substantial fact that the "Thor" still has her full number of torpedoes on board."
"Then you don"t believe that torpedo came from the "Thor"s" tube, Captain?" asked Jack Benson.
"I don"t know what I believe," confessed the president of the board, shaking his head. "It seems to be clearly established that no other submarine was near enough to have fired a torpedo to cover the range I have just been informed by Commander Ellis that the recovered torpedo has been examined, and has proved to have contained the full war charge.
More as a matter of form than anything else we will now order the remaining submarine boats alongside, and have them searched for a missing torpedo."
That search was accordingly made, but not one of the boats had a torpedo less than the four that it was supposed to carry.
The object of the lightning cruise having been accomplished, in the destruction of the half-sunken derelict, the order was given to sail back to Groton Bay at less speed than had been used on the outward trip.
As far as evidence went the mystery of the attempt to destroy the "Hastings" appeared to be as big a mystery as ever.
CHAPTER XIX
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FORCED DOOR
It was nearly dark, on the day following, when the submarine flotilla made its way up Groton Bay.
As soon as the craft was at its moorings the "Hastings" was immediately lighter by the going of one pa.s.senger.
Jacob Farnum went post-haste to the hospital, to inquire after David Pollard"s condition.
The inventor was in a good deal of pain, yet cheerful. The surgeons reported that his broken bones were healing slowly.
The chauffeur, too, was coming along as well as was possible, though he had been much worse hurt than had the inventor.
Grant Andrews and his workmen were aboard the "Benson." Half of the party was now prepared to come aboard the "Hastings" whenever called.
"Going ash.o.r.e, Jack?" inquired Eph Somers.
"Not before Mr. Farnum returns. Nor do I believe any of us had better go ash.o.r.e, without his express permission, old fellow," Benson replied.
Three gentlemen who did go ash.o.r.e almost immediately after arrival were the members of the naval board.
Soon after, an order came for the removal of all torpedoes from the Rhinds boats. After that the corporal"s guard was relieved from duty aboard the "Thor."
"And thus ends that chapter of the story, I reckon," grimly ventured Jack, when he saw the gunboat"s cutter convey the corporal"s guard away from the Rhinds submarine.
Jacob Farnum came back in the early evening. Lieutenant Danvers was ash.o.r.e, which left only the regular crew of the "Hastings" on board.
Grant Andrews and his men mounted guard over the two Pollard boats through the night, which left the captain and crew free to sleep--which they did with a royal good will.
No orders came over from the naval board, which fact made it look as though no new tests would be required immediately.
The next forenoon, at about ten o"clock, Eph discovered that the Seawold boat was leaving her moorings. Young Somers watched that lesser rival start down the bay before he dropped below to report the fact to Benson.
"What can it mean?" wondered the young captain, going hastily on deck.
"Is the Seawold craft going into some test that we"re not asked to meet?"