"It looks probable to me," said the "Hudson's" commanding officer promptly.
"It looks likely to me, also," sighed Admiral Timworth.
Then the famous old sea-dog brought his clenched fist down on his desk with a bang.
"Malta shall be our next stop," he declared. "We shall see whether any band of plotters can put such a plot through while we are watching! All mankind would shudder at such a tragedy. All the world would side with England and condemn the United States and her Navy! Gentlemen, I now believe that Mr. Darrin has revealed the details of a plan that will be tried. We must prevent it, gentlemen! We shall prevent it—or some of us will lose our lives in the effort to stop it! Darrin, you shall have your chance in helping us to stop it. Mr. Dalzell, you, too, shall have your chance! And now—Malta."
CHAPTER XVIII
SURIGNY'S NEXT MOVE
In the Grand Harbor, overlooked by the town and fortress of Valetta, on the island of Malta, there lay at anchor the British dreadnaught "Albion," the cruiser "Wrexham" and the gunboat "Spite."
Less than half a mile away lay the American battleships "Hudson" and "Allegheny" and the cruiser "Newton."
It was early evening now. During the day, soon after the arrival of the American craft, the usual visits of courtesy had been exchanged between the two fleets.