hose cards were given to my boys by the Commissioner in person," said
Captain Hardy impressively. "He is keeping in close touch with this
work. I should not want to have to report that you blocked our efforts
and made it possible for these spies to escape."

The change in Lieutenant Gavigan was remarkable. "Crowd on all the
steam you've got, Jim," he shouted to the engineer. Then turning to
Captain Hardy, he said, "Why didn't you tell me you was on police
business? I'll send a wireless message at once for instructions."

Captain Hardy raised his hand in protest. "Impossible!" he said. "If
the Germans should pick it up, everything would be lost. Our success
depends wholly upon the speed and secrecy with which we travel. How
much longer will it take to reach Hell Gate?"

"A half an hour, anyway," said the lieutenant, who was beginning to
look worried. Then he added, "I'm takin' an awful chance, goin' up
there without orders."

"And you're taking a worse one if you refuse to go," rejoined Captain
Hardy sternly.

The lieutenant wavered. Captain Hardy strode into the cabin and seized
a piece of paper. Lieutenant Gavigan, curious, followed him. Rapidly
Captain Hardy wrote a message on the paper.

"Send that to your Commissioner," he said, handing the completed
message to the commander of the _Patrol_.

Lieutenant Gavigan ran his eyes hurriedly over the paper. "Captain
James Hardy, M. R. C.," ran the message, "and patrol of boys request
immediate assistance. Everything at stake. Send instructions at once."

The lieutenant looked relieved. "The Commissioner won't be at his
office at this hour," he said, "but they'll know where to reach him."

"Then rush it," said Captain Hardy, "and make every bit of speed you
can."

He stepped out into the night again. Overhead myriad stars twinkled
brightly. The little craft was vibrating from stem to stern under the
rapid revolution of her engines. She was ploughing through the water,
throwing up a great white wave on either bow. On all sides of her
vessels were coming and going on their usual missions of peaceful
industry. Millions of lights twinkled in the great buildings of the
city and in the factories that lined the water-front. But Captain
Hardy had no eye for the beauties of the night or the swelling waves or
the stimulating harbor scene. He could think of nothing but the work
ahead of him, of the rendezvous in the darkness at Hell Gate. The
little