t the young
man had gone to the capital. He had exhibited a small working model of
his contrivance to several wealthy men of his native State, and they had
forthwith invested enough money in it to enable the young inventor to
build a full-fledged machine, and to go to see the Secretary about its
employment in the impending conflict. Harry Borden was a good talker,
but he could not talk the government of the United States into prompt
action.

"My dear young friend," said the Secretary, "I am sure that your
invention will prove of inestimable value to the United States in time
of war."

"It's the time of war now, isn't it?" said Harry.

"Yes, yes, to be sure; but this is a matter which must be laid before
Congress, and a bill must be introduced regarding it. I should advise
you to see the Congressman from your district about that. I will give
you a letter to him saving that I heartily approve of your machine."

"But, sir, while all this is going on we are losing valuable time. My
machine ought to be down there damaging the enemy."

"Really, my dear young friend, you must allow things to take their
course."

"Why can't you give me permission to go ahead on my own hook?"

"Embark in private warfare? Privateering is out of date, my young
friend. But, ah--um--I may say that--ah--if you should go down there and
succeed in inflicting serious damage on the British fleet, I
think--mind, I say only that I think--the government would ignore the
irregularity of the proceeding."

"That's enough for me," said Harry, springing to his feet. "If my
backers will consent, I'll be there in less than a week; and, mark my
word, sir, you'll hear of my machine down there, sir."

And before the astonished Secretary could say more, Harry Borden had
bounded from the room.

* * * * *

The British cruiser _Ajax III._ was steaming at a speed of ten knots
through the blue waters of the Caribbean Sea. She had been carrying
certain despatches of grave importance from Vice-Admiral Sir Wallace
Bruce to the Governor of Jamaica, and was now returning in a leisurely
manner, which told of economy in the coal department. The _Ajax III._
was an armored cruiser of about 6000 tons. She carried armor eight
inches thick on her sides, and had a steel protective deck four inches
thick. Her main battery consisted of four improved Smith-Dodge-Hopkins
8-inch rapid-firing breech-loaders, capable of discharging four of the
new