t it?" asked Dan, with a melancholy grin.

"Perhaps it's to the honor of his manhood that he cannot believe in
it," Dave answered gently, as the chums sat in the latter's quarters.

Dave and Dan had been excused from ship duty on account of other
duties that were likely to be assigned to them at any time.

[Illustration: "Admiral Barkham listened to their story."]

Half an hour after the chums left the Admiral's quarters an orderly
summoned them to Captain Allen's office.

"Both admirals are convinced," said Captain Allen, when Dave and Dan
had reported, "that the crime, if it is to be attempted, will be tried
at night. As there are still a few hours before dark Admiral Timworth
wishes you to take one of the launches and go alongside the British
flagship. There will you find three or four young British officers
ready to join you. You will all go ashore in Valetta and remain there
until nearly dark. You will circulate about the town, as sight-seers
usually do. While ashore you will keep your eyes open for glimpses of
the Gortchky-Dalny plotters and their subordinates, whom you may find
there. Admiral Timworth particularly desires to know whether any of
that unsavory crew have reached Malta."

The launch being ready alongside, Dave and Dan, both in uniform, went
at once over the side. They were soon alongside the "Albion," and a
voice from deck invited them aboard. There the officer of the deck
introduced them to four young English officers. Three minutes later
the party went aboard the launch, and headed toward shore.

Outside of the forts and garrison buildings the town is a small one,
though at this time there were several places of amusement open on two
of the principal streets.

Through these places the party strolled, seemingly bent only on having
a good time.

"Have you seen any of the bally spies?" murmured one of the young
English officers, Whyte by name.

"Not a sign of one," Dave answered in a low tone.

"What if they're not here?" persisted Whyte.

"It may be that none of them will show up at Malta," Darrin answered.
"Or it may be that those who do come will come only on that submarine
we are looking for."

"I would like to meet one of those plotters," grumbled Dorcliffe,
another of the English party and the possessor of a bulky frame and
broad shoulders.

"What would you do?" asked Dave smilingly.

"I believe I'd jolly well choke the breath out of him!" asserted Mr.
Dorcliffe.

"That woul