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.