nd await the return of the captain. It was an exceptionally cool
evening and the warmth of the forward cabin was very agreeable.

Midnight had arrived when the captain's launch finally drew up to the
side and Carg came hastening into the cabin. His agitated manner was so
unusual that the three watchers with one accord sprang to their feet
with inquiring looks.

"Where's Elbl?" asked the captain sharply.

"Gone to bed," said Uncle John.

"When?"

"Hours ago. I think he missed your society and was rather broken up over
the necessity of leaving us to-morrow."

Without hesitation Carg turned on his heel and hastened aft. They
followed him in a wondering group. Reaching the German's stateroom the
captain threw open the door and found it vacant.

"Humph!" he exclaimed. "I suspected the truth when I found our launch
was gone."

"Which launch?" asked Uncle John, bewildered.

"The one I left with the ship. On my return, just now, I discovered it
was not at its moorings. Someone has stolen it."

They stared at him in amazement.

"Wasn't the deck patrolled?" asked Patsy, the first to recover.

"We don't set a watch till ten-thirty. It wasn't considered necessary.
But I had no suspicion of the trick Elbl has played on me to-night," he
added with a groan. Their voices had aroused others. Ajo came out of his
room, enveloped in a heavy bathrobe, and soon after Maud and Beth joined
them.

"What's up?" demanded the boy.

"The German has tricked us and made his escape," quietly answered Dr.
Gys. "For my part, I'm glad of it."

"It was a conspiracy," growled the captain. "That rascal, Maurie--"

"Oh, was Maurie in it?"

"Of course. He was the decoy; perhaps he arranged the whole thing."

"Didn't the general want you, then?"

Carg was so enraged that he fairly snorted.

"Want me? Of course he didn't want me! That treacherous little Belgian
led me into the waiting room and said the general would see me in a
minute. Then he walked away and I sat there like a bump on a log and
waited. Finally I began to wonder how Maurie, who was always shy of
facing the authorities, had happened to be the general's messenger. It
looked queer. Officers and civilians were passing back and forth but no
one paid any attention to me; so after an hour or so I asked an officer
who entered from an inner room, when I could see the general. He said
the general was not there evenings but would be in his office to-morrow
morning. Then I showed