CHAPTER XXI.
AN ACCUSATION.
It was nearing noon the following day before those on the Sylph sighted the oncoming British cruiser Alto, although they had been in almost constant wireless communication. When the cruiser was but a short distance away, Lord Hastings summoned Frank, Lieutenant Taylor and Alice Beulow.
“Lieutenant Taylor,” said Lord Hastings, “you and Mr. Chadwick will take the launch and escort Miss Beulow aboard the cruiser. Give this,” he continued, handing the lieutenant a paper, “to Captain Johnson personally.”
Frank and Lieutenant Taylor saluted and departed to make the launch ready, while both the Sylph and the cruiser hove to, so that the girl might be transferred from one vessel to the other.
After saying good-by all around, and thanking Lord Hastings for his kindness, Miss Beulow took her place in the launch. Frank and Lieutenant Taylor followed and they were soon on their way toward the cruiser.
As the three had made their way to the launch. Lord Hastings whispered to Frank:
“Lieutenant Taylor will go aboard with Miss Beulow. Immediately he leaves the launch you will return. The message he carries to Captain Johnson will explain the situation to the latter.”
“I am awfully sorry to see you leaving,” said Frank to Miss Beulow, as the launch approached the cruiser.
“And I am sorry to go,” she replied. “However, I suppose it is necessary. I hope that I shall see you again.”
“I hope so, too,” exclaimed Frank.
“You must look me up when the war is over, if you can,” the girl continued, and, taking a card from her purse she wrote an address upon it and gave it to the lad.
Frank put the card carefully away.
“I certainly shall,” he said.
Lieutenant Taylor had not spoken a word up to this time, but Frank had caught several threatening looks upon his face.
“Just a word of warning,” he said to Miss Beulow, as she at last said good-by and made ready to leave the launch. “Beware of Taylor.”
The girl smiled brightly at him, and with another word of farewell was gone. Lieutenant Taylor, in accordance with his instructions, followed her aboard the cruiser.
Hardly had the lieutenant set foot on the deck of the cruiser, when Frank ordered his men to put back to the Sylph. As the little launch got under way, Frank heard a shout, and, looking over his shoulder, saw Lieutenant Taylor angrily beckoning him to come back.
“Wait for me,” cried the lieutenant.
Frank paid no heed to this command and the launch continued on its way. Aboard the Sylph once more, Frank immediately made his way to Lord Hastings to report. Almost at the same moment the wireless operator rushed up and passed the commander a slip of paper.
Lord Hastings read the message and then turned to Lieutenant Edwards.
“Full speed ahead!” he commanded. “We are ordered to feel the way for the advance of the British fleet against the Germans to-night. It means we shall go into action.”
“Hurrah!” shouted Frank, unable to restrain his enthusiasm.
“Hurrah!” cried Jack, who approached just in time to catch Lord Hastings’ words.
A few moments more and the Sylph was again dashing madly through the water. But hardly was the vessel under way when the wireless operator, his face flushed and his manner manifesting the greatest excitement, rushed up to Lord Hastings.
“Sir!” he cried to the commander of the vessel, “Miss Beulow has been accused by Lieutenant Taylor and arrested on the Alto as a German spy!”
“What!” shouted Lord Hastings.
“Arrested!” cried Frank.
“Yes, sir,” replied the operator. “I just this moment received the message.”
“Come with me,” commanded Lord Hastings, and the three made a rush for the wireless room.
Just as they neared the room, the form of a man emerged hastily from the door, and, noting their approach, ran hurriedly along the deck. Paying no heed to the disappearing man, the three ran into the room. Here Lord Hastings dashed off a message, which he handed to the operator.
“Send this!” he commanded.
The message read:
“Release the girl. Arrest Lieutenant Taylor. He is the spy. Explanation follows.”
The operator took his place beside his instrument, but, after one touch of the key, sprang to his feet.
“It is dead!” he cried. “Somebody has tampered with it in my absence!”
“What!” exclaimed Lord Hastings excitedly, then added more coolly. “What is the matter with it?”
“I can’t tell yet, sir. I shall have to look it over.”
“Then do so at once!”
Frank and Lord Hastings remained quiet while the operator sought to determine the cause of the trouble.
Finally the operator stood up and faced them.
“It’s no use, sir,” he said. “The whole apparatus is out of commission. It can’t be repaired in less than twenty-four hours.”
“Impossible!” cried Lord Hastings. “It must be repaired. That message must be sent!”
“I am sorry, sir,” replied the operator, “but it is utterly impossible to repair the damage in less than the time I have mentioned.”
Lord Hastings was silent for some moments.
“Very well,” he said at length. “Do the best you can.”
He turned on his heel, and made his way to his cabin. Frank followed him.
“But what will happen to Miss Beulow, sir?” he asked.
“I am afraid,” was the reply, “that she is in great danger of being shot!”
“Shot!” Frank stood aghast at the word.
“Yes,” was the reply, “as she has been arrested, she will probably be tried by an impromptu court-martial at once. If convicted, she will be sentenced to die.”
“But we can save her,” cried Frank. “The Sylph is fast; she can overtake the cruiser. Shall I give the order at once, sir?”
“I am sorry,” replied Lord Hastings slowly, “but it cannot be done.”
“Cannot be done? Why?”
“We have been ordered into action. We must obey. One life cannot be allowed to stand in the way.”
“But—but——” Frank stammered.
Lord Hastings did not reply, but instead arose and summoned Lieutenant Edwards.
“Arrest the sailor Hardy immediately and have him confined in irons!” he commanded.
Lieutenant Edwards saluted and withdrew. Then Lord Hastings turned to Frank.
“I am sorry, my boy,” he said kindly, “but there is nothing we can do. However, the case may not be as bad as we fear. The fact that I instructed Captain Johnson to keep Taylor away from the girl may arouse some suspicion in his mind and delay a court-martial.”
“But there is nothing sure about it!” cried Frank. “To think of a girl dying like that, when we are able to save her!”
Lord Hastings did not reply, but turned and went on deck. Frank followed him, still imploring that the Sylph be put about and return to the cruiser.
Looking over the water Frank could see that, for some reason, the cruiser was stationary. She had not continued on her course.
“See,” he said to Lord Hastings, pointing, “we could reach her in almost no time. It would not delay us long. Will you not put about, sir?”
“We have hardly time now to reach the fleet,” was the reply.
“But——” Frank began.
Lord Hastings raised a hand.
“Further talk is useless,” he said. “I have said it is impossible!”
Frank’s eyes roved about the ship. Suddenly they fell upon the little launch.
“I am going, anyhow!” he cried, and ran toward the launch.