CHAPTER XX.
A CONFESSION.
All day the _Sylph_ continued on her course without interruption. Frankspent several hours strolling about the deck with Miss Beulow, and heexperienced no further trouble with Lieutenant Taylor, although thelatter passed them twice, each time gazing at the boy threateningly.
While at supper the wireless operator entered the cabin and approachedLord Hastings.
"I have picked up the cruiser _Alto_, sir," he said. "She will pass usin the morning on her way to Copenhagen. Also I have a message from theAdmiralty ordering us to join the fleet at once."
The operator departed and Lord Hastings turned to Miss Beulow.
"Miss Beulow," he said, "I have decided to transfer you to the cruiserto-morrow, so you may return to your mother in Copenhagen. We are likelyto go into action at any time, and this is no place for you."
The girl nodded in assent, although she declared that she was not afraidof being in battle.
As she strolled about the deck alone, some hours later, she was accostedby Lieutenant Taylor.
"I am sorry I seem to be objectionable to you," said the lieutenant;"but now I would ask that you give me a few moments in private. I havesomething important to say."
The girl hesitated a moment.
"Very well," she said at length, and the lieutenant led the way to asecluded spot aft.
"Miss Beulow," began the lieutenant, "although you are half American,your sympathies are with the German cause, are they not?"
"How can you ask that question, when you are aware that my father is aGerman?" responded the girl.
"I just wanted to make sure. I am right, am I not?"
"You most certainly are," replied the girl emphatically.
"All right. Now you seem to dislike me. Would you look upon me with morefavor if I were to espouse the German cause?"
The girl looked at him in great surprise.
"What do you mean?" she demanded.
"Would you think less harshly of me if I were to strike a blow forGermany?"
The girl stared at him, but said nothing.
"What would you say if I were to tell you it is in my power to destroythe British fleet off Helgoland?"
The girl took a step backward.
"It is impossible!" she gasped.
"No!" cried the lieutenant, now carried away. "It is not impossible. Itis true! And, what is more, I shall do it!"
"You to say this to me! You, an Englishman!" exclaimed the girl.
The lieutenant shrugged his shoulders.
"What is Great Britain to me?" he said. "I am an American."
"But you are an officer in the English navy."
"True; but for a purpose. I hold a commission as captain in the Germanregular army."
"I can hardly credit it," exclaimed Miss Beulow.
"Nevertheless it is true. Now, when I have succeeded in my strategy----"
"Strategy!" cried the girl. "It is treachery!"
"Call it what you will," replied the lieutenant. "When I have succeededin delivering the British fleet into the hands of the Germans, will youthen look with more favor upon me?"
The girl recoiled from him.
"No!" she cried. "No! I wish never to see you again."
"Do not decide hastily," said the lieutenant. He drew from his pocket aslip of paper. "Here is the message I sent to the German admiral atHelgoland, the message that means the destruction of half the Britishfleet."
Wonderingly the girl took the slip of paper from him and read. It wasthe message prepared by Lord Hastings, to which was added the postscriptthat this was the message sent the commander of the British fleet. Itbore no signature, although addressed to the German admiral.
"I shall keep this," said Miss Beulow, and she folded it up and placedit in a small purse she carried. Then she started to move away, but thelieutenant detained her.
"Wait," he commanded. "You have not answered my question satisfactorilyas yet."
"And I never will!" cried the girl. "I wish nothing to do withtraitors."
She shook off his detaining hand and fled down the deck.
"What shall I do?" she asked herself. "I cannot betray my country'splans--and yet Lord Hastings should be told of this treachery."
She paced up and down the deck for almost an hour; then she sought aninterview with the commander of the _Sylph_.
"Lord Hastings," she said, "suppose a person knew something that, if hetold, would defeat the plans of the country he calls his own--andsuppose also that in gaining such information he learned that treacherywould encompass the defeat of his enemy--should he tell or not?"
"It all depends," replied Lord Hastings, "upon the person's conscience.Some would say yes, and some no. I cannot tell what I should do underthe circumstances. But why do you ask?"
The girl was silent for a long time.
"I have such information," she declared at length; "and I do not knowwhat to do."
Lord Hastings rose hastily from his seat, approached and laid his handupon her arm.
"Say no more," he said. "I know that which you have on your mind."
"What?" cried the girl in great surprise. "It is impossible that youshould know."
"Nevertheless I do know," replied Lord Hastings. "Let that suffice."
"But how can that be?" exclaimed the girl. "No, it is not possible thatyou know."
"Say no more about it," said Lord Hastings gently. "It is not your dutyto tell me anything that would work to the disadvantage of yourcountry."
Miss Beulow bowed her head and left the cabin without another word.
Lord Hastings hastily summoned Frank, and to him related what had justoccurred.
"It is plain," he said, "that Taylor has told his plans to Miss Beulow.If she should repeat to him what I have just said to her, it would puthim on his guard.
"He must not see her, then," said Frank.
"That is my idea exactly. Which is the reason I have summoned you. It isyour duty to see that they are not allowed to converse together."
"Very good, sir," replied Frank.
"I must contrive to have Taylor taken off my hands," mused LordHastings. "I do not want to arrest him, or let him suspect that he hasbeen discovered, for he may be of more use to us farther on."
"Why not send him on board the cruiser with Miss Beulow to-morrow, then,giving him dispatches for Copenhagen or some other point?"
"A good idea," exclaimed Lord Hastings. "All the instructions that Ineed give the commander of the cruiser is to see that Taylor and thegirl are kept apart."
"Exactly, sir," replied Frank.
"I shall put the plan into execution. In the meantime, you keep your eyeon the traitor, and see that he has no chance to communicate with thegirl."
Frank saluted and left the cabin.