The Men Who Wrought

aught the sound of a hasty entrance of the latter. His luminous eyes were alert and questioning. The man was completely changed from the simple inventor who had t

other side of the room, and just within the entrance doorway, stood Ruxton Farlow, still clad in his German naval uniform, and still bear

ith the imperiousness of a m

followed his pronouncement. It was the laugh of

nquiry was surcharged with ea

to Borga at-headquarters. He has sent an officer to conduct me to him-at once. T

necessities of the moment. His eyes were bright and concentrated. Ruxton watched the emaciated feat

my presence, while ashore, it would have been awkward. That is also why I left you to bring those cylinders, and with instructio

the Prince's commands. The latter seemed absorbed in thought. Q

or yourself, you will stand-by. The moment he enters the tower you will have the moorings cast off. Just keep the boat held to the quay fore and aft by light lines which can be released at a moment. When the officer reappears you will, the instant he has

The man offered n

resent tha

aluted an

or a--?" Ruxton began

ack, cracking the joints. It was an expression of intense excitemen

ious?" Ruxton's eyes searched

to disobey the military governor's regulations here, nor to defy openly his orders. Von Salzinger may do anything. Remember, he is a Prussian. One

in the doorway. He was so intent upon his study of them, tenderly handling their shining cases with his long fingers, that he

ver go hand in hand. I do not know yet, of course, but I fear you have let Principle get his nose in front o

the presence of the officer. In a moment the cylinders were deposited on t

e Captain-General, is it n

for his office. Just for a moment his conceit had b

his military habit. "It is an imperative order that

those who serve under him also. My nephew, Herr Leder von Bersac, is under the command of his uncle, and no one else. Your Captain-General knows that as well as I. The regulations of Borga are no concern of mine. But when I visit this pestilential place its manners are. Convey to your

ng of Von Salzinger's supreme command in Borga that helped him to weather the storm. He waited one moment to see if anything further was to be said, then, under the st

did not notice even that the gangway followed him ashore, almost immediately in his wake. But these things, however they might have surprise

one station the vessel was glidin

all he wished to know. He sighed quietly, and it was

to the face of th

?" he

ment of crisis. It was an almost confounding realization in the midst of his early impressions of him. For himself he could not see ahead with any degree of certainty. The Prince had committed himself to a dangerous course in defying the German Government's represen

oke in upon h

his nursery. He is its nurse. He must act. I wonder-- Ach, if he

action of almost schoolboyish delight. Then he smiled int

se guns could send us to the bottom, if it caught us at the surface. Then there is the mined channel. We are

n shr

you, too, for bringing me here. A gambler's chance i

zinger. When you are safe in England I will forestall him in

e rail, with the conning-tower intervening between them and the shore. They were the only soul

also observed that the skylights w

any emergency," he said, in

he harbor side of the shore wi

ind them. The moored shipping dropped astern of them at an almost incredible speed. Ahead he could see the frowning narrows coming towards them shrouded in their gloom

e presently, lowering his glasses. Then he passed int

moments h

ld not believe a Pole would face that mine-field. Perhaps it is that he is right-Ludovi

e or death, but the full significance of his assurance had been powerless to possess him. He had often dreamed of Death. He had im

looking on, watching a great contest between the brain of this man, his courage a

laugh broke upon

rince, his eyes now steadily fixed

e we are, under the enemy's batteries-at war. We are carrying butter, hey? Butter to your shores, in war time, in face of a

er, Prince,"

time." The Prince smiled in appreciation. Then

ards them on the water out of the gloomy s

t would gladly pilot us through the mine-f

silence. The dead flat water was thrown up into two g

g possession of the Englishman. His fa

he enquired presently, his breathing

nswer, but his slight laugh

e Captain-General's commands to me. He is my subordinate." Then he added with the ingenuous subtlety of a schoolboy, "If I l

ailing distance. Ruxton could even count the occupants at that distance. He was certain there were six at lea

and the steel door was closed with a slam

teel companion-ladder, leading up to th

bme

rned to hi

n a moment. I will show you that which I hope may interest you. We

ast the moving steel bowels of the vessel. The low purr of the great Diesel engines fell pleasantly upon the Englishman's ears. There was no hiss of steam. There was none of the cl

d without a sign or suggestion of that inferiority of appointment which is to be found on all commercial vessels. They passed a number of carefully disguised bulkheads, and finally came to a do

he darkness and pressed a switch. In a moment the room was flooded

ngly at the expression of his face. He was seeking that s

which he now beheld he had witnessed in the vessel at Borga, whence he had brought the cylinders. Th

omptly sprang

," he said. "There is not

peering out through it. The water beyond was lit with a ruddy glow that left it extraordinarily translucent. It was powerful, and seemingly the power of the rays extended a considera

o the silen

icated something of his feelings. "I think-yes, I understand. This light will re

beamed his

e danger you may have anticipated. The moment we have passed the patrol boat we shall rise till our periscope is above water. Then we

st open and the chief o

cipated in his relation to so powerful a master as the Prince. But Ruxton understood. The Prince's simple nature demanded nothing of that from those i

his guest with a la

who had taken his place at the forward porthole, and had adjusted the telephone receivers over his ears. He raised

no attempt to turn from his wa