, anyway," insisted John Rhinds, blandly, "you must admit, Captain,
that our possession of the full number of torpedoes allowed us is proof
positive that we haven't been firing even one of them."

"That showing is certainly in your favor, Mr. Rhinds," admitted the
president of the naval board, coldly. "I cannot see that the evidence
at present available allows of my ordering anyone under arrest. I am
bound, in view of the fact that suspicion has pointed your way, to state
that I intend to leave the corporal and four of the marine privates
aboard. On the home cruise a marine sentry will be posted, all the
time, close to the after port of your torpedo tube."

"It is humiliating--very," sighed Mr. Rhinds. "Still, I shall be the
last to offer any objection to any arrangement that seems wise to the
members of the naval board."

The corporal and four of his marines were therefore left under command
of Ensign Pike, with instructions to see to it that constant guard was
kept by the torpedo tube.

No allusion to the evidence could be made before the members of the
cutter's crew on the way back. Captain Magowan led his own party to
the office of the commander of the gunboat.

"Er--gentlemen--" began Magowan, slowly, "I must admit that our most
elaborate case of circumstantial evidence seems to be knocked into a
cocked hat by the one substantial fact that the 'Thor' still has her
full number of torpedoes on board."

"Then you don't believe that torpedo came from the 'Thor's' tube,
Captain?" asked Jack Benson.

"I don't know what I believe," confessed the president of the board,
shaking his head. "It seems to be clearly established that no other
submarine was near enough to have fired a torpedo to cover the range I
have just been informed by Commander Ellis that the recovered torpedo
has been examined, and has proved to have contained the full war charge.
More as a matter of form than anything else we will now order the
remaining submarine boats alongside, and have them searched for a
missing torpedo."

That search was accordingly made, but not one of the boats had a torpedo
less than the four that it was supposed to carry.

The object of the lightning cruise having been accomplished, in the
destruction of the half-sunken derelict, the order was given to sail
back to Groton Bay at less speed than had been used on the outward trip.

As far as evidence went the mystery of the attempt to destroy the
"Hastings" appear