"How are we going to get her; she is anchored in the bay at home."
"Can the old darkey, Don, run the Sprite, do you think?"
"Yes, almost as well as I can."
"I have been out of touch with Washington now for nearly forty-eight hours, and should go to Key West to get a line on what is happening. Suppose I take him in the little Titian, call at Canby's, leave him to bring the Sprite, and go on to Key West. I ought to be back here in three or four hours."
"Fine, but put the juice to the Titian; she can fly if you give her the gas. You're right: we ought to have the Sprite to patrol and also ought to know what the Boche is up to outside, if anything," he agreed quickly.
During the night the pumps worked unceasingly with a punch and force, imparted by Howard's care and vigilance. As the last word in Boche submarine ships came nearer the surface, he seemed to actually scorn either sleep or rest and took his food while walking about vigilantly. He realized it was a supreme moment. Energies he had stored by a comparatively quiet existence for years he used unstintingly.
Before daylight the next morning I took Don in the Titian to Canby's, saw him on his way from there with the Sprite, then rushed to Key West and established communication at once with the powers that be.
I was told that every branch of the Government was intensely interested in the development which bade fair to uncover craven, cringing Mexico and many traitorous, treasonable concerns protected by citizenship, and was enjoined to great care and secrecy.
Then I asked to have at least two marines detached from the special guard service in Key West for my use as I was short of man power on which I could depend.