Mr. Midshipman Glover, R.N.

tes are

ree"-Suspicions Confirmed-Thr

ors were flung open and Hopkins, whom Helston had not seen since he had fi

one; tracked you here, and now mighty glad to meet you again. Been bustling round Europe for the last two months; done the capitals and the crown

hers. "There have been several strange mishaps lately, which look suspiciously as if

do it slicker in the United States. Maybe

Strong Arm: "Regret to report Government powder barge fouled ram 8.15 to-night; drifted astern and sank, blowing up as she went down. Ship making water and down by the head. Must dock for examina

layed indefinitely," he said bitterly. "I must be off to Portsmouth at once." He went u

otten an idea that this explosion ain't all fair and s

asked Helston, amuse

jolly sight more before you've squared yards, and I'm just keen to be in it. I'm a bit of a sailor and picked up a bit o

when I come back,

ood-night;" and Ho

on off to Portsmouth (they were talking of Hopkins). "He talk

cing his conversation on the Doctor. Now there was one thing the Doctor would never do, and that was, talk at breakfast; not even till he had had his afte

ansom and drove to the U.S. Legation; "a villainous liver that makes me dislike

s, and found the name Reginald S. Hopkins given as a cadet on

he building, and, as luck would have it, he wa

f, Doctor?" said the Att

s', as we are called, and this man

t he retired, by permission,

ow; but you know nothing m

een mixed up with the China-Japanese war, was in a Chinese ship at the battle of Yalu, and was afterwards said to have made a pile of

the Doctor gravely. "I su

and a German, prospecting for mines or running expeditions against rebellious provincial rebels. They used to be called the 'Mys

ay and directed the cab to a well-known detective agent, "but after hearing this-wh

hat it certainly was not like the usual Government barges. The crew of three had disappeared, though they must have landed safely, as their dinghy had been hauled up the beach at Southsea, and this fact enhanced suspicions. Both "No. 1" and the

ey are, I am glad to say, all the keener after this affair to get to close quarters with the scoundrels, who have hit them below the belt. After the funeral of the three men of the destroyer who were killed,

ins," said the Doctor late

," he answered frankly, "if it gives

ngs was either at the hotel or a theatre. Then, however, he was reported to have visited, the previous evening, after dark, a large "doss-house" near the Millwall docks, a place kept by a Chinaman for the use of the Chinese firemen and the dec

away from dinner that night on t

but his suspicions turned into a different and m

is, you young rascals!" growled the Doctor, and the two boys ran away. Two steps lower down the Doctor noticed a brightly coloured stamp on the carpet, stooped down, and found it was one of a new

," said the Doctor, thinkin

rmous green sealing-wax seal just like it," chim

an enormous green seal' means an official document, so I should think. I hardly heard of the name till Helston

strian by the name of Von Grootze had been engaged in th

again visited the "doss-house" in Millwall, and that next

ia, is a known adventurer, and, perhaps most convincing of all, I don't like him," thought the D

ng his suspicions, adding, "I don't suppose there is much in

r barge? A dead Chinaman!-unrecognizable except for his pigtail. We've managed t

s commission as secretary to himself. Later, when he gave it to Hopkins, no one could deny that his expressions of extreme pleasure were

ton, switching on the light. "Hullo, man, you

d took me into his little room-pugh! how the place did reek of garlic and stale clothes-and went off to try and find one. Whilst I was waiting I heard a shrill argu

he theatre," interposed Hel

how they talk when they are excited-that I could not make out much of it till another voice chimed in, and I distinctly heard: 'He smokee too muchee opium, massa. Me go shakee him-no can move-vely big ma

ked Helston. "That must have been the brot

that beastly nas

had decided not to let Hopkins suspect that they knew his treach

oard will be our best safeguard, and we mu

s-house" the night before, adding, with a smile, "which

m. "Any work for your secretary, Captain?" he asked good-humouredly. "I guess I'm just aching for a bit of quill-driving.

t afloat, thank

and then I'll be off. Have to make a few dollars-you Br

y saw a small crowd curiously gazing at t

n, and, as they forced their way through the little cro

at once, and there were shou

th fury in their eyes, whil

s friends good-bye. "Guess a Chinaman

ston, when he had gone. "Funny those three being th

m to be able to recognize us again. Didn't you notice that they looked at us and no one else; and, now I

ump to conclusions like that. It was all

growled the Doctor. "I'd b

him outside his office when he left it. Did he walk on the other side of the road, they crossed over to gaze at him. There was no doubt left in Helston's or in the Doctor's mind that these men were in Hopkins's pay, and were being made familiar with Helston's appearance, in order to be able

nd the endless worries and delays attending the expedition, began to have their effect

ay when, coming back to the hotel, they had been met by th

s out of my mouth. If I don't get away soon my luck will desert me again,

nner, and it was very evident that the strain o

ief he will wait till the last few days before either disappearing himself or setting those sneaking Chinese dogs on to me. If

to her Captain and order him to report defects requiring twelve days to repair, and make arran

r us to go down to Portsmouth, take Hopkins with us-as if only for the trial, you understand-and, when we are out at Spithead, signal to the r

fool than I take him for if he is

will try; and I will wire to

e the cipher code,

ed the despatch of this telegram s

suggestions for warding off the blow he now felt certain was impending, and haggard

ng Arm at Spithead and await results there. Finally, he did not stir from the hotel till the evening, when the reply to h

who brought i

th well simulated wrath. "We shal

il from Spithead in fifteen days' time, and the

Fox who knew that it would a

, "there are only a few more d