"In that case—" began Mender, slowly, then paused.
"In that case—what?" demanded Dalny, after waiting a few moments while his chief reflected.
"It would mean that the Italian authorities, as soon as informed of what is suspected against us, would send out their keenest men to locate us, and then we should be arrested."
"What could be done to us?" queried Dalny.
"In these war days not very much evidence is required against men who are accused of being spies, my excellent Dalny. We might or we might not be accorded a trial, but one thing is quite sure; we would be shot to death on the charge of being spies."
As he pronounced these significant words Mender shrugged his shoulders. His manner was cool, one would have said almost unconcerned.
"You are right," agreed the younger plotter. "The Italians, like all the other peoples engaged in this war, hate spies bitterly, and would be quick to mete out death to us."
"It would be desirable," Mender proceeded, "to prevent the young officers from going back aboard their ship."
"How?" asked Dalny, bluntly.