and were admitted.

Admiral Timworth was standing at the rear of his cabin when the
subordinate officers entered. He came quickly forward, instructed his
orderly to guard the door, then turned to his visitors.

"I believe it will be best, with your permission, sir," began Captain
Allen, "to let Mr. Darrin make his report to you."

"Mr. Darrin will proceed, then."

So Dave repeated the story he had told the Captain. Admiral Timworth
listened until the recital had been finished, and then asked several
questions.

"It does not sound like a hoax," commented Admiral Timworth, at last.
"Yet it is impossible for me to conceive how two British battleships
are to be sunk near Malta, or near anywhere else, and Americans blamed
for the act. Captain Allen, can you imagine any way in which such a
thing might be effected?"

"I cannot, sir."

"The subject must be given careful thought," declared the Admiral. "By
the way, Mr. Darrin, do you think you could identify those two men who
talked of the proposed destruction of the British battleships?"

"I am positive that I could do so, sir," Dave rejoined, "provided they
were not disguised."

"Then you may meet them again, as we shall stop at various
Mediterranean ports. If you do, sir, I wish you to report to me
anything that you may find out about them. Mr. Dalzell did not see
them, did he?"

"I may have passed them, sir," Dan replied, "but I would not know
them, if meeting them, as the men whom Mr. Darrin mentions."

"Then, Captain, you will see to it," directed the Admiral, "that Mr.
Dalzell has shore leave whenever Mr. Darrin does. The two young men
will go ashore together so that Mr. Darrin, if opportunity presents,
may indicate the plotters to Mr. Dalzell."

The Captain and the young officers bowed their understanding of this
order.

"The presence of Gortchky here, taken with what Mr. Darrin overheard
those men talking about, and coupled with what took place on the mole
at Gibraltar, leads me to believe that some foreign government has
plans for involving the United States government in serious
complications," resumed the Admiral, after a pause. "Gortchky is not
in charge of any very extensive plot. He is simply a tool of greater
minds, and it may easily be that the pair whom Mr. Darrin overheard
are those who are directing Gortchky in some really big and dangerous
scheme. By the way, gentlemen, was either of you introduced to any
young or charming woman ashore?"