to tell me?"

"That big man with the green hat must have started that fight with the
waiters in the theatre to cover his intended attack on me," Cushing
replied. "At the moment of knocking me down, he snatched from my coat
pocket and made off with a most important document."

"Then you almost deserved to lose it, sir," replied Darrin sternly,
"as a punishment for wasting your time in such a place as that
theatre."

"I must see the American admiral as soon as possible," urged Cushing,
ignoring Darrin's reproof. "But first of all, I must ask you to pass
me safely by that provost guard, or I might be detained at a time when
I cannot afford to lose a single instant. You will vouch for me,
won't you, Mr. Darrin? Here are my formal credentials," continued
Cushing, producing and unfolding a wallet that contained properly
sealed and signed credentials from the American Department of State.

"The paper that was stolen from you did not in any way relate to the
defenses and fortifications here at Gibraltar, did it?" Dave asked.

"Not in the least," Cushing replied promptly.

"You give me your word of honor for that?" Dave asked bluntly.

"Do you believe I'd waste my time on such rubbish as that?" demanded
Cushing, scornfully. "Why, every civilized government on earth
possesses accurate plans of the fortifications at Gibraltar! I give
you my word of honor, Mr. Darrin, that the paper stolen from me did
not in any way relate to the Gibraltar fortifications."

"Then I'll do my best to get you by the provost guard," Ensign Darrin
promised, turning to lead the way back.

"Sir," Dave announced to Lieutenant Abercrombie, commanding the
provost guard detachment, "I beg to report, on what I regard as the
best of authority, that there is no reason why my countryman, Mr.
Cushing, should be detained by you."

"Then that of which he claims to have been robbed is nothing that
could officially interest me?" pressed the British officer.

"I am certain that the matter could not interest a British officer,
except in his desire to see a thief caught," Ensign Darrin vouched.

"That is all, then," replied Lieutenant Abercrombie. "Gentlemen, you
are at liberty to proceed on your way."

In the meantime the Spanish waiter had slipped back to the theatre.

Dave and Dan saluted, the Englishman doing the same. Then Lieutenant
Abercrombie gave each of these brothers in arms a hearty handclasp.
The men of the provost guard parted to allow the t