g Lord Hastings' hand.

"And why this German uniform?" he asked. "And who is this young man with
you?"

"I'll answer the last question first," smiled Lord Hastings, "by
presenting to your excellency, my second officer, Mr. Frank Chadwick."

Admiral Fischer acknowledged the introduction.

"Now for the answer to my other question," he said.

In a few brief words Lord Hastings explained. As he progressed with his
recital Admiral Fischer became more and more astonished. And when Lord
Hastings had concluded, the admiral burst out:

"And you mean to tell me the Germans have the temerity to attempt a raid
in the very mouth of the Thames?"

Lord Hastings nodded.

"They certainly have," he said quietly, and he produced the order he had
received from the German admiral.

Admiral Fischer scanned it closely.

"It's authentic enough," he said finally, "I know his signature well.
And this raid is to take place at midnight, eh?"

"Well, no. We are to gather at midnight. How long it will take to reach
the mouth of the Thames you can figure yourself."

"I can," declared the admiral. "And I can also figure that if these
submarines dare enter the Thames they will never get out."

"But you must figure better than that, Admiral. You must figure so they
will be unable to do any damage. That's even better than figuring that
they cannot escape after the damage is done."

"So it is," returned the admiral. "Have you a plan?"

"Why, yes! You must immediately order all warships and other craft now
at the mouth of the Thames, further up river. Order a swift torpedo boat
flotilla down the river--as many as are available--and have half a dozen
torpedo boats--equipped with nets--to take their places behind the
motorboat fleet."

"And then?"

"Well, the motorboats will attack the submarines as soon as they appear.
A few of them undoubtedly will be sunk. Then let the rest retire. The
submarines, submerged by this time, will travel forward a bit. At this
point have the torpedo boats, with nets stretched, proceed down each
side of the river. Of course, the torpedo boats must advance at the
moment the motorboats flee."

"But I should think the Germans are too wary to be caught in a trap like
that."

"They won't be, because they expect the raid to be too unexpected for
such details to have been arranged. Only one stipulation. Instruct all
your officers under no circumstances to fire at the first submersible to
move up the river."