sure them that the face that gazed so evilly and
sardonically into theirs was the face of Davis.

Now Davis grinned at them.

"I was expecting you, gentlemen," he said with biting sarcasm. "I did
not wish to seem discourteous, which is the reason I welcome you in
person. But, also, knowing your kind, I surmised that you would not
announce yourselves at the front door, as would most British gentlemen;
therefore I receive you here. I assure you you are most welcome."

All this time he kept each lad covered with an ugly-looking automatic.

As neither Frank nor Jack replied, Davis continued.

"I would just like to add that if you desire to get ahead of me it will
be necessary to arise very early in the morning. What kind of a spy do
you think I am, anyway, not to know when I am being followed? I assure
you, gentlemen, you have misjudged me. I was not born yesterday."

Still neither lad replied.

"And now," Davis went on, "I must ask you to be so kind as to precede me
to the parlor, where I shall entertain you more comfortably."

He emphasized this statement with a slight gesture with one of his
revolvers and there was naught for the lads to do but obey.

Davis followed them closely, still covering them with his two revolvers.
In the parlor he motioned them to seats and took a chair across the
room.

"Now," he said, "I would be pleased to have you tell me how you escaped
from our enemies, the British."

"Well, I can see no harm in enlightening you," said Jack. "I would have
supposed that, being so brilliant, you had guessed it by this time. We
are British officers and not German."

"Would it surprise you," queried Davis, "if I should tell you I had
surmised as much? And our good friend, Commander Bernstorff"--and here
Davis laughed--"how is he?"

"Well," replied Jack calmly. "And now I wonder if you would explain a
few things to me?"

"You are at liberty to ask," smiled Davis.

"Then, how did you get here--why did you venture here--and what of your
little private expedition?"

"Those," said Davis, "are what I should call considerable questions.
However, I can see no harm in answering them, particularly as you will
never be able to repeat what you hear now. I came here in our submarine
the U-16, which, by the way, I have rechristened _The Vulture_--a
suitable name, don't you think?--and I came here because I had business
here. Now, as to your other question. Our little privateering expedition
is progressin