272 FOR THE FLAG

known, the existence of Count d’Artigas’ destroyer must
be known.”

He glanced at me suspiciously.

‘‘ Mr. Simon Hart,” he said, “‘ you appear to me to push
your deductions rather far.”

“7, M. Serko ?”

“Ves. And it seems to me that you speak of all this
like a man who knows more than he ought to know.”

That speech cut me short. It is evident that my argu-
ments are liable to give rise to the idea that I may have
a share in the late events. Serko’s eyes were fixed angrily
onme; they pierced my cranium, they searched my brain.

Sull, I did not lose my presence of mind, and I answered
in a quiet tone,—

““M. Serké, by profession and by inclination, I am in
the habit of reasoning about everything. That is why I
have given you the result of my inferences, which you
may or may not take into consideration as it suits you.”

Thereupon we separated. But, for want of caution,
I have perhaps raised suspicions which it will not be easy
to overcome.

On reviewing over this interview, I found I had
acquired one picce of information: the danger-zone is
fixed between four and five miles. Perhaps at the second
equinoctial tide—a second floating message might be sent.
But there will be months to wait until the orifice is
revealed at low water; and then there is the chance that
the second revelation might not reach its destination like
the first,