CHAPTER XV.
A PLOT OVERHEARD.
“Great Scott, Jack! Look!”
It was Frank who spoke. The two boys were standing in the shadow in the bow of the Sylph. Jack looked in the direction his companion pointed. A solitary figure was skulking along the deck.
“I see a man,” replied Jack. “What about it?”
“Didn’t you recognize him?”
“No; who is he?”
“The same man who followed us in the streets of London!”
“By George! You don’t mean it. Why haven’t we seen him before?”
“He is wearing a thick mustache. I don’t suppose I would have recognized him now if I hadn’t caught a side glimpse of his face.”
“Are you sure he is the man?”
“There is no question about it.”
“But what do you suppose he is doing here, skulking about the deck?”
“I don’t know, but he is up to no good, I’ll warrant.”
“You are right. Let’s follow him and see where he goes.”
“Good! Come on!”
Stealthily the lads followed in the steps of the sailor, keeping well in the shadow and far enough behind to prevent discovery.
Unaware that he was being followed, the sailor made his way straight to the cabin of Second Lieutenant Taylor. There he gave a sharp, peculiar knock, and the door was immediately opened. The man disappeared inside.
“Something up,” whispered Frank to Jack. “Guess we had better find out what is going on in there.”
The second lieutenant’s cabin was in the after part of the vessel, and a window overlooked the deck. The window was lowered a trifle, permitting a gleam of light to stream across the deck.
The two boys approached and cautiously peered into the cabin. They saw Lieutenant Taylor and the sailor seated at a small table, on which were a bottle and glasses, and they could plainly overhear the conversation that passed between them.
“I don’t like this eavesdropping business, but it is up to us to learn what is going on,” whispered Jack.
“Right you are,” replied Frank. “This looks suspicious to me. What business do you suppose Lieutenant Taylor can have with a man we are bound to believe is a German spy?“
“It’s too much for me,” said Jack; “but if we listen we may overhear something worth while.”
The two boys became silent, and, with their eyes to the small open space at the top of the window, listened breathlessly.
“How is everything going?” they heard the sailor ask Lieutenant Taylor.
“As well as could be expected,” was the reply. “I haven’t been able to do anything yet, however, for Lord Hastings has received no definite information or instructions.”
“But he will? Are you sure of that?”
“Perfectly. There are only a few men acquainted with Hastings’ connection with the British Admiralty. A captain of a scout ship, eh! Why, I know that if he chose he could, with the instructions he now holds, take command of the entire British fleet in the North Sea.”
“Is that so? Then you are positive we made no mistake when we selected the Sylph as the best place to learn England’s naval plans?”
“Absolutely positive. Not a move will be made of which Hastings has not had previous information. In spite of the wireless, this vessel is the real connecting link between the British Home Office and the North Sea fleet. I have it on good authority that, until further notice, Hastings will receive all messages from both directions. The reason for this, I understand, is that the government puts the utmost faith in his ability and loyalty.”
“Good,” replied the sailor. “Now what are your plans?”
“Well, a whole lot will depend upon circumstances; but the first thing I want you to do is to put yourself into the confidence of the wireless operator. In some manner I must have a copy of every message received and sent. Of course, all messages will be in code, but I have the key to that. You are an operator, are you not?”
“Yes.”
“All right. I must be kept posted, so that at the proper moment I can act. At that moment, your duty will be to transmit a message I shall give you. Before doing so, however, you will have to dispose of the operator.”
“I’ll attend to him,” broke in the sailor.
“Good. If there is no slip up in our plans, it will mean the destruction of the British fleet. Our work completed, we shall make our escape at night in the launch.”
“And our reward?” asked the sailor, as he rose to his feet.
“Oh, yes, our reward,” repeated Lieutenant Taylor, with a harsh laugh. “We are doing this for a reward, aren’t we? Well, promises will be kept. The Kaiser will reward us handsomely.”
“There is no reason to believe that we are suspected?” asked the sailor, as he moved toward the door.
“Not the slightest; and if we are careful, we can put this thing through without arousing suspicion. Good night. I want to turn in early as I must be about at daylight. I want to show the young lady we picked up to-day about the vessel. I understand her father is a high officer in the German army, and with the success of our venture—well, who knows?”
“You take my advice and let the girl alone,” growled the sailor. “A woman has spoiled more than one well-laid scheme.”
“Keep your advice to yourself, Hardy,” replied the lieutenant angrily. “Now, good night.”
Jack and Frank straightened up from their cramped position, slipped quickly down the deck and disappeared before the sailor emerged from the lieutenant’s cabin.
“Well, what do you think of that?” demanded Jack, as the two boys sat down in their own cabin.
“I don’t know what to think,” replied Frank. “Great Scott! Suppose no one had learned of their plans! What would have happened then?”
“I don’t know what might have happened,” returned Jack. “It certainly is a good thing you spotted that sailor, Hardy. We might not have had another chance of overhearing their plans.”
“I suppose the thing to do now is to inform Lord Hastings at once.”
“I suppose so. Or no, I believe it would do just as well to wait until morning. He has retired and there is no use arousing him. The plotters can do nothing to-night.”
“I guess you are right. By the way, what do you think of Taylor’s remarks about Miss Beulow?”
“I believe you are more interested in remarks concerning Miss Beulow than I am,” replied Jack, with a smile.
Frank blushed.
“Well, maybe so,” he said. “But she is a nice girl, and I don’t believe she would have much use for a traitor, even though he is plotting to deliver England into the hands of her own country. Do you?”
“I don’t know anything about it,” was the reply. “You can ask her in the morning if you like. In the meantime, let’s get some sleep.”