chances of detection were absurdly
small. None of the _Tehuantepec Girl's_ crew knew his true personality
except the captain, and he was to be handsomely rewarded as soon as the
spy was safe in German territory. On the other hand, there might be
one amongst the 655 forming the complement of the _Oxford_ who might
recognize the one-time doctor who had lived at Devonport.

"Let's get out of his way," suggested Vernon. "We'll inform the
Commander, and he will order him to be put under arrest."

"I'm not going to budge," declared Ross. "If he sees us, what can he
do?"

"I'm not afraid of him," protested Haye.

"Very well, then; let's stop where we are. He's got to know sooner or
later."

The first boat had already delivered her human cargo Upon the cruiser's
quarter-deck. As each man's name was taken down by the master-at-arms
he was sent forward. The first mate remained in conversation with the
Commander until the arrival of the _Tehuantepec Girl's_ skipper.

Von Hauptwald was one of the last men to come aboard. As he swung
himself over the rail he gave a swift glance at the group of officers.
His eye caught that of Ross Trefusis.

For a moment the spy thought that he was mistaken, but a second glimpse
confirmed his suspicions.

"Steady on there!" shouted the Commander. "What the deuce are you up
to?"

Von Hauptwald had broken into a run across the quarter-deck. With a
bound he cleared the stanchion-rails, and plunged head foremost into
the sea.

He had realized that to remain on the cruiser meant arrest and ultimate
death as a dangerous spy. Better by far to be drowned without further
delay than to experience all the horrors of lying under sentence of
death.

He had acted spontaneously, yet there was method in his madness. By
running across to the other side of the ship there was little chance of
the boats being able to pick him up ere he sank for the last time. Not
until he rose to the surface did he realize his difficulty. He was a
strong swimmer, and the natural instinct to strike out overpowered his
determination to sink.

There was a rush of officers and men to the ship's side to see what was
taking place. With two exceptions, they thought that the supposed
seaman had suddenly lost his reason.

Two seamen, one a brawny specimen, the other a red-haired
middle-weight, dived after the would-be suicide. Others were on the
point of following when the Commander restrained them.

"Away se