"My boy," replied the consul, "we are sure to have a war with some great
European nation before many years."
"Because the people are getting too thick over here. Because they are going to America in droves. Because the governments of Europe desire to retain control of their people after they leave the confines of their own countries. They want English, German, Russian, Italian, French colonies held under their hand instead of a mass of their subjects doing reverence to a foreign flag."
"And they will fight for that?"
"Of course. The only way we can keep out of a great and disastrous war is to abandon the Philippines, throw our island possessions to the dogs, and tumble the Monroe doctrine into the sea. Then these foreign nations can buy, steal, or conquer all South and Central America. We don't want the land there, and we can't afford to fight for the dagoes who live there."
"There is too much jingo in our country to ever do what you suggest,"
Ned suggested.
"I'm afraid you are right," the consul replied. "But now to business. Get your machines here and mount them! You are to leave for Peking to-night."
"And I'll not come back until I reach the town!" declared the boy.
"By the way," said the consul, "where are the papers you took from the captain of the Shark—the boat you fought with your submarine?"
"I have them here," was the reply.
"Better leave them in my safe."