“Well, there is no harm in telling you,” he said at last. “Of course, you may not know that Germany is trying to bring the United States into this war on her side. We have at last found a way. Just off Colon are several Japanese warships. We shall near them unobserved, and signal by wireless that a certain thing must be done, representing ourselves as one of the Japanese battleships.
“Naturally, we shall be refused permission. Now we have a new invention that would enable us to destroy Colon from a distance, and in our message we shall threaten this unless the supposed Japanese demand is granted. Do you understand?”
Mabel nodded her head slowly. She was beyond words.
“And when the demand is refused,” continued the captain “we shall use some of this new explosive. That will mean war between Japan and the United States, and therefore, England also, as she is Japan’s ally. Do you see?”
“Yes, I see,” said Mabel quietly.
“And what do you think of the plan?”
“I think it is contemptible,” declared Mabel.
“But, but—” began the captain.
“I don’t care to hear any more,” said Mabel. “But you will not succeed, I am sure of that. You can not succeed.”
She turned on her heel and made her way back to the others, the captain standing as if rooted to the deck as he stared after her.