zell and
Jetson, with Seaman Runkle, who was now up forward on the launch, were
already aboard their respective ships. The Admiral waited only for the
coming of this launch before he gave the sailing order.

Jetson was assigned to the battleship "Allegheny," a craft only a
trifle smaller than the massive "Hudson."

The three brother officers and Runkle had traveled by express from
Paris to Genoa, and had come through without incident. At last even
the watchful Runkle was convinced that they had eluded all spies.

"Boatswain's Mate," said Dave, "as this launch belongs to the
flagship, it will be better to take Mr. Jetson, first, over to his
ship."

"Aye, aye, sir," responded the man in charge of the launch.

Twenty minutes later Dave Darrin found himself leading his own party
up over the side of the "Hudson."

"Captain Allen wishes to see Ensigns Darrin and Dalzell at once,"
announced Lieutenant Cranston, the officer of the deck. "You will
report to the Captain without further instructions."

"Very good, sir," Dave answered, saluting.

Exactly ten minutes later the two young ensigns were ushered into the
presence of their commanding officer.

"Admiral Timworth has been notified by wireless from Paris that you
have important communications to make to him," began the Captain. "I
will not waste your time or the Admiral's in questioning you here. You
will come with me to the fleet commander's quarters. The Admiral is
awaiting you."

Admiral Thomas Timworth, seated at his desk, and with his flag
lieutenant standing by, greeted his callers with exceeding briskness.

"Gentlemen," he said, "time presses, and we must dispense with
formalities. Ensign Darrin, I am advised by the Ambassador at Paris of
the importance of your news, but he does not tell me what the news
is."

"Its importance, sir, depends on whether the evidence I have to
present supports the guess I have made as to the nature of the plot
that has been planned against the peace and safety of Great Britain
and our own country."

As Dave spoke he produced from an inner pocket the sheet of paper
dropped by Gortchky, that he had picked up in the Rue d'Ansin.

"This piece of paper, sir," Darrin continued, passing it to the fleet
commander, "is one that I _saw_ Emil Gortchky drop from a packet of
several papers that he took from his pocket at night on one of the
worst streets in the slums of Paris."

Admiral Timworth scanned the paper, then read it alou