He sat silent a few minutes more, deep in thought. Then, suddenly exclaiming, “There’s only one way out, and it’s time to act,” he jumped to his feet with a start which sent the birds scattering and scurrying to the nearest cover.
“Good-bye, little birds,” he called, throwing the last of his crumbs on the ground. Then he hastened to Communication Headquarters.
That night a dispatch went out to Washington requesting the Bureau of Engineering to send a shipment of vacuum tubes and sundry other supplies to Punta Delgada.
Evans turned in early in a tranquil frame of mind now, for the die was cast, and slept the sleep of healthy childhood.
The next day a message came from Washington ordering a certain destroyer to proceed at once to Hampton Roads. This particular destroyer had just had a complete refit and her engines were in the best of running order, although these details were not known in Washington. Her skipper was a very good sailorman characterized by a faculty for reaching his destination promptly, even if things didn’t go just as he wished; he knew how fast he could safely drive his ship against head seas, and when the need arose he drove her. And yet the schedule for patrol and escort duty was such that—for reasons also unknown in Washington—this ship could be more easily spared at Punta Delgada during the next two weeks than most of the other destroyers. In spite of this fact, Captain Brigham expressed an abundance of resentment at the importunity of the Navy Department for taking away one of his best destroyers just when he would like to have her on hand.
Two hours after this dispatch a series of others arrived, including one directing Evans to proceed by the first available ship to Washington and report for duty at the Bureau of Engineering.
The destroyer was ready for sea the following morning, and Evans was directed to take passage on her. An hour later she had slipped out of the harbor and headed westward, her officers speculating wildly as to what their sudden mission to home waters could mean. In all there were twice as many hypotheses advanced as there were officers on board, Evans contributing his share, but in the end their conjecturing left them just where they started.
When he arrived in Washington, Evans went to a hotel and took a room. From there he telephoned to Secretary Mortimer and told him of his arrival.
“When can you come and see me?” said Mortimer.
“Any time,” answered Evans. “Only wouldn’t it be just as well for me not to go too directly from the destroyer to your office? Even in civilian clothes, some one might recognize me and link me up with the ship. Why don’t you come here? I’m pretty keen to see you.”