"By Jove, old man," exclaimed Farnworth, in the midst of his task of examining the contents of the dead man's pockets. "See what you make of this?"
He held up a sheet of soiled and creased paper, covered with closely-written flourishing writing, for Jack Sefton's inspection. "German, by the powers!" he added.
"Partly in cipher and partly in ordinary writing," declared Sefton. "These fellows are Huns, right enough, but what is their object?"
Farnworth did not reply. He was intently studying the minute penmanship. Suddenly he started to his feet.
"The swine!" he ejaculated furiously. "Look here--these three words--all as plain as a pike-staff."
"Well, what does it mean?" asked the admiral, his attention drawn to the discovery by Farnworth's exclamation.
"A diplomatic mission is leaving a certain port. By this time the vessel detailed to convoy the party may have sailed. The spies knew this: this paper proves that. Either they or their accomplices have designs to interfere with the plan."
"A bold surmise on your part," remarked Admiral Sefton.
"I hope I'm mistaken, sir," replied Farnworth. "We'll have to be on the move at once."
"What's your plan, old man?" enquired Jack as the party set to work to convey the wounded general to the waiting car.