tains has ever seen one of those submarines, neither on this side
nor on that," and Medina touched the lines which Hillyard had drawn on
both sides of the Balearics on his chart. "Now, what can I do?"

"One simple thing, and well within your scruples as a neutral," replied
Hillyard. "These submarines doubly break the laws of nations. They
violate your territorial waters, and they sink merchant ships without
regard for the crews."

"Yes," said Jose Medina.

"You have agents along the coast. I have friends too in every town,
Englishmen who love both England and Spain, Spaniards who love both
Spain and England. We will put, if you permit, your agents in touch with
my friends."

"Yes," said Jose Medina innocently. "How shall we do that? We must have
lists prepared."

Hillyard smiled gently.

"That is not necessary, senor. We know your agents already. If you will
secretly inform them that those who speak in my name," and he took his
card from the table, and gave it into Medina's hands, "are men to be
trusted, it will be enough."

Jose Medina agreed.

"I will give them instructions."

"And yet another instruction if you will be so kind, to all your
captains."

"Yes?"

"That they shall report at the earliest possible moment to your nearest
agent ashore, the position of any submarine they have seen."

Jose Medina assented once more.

"But it will take a little time, senor, for me to pass that instruction
round. It shall go from captain to captain, but it will not be prudent
to give it out more widely. A week or two--no more--and every captain in
my fleet shall be informed. That is all?"

Hillyard was already rising from his chair. He stood straight up.

"All except that they will be forbidden too," he added with a smile,
"to supply either food or drink or oil to any enemy vessel."

Jose Medina raised his hands in protest.

"That order was given months ago. But it shall be repeated, and you can
trust me, it shall be obeyed."

The two men went to the door of the villa, and stood outside in the
garden. It seemed the interview was over, and the agreement made. But
indeed the interview as Hillyard had planned it had hardly begun. He had
a series of promises which might be kept or broken, and the keeping or
breaking of them could not be checked. Jose Medina was very likely to be
holding the common belief along that coast that Germany would surely win
the war. He was in the perfect position to keep in with both