The electricians were dismissed. Admiral Rallston turned to Admiral Bishop.
“Can you tell me how that evidence could have been faked?” he said.
Admiral Bishop did not answer. All eyes were now on Rich who was an ashy gray, all his affable manner gone, a venomous look of malice on his face.
Evans and Barton exchanged glances, and Barton nudged Admiral Rallston.
“Have you heard anything from our friend Bela since his unceremonious departure?” said Evans casually to Rich. “He has been praising you warmly.”
Rich started violently and turned a shade paler; the look of fear and hate in his face was more intense than ever. He opened his mouth to speak, and then, looking at the eyes of the others all grimly watching him, he remained silent. Suddenly he turned on Evans and like a flash drew a pistol from his pocket. Barton, standing close beside him, was watching him like a lynx. Quick as was Rich’s hand, Barton’s was quicker. With a swift blow he struck Rich’s right hand toward the ceiling with such force that the pistol flew from it, and, sailing through the air, fell at Evans’s feet. Long’s desire to assault Rich now became uncontrollable; like a wild animal he sprang at him and dealt him a blow with his fist that sent him sprawling on the floor.
High officials in Constantinople sent out message after message through secret channels. But the messages remained unanswered.
The day after Rich suddenly ceased to be an officer in the United States Navy, a great seaplane arrived at Trepassy Bay from Halifax just after sunset. Out of it stepped Commander Barton and Radio Gunner Evans, both looking haggard and exhausted. They turned in early at the seaplane base. Next morning before sunrise they were once more on board the same seaplane that had brought them from the Azores, with the same skeptic as pilot, somewhat cheered now by his visit to dry land. At the floating hangar they found the original crew of the plane, well rested now and eager to get back to the Azores.
The sunset colors were fading and the pink stucco buildings of Punta Delgada but dimly showing against the green hills behind the town as the great seaplane hovered over the battleship Delaware, answering her recognition signals, and then alighted at the entrance to the inner harbor.
Evans was now easier in his mind, for Rich was no more. But still he was terribly haunted by the fear that Rich or his agents had learned the secret of the code stolen by Wellman (alias Bela), and revealed it to their superiors in Constantinople. Therefore the first thing he did on his arrival aboard the Delaware was to send one of his secret messages to Heringham by way of Kendrick, requesting an investigation as to whether the code was still believed to be genuine, and a report as soon as feasible.