"I don't know but you are right," he finally said. "Frank shall go. Jack will take command in my absence."
He addressed the latter. "Arm Edwards and our other men," he continued, "though do it unknown to the Germans. I don't altogether trust this Davis. Of course he is in the pay of the Germans; but once a traitor always a traitor. Watch him closely."
"I'll watch him," said Jack quietly.
"Very well. Frank and I shall leave at once."
Lord Hastings ordered a small boat over the side, the two jumped into it and rowed rapidly away, leaving Jack to pass the word among the crew that Commander Bernstorff had gone on a little scouting expedition.
For half an hour Lord Hastings and Frank rowed along without incident until they could see a few dull lights in the distant town of Dover.
"Seems to me there is a terrible lack of vigilance hereabouts," declared Frank.
"It does look that way," Lord Hastings admitted. "However——"
There came a sudden interruption—the sound of a shot, and a bullet whistled overhead.
"Not such a terrible lack of vigilance, either," remarked Lord Hastings. "I wonder where that shot came from?"