"But the admiral should have known better," said Hal.
"Maybe he should have," said Stubbs; "trouble is he didn't."
"Now that's too bad, Stubbs," declared Chester sympathetically. "I'm certainly sorry."
"So am I," declared Stubbs grimly. "But that's the trouble with the newspaper game. You never get any credit for what you do, but you are always due for a wigging any time something goes wrong."
"And I suppose The Gazette put out an extra," remarked Hal.
"I'm dead sure of it," replied Stubbs grimly. "Here, look at this cable I just received."
Hal read the cablegram and then passed it to Chester.
"Pretty tough, Mr. Stubbs," said Chester, after scanning it hastily. "Now, isn't there anything you can do to redeem yourself?"
"Nothing that I can think of," was the reply, "unless I could be fortunate enough to get first word of the real signing of the armistice."
Hal and Chester both expressed their surprise.