Part 35 (2/2)

From without I heard Grauble's voice in command: ”Close the hatch.” Then I felt the vessel quiver with machinery in motion and I knew that we were moving along the tunnel toward the sea.

Grauble appeared again in the door of the cabin. ”The mate understands,”

he said, ”and the crew will obey. I told them that the Admiral was going out with us to inspect the lock. But the presence of a woman aboard will puzzle them. I have placed the Princess in the mate's cabin so no one can molest her. We have other things to keep us occupied.”

With Grauble's help I now bound von Kufner to the staunch metal leg of the bunk and we left him alone in the narrow room to ponder on the meaning of what he had heard.

Outside Grauble led me over to the instrument board where the mate was stationed.

”Any unusual message?” asked Grauble.

”None,” said the mate. ”I think we will go through without interruption at least until we reach the lock; if anything is suspicioned we will be held up there for examination.”

”Do you think the guards at the dock suspected anything?” questioned Grauble.

”It is not likely,” replied the mate. ”They saw him come aboard, but he spoke to none of them. They will presume he is going out to the lock.

The presence of a woman will puzzle them; but, as she was with the Admiral, they will not dare interfere or even report the fact.”

”Then what do you think we have to fear?” asked Grauble.

”Only the chance that the Admiral's absence may be noted at his office and inquiry be made.”

”Of that the Princess could tell us something,” said Grauble. ”We will talk with her.”

Grauble now led me to the mate's snug cabin, where we found Marguerite seated on the bunk, looking very pale and anxious.

”Everything is going nicely, so far,” the Captain a.s.sured her. ”We have only one thing to fear, and that is that inquiry from the Administration Office for the Admiral may be addressed to the Commander of the Lock.”

”But how will they know that he is with us?” asked Marguerite. ”Will the guards report it?”

”I do not think so,” said Grauble, ”but does any one at his office know that he came to the docks?”

”I do not see how they could,” replied Marguerite; ”he was at his apartment when I called him. He came to me at once, not knowing why I wished to see him. I begged him to take me to see you off. I swore that if he did not I should never speak to him again, and he agreed to do so.

He seemed to think himself very generous and talked much of the distinctive privilege he was conferring upon me by acceding to my request. But he told no one where we were going. He communicated with no one from the time he came to me until we arrived at the vessel. The guards and gate-keepers let us pa.s.s without question.”

”That is fine,” cried Grauble; ”von Kufner often stays away from his office for days at a time. Unless some chance information leaks back from the guards, he will not be missed. Our chance of being pa.s.sed speedily out the lock is good--there is a vessel due to lock in this very day and we could not be held back to block the tunnel. That is why the Admiral was impatient when Armstadt failed to appear; he knew our departure ought not be delayed.”

”And what,” I asked, ”do you propose to do with the Admiral?”

”I suppose we must take him with us as a prisoner,” replied the Captain.

”Your World State Government would appreciate a prisoner of the House of Hohenzollern.”

At this suggestion Marguerite shook her head emphatically. ”I do not like that,” she said. ”Is there not some way to leave him behind?”

”I do not like it either,” said Grauble, ”because I fear his presence aboard may make trouble among my men. I do not think they will object to deserting with us to the free world. Their life in this service is hopeless enough and this is my fifth trip; they have a belief that the Captain's fifth trip is an ill-fated one; not a man aboard but trembles in the dire fear that he will never see Berlin again. They will welcome with joy a proposal to escape with us, but to ask them to make the attempt with the Admiral himself on board as a prisoner is a different thing. These men are cowed by authority and I know not what notions they might have of their fate if they are to kidnap the Admiral.”

”But,” I questioned, ”is there no possible way to leave him behind?”

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