had ever dreamed it possible
for a man's face to look. As Hal and Farnum let go his arms the spy
took a quick step toward Jack Benson.

"Stop that!" commanded Trotter, sharply, leaping to grab the spy.

"I only want to say one word to this young scamp!" hissed Lemaire.
"I will not hurt him."

"You can wager he won't," added Captain Jack, clenching his fists and
watching the other alertly. "Let him speak to me, if he wants."

Trotter thereupon halted, though he watched the Frenchman with lynx-like
wakefulness.

Lemaire, however, merely leaned forward until he had placed his lips
close to one of the young submarine captain's ears.

"See here," hissed the spy, "hold your tongue about everything, and
make sure Gaston and myself are released. Else, no corner of the earth
will be a safe place for you. You can find no place in the world where
you will be safe from destruction--unless you get us out of this one
bad fix!"

CHAPTER XXII

GALLANT, EVEN TO THE FOE!

"You may have him now," announced Captain Jack, ironically. "I reckon
he has spoken his piece."

Trotter's answer was to leap upon the Frenchman, pinioning his arms
behind him. Packwood snapped handcuffs over the prisoner's wrists.

"Here is the bullet that Hastings dug out of the tree--the one that
was probably fired at me," added Captain Jack. "And here is M. Lemaire's
cane-pistol. You can see whether the bullet fits the cane."

Trotter took them, with a swift, admiring look at Benson's cool, handsome
face.

Then, guiding their prisoner, the Secret Service men moved off hastily,
for two or three hundred beach walkers had just discovered that something
exciting had happened, and were hurrying forward.

Lemaire was forced into the buggy and driven rapidly away. Once out
of sight the Secret Service men turned, driving straight for the local
jail.

Before anyone in the excited crowd could ask what had happened the
submarine people had vanished.

These four hurried to a room that Mr. Farnum had reserved while they
remained at Spruce Beach.

"What was it that rascally Frenchman whispered to you?" demanded the
shipbuilder.

Jack promptly repeated the threat, whereat Mr. Farnum's face grew
decidedly grave.

"The worst of it is, Jack, I think the fellow not only meant the threat,
but has the connections necessary to carry it out," said the ship
builder, slowly. "I am quite prepared to believe that these spies
work in large groups,