pocket, and
his watch from the other, made a brief note on one of his cuffs.

"Has either of you fellows a decent-sized bit of paper about you?" he
asked.

Lethbridge drew his pocket-book from his pocket. "Will a leaf--or the
whole book--be of any use to you?" he asked.

"A couple of leaves will do. Thanks," he replied, as Lethbridge tore
out two and handed them to him. With one of these he constructed a kind
of scale; then, with its aid, he drew a diagram on the other.

"So far as I can make out," he said, "with the help of this rough
diagram, the ship is at this moment twenty-eight and three-quarter miles
east-north-east of us--there, or thereabouts. We will therefore run on
that course for the next two hours and twenty-five minutes--by which
means we shall cut off a few miles--and then we must haul up on the same
course as herself, and make a dead run after her."

Then von Schalckenberg spoke up. "May I be permitted to have a word or
two with Lady Elphinstone?" he asked, addressing Sir Reginald.

"By all means, my dear fellow," answered the baronet. "Here you are."
And he passed over the telephone.

Taking the instrument, the professor adjusted it for use, pressed the
black knob, and the bell began to ring. Almost immediately it ceased
again, however; whereupon the designer of the _Flying Fish_ spoke.

"Are you there, my Lady?" he asked.

"Yes, Professor," came the reply. "I am listening."

"Where are you now, Madame?" asked von Schalckenberg.

"I am still in Ida's cabin," answered her Ladyship.

"Good!" remarked the professor. "Now, please listen very attentively to
what I am about to say. But, tell me first, is Barker still in the
pilot-house?"

"Yes; he is steering the ship, and--I think--trying to find out the use
of all the levers and wheels and things that he sees there."

"Ah!" exclaimed the German, in alarm; "he must be stopped, quick, or
heaven only knows what may happen. Now, please listen. Have you the
courage to steal very quietly up to the foot of the pilot-house
staircase, and do a very simple thing, quickly, before he knows that you
are there, and what you are doing?"

"I have the courage; but I may not have the ability," answered Lady
Olivia. "What is it that you wish me to do?"

"I want you," said von Schalckenberg, "to go to the place I have named,
and stand between the staircase and the bulkhead, or wall, with your
back turned to the stairs. Then, in the bulkhead, i