"You believe that the two young American officers are ashore in Naples
as spies upon us?" questioned Mender, his tone cold and deadly.

"It would seem so," Dalny answered readily.

"In that case--" began Mender, slowly, then paused.

"In that case--what?" demanded Dalny, after waiting a few moments
while his chief reflected.

"It would mean that the Italian authorities, as soon as informed of
what is suspected against us, would send out their keenest men to
locate us, and then we should be arrested."

"What could be done to us?" queried Dalny.

"In these war days not very much evidence is required against men who
are accused of being spies, my excellent Dalny. We might or we might
not be accorded a trial, but one thing is quite sure; we would be shot
to death on the charge of being spies."

As he pronounced these significant words Mender shrugged his
shoulders. His manner was cool, one would have said almost
unconcerned.

"You are right," agreed the younger plotter. "The Italians, like all
the other peoples engaged in this war, hate spies bitterly, and would
be quick to mete out death to us."

"It would be desirable," Mender proceeded, "to prevent the young
officers from going back aboard their ship."

"How?" asked Dalny, bluntly.

Mender laughed, cold-bloodedly, in a low tone.

"In Naples," he explained, "there are, as you know, my dear Dalny,
hundreds of bravos, some of whom are the most desperate fellows in the
world--men who would stick at nothing to earn a few _lira_. And they
will ask no awkward questions as to which country they serve in aiding
us."

"Then you would have Darrin and Dalzell seized, by night, by some of
these bravos, and carried away to a secure place where they could be
confined until your plans have been carried through?" inquired Dalny,
thoughtfully.

"It is always dangerous to have banditti seize men and hide them away,
especially in a country that is engaged in war," replied Mender,
slowly. "Now, if, in one of the narrow, dark streets of Old Naples,
these young Americans were settled by a few quiet thrusts with the
blade, their bodies might then be dropped into a sewer. The bodies
might not be found for weeks. On the other hand, captives, no matter
how securely hidden, may find means to escape, and all our care in the
matter would go for naught. Besides, these Sicilian bravos of Naples
much prefer to settle a man with one or two quick thrusts with a
narrow blade, and then--B