The wharf of Corregidor was in a state of confused hubbub. The artillerymen stood shoulder to shoulder, awaiting the arrival of the _Mindoro_. Suddenly an officer forced his way through the crowd, and, standing on the very edge of the wharf, called out to the rapidly approaching _Mindoro_: "Parrington, what's all this about?" "It's true, every word of it," roared the latter through the megaphone. "The Japanese are attacking us, and the German steamer over there is the first to bring us news of it. War broke out six days ago." The _Mindoro_ stopped and threw a line, which was caught by many willing hands and made fast to the landing place. "Here's my witness," shouted Parrington across to Colonel Prettyman, "the commander of the German steamer _Danzig_." "I'll join you on board," answered Prettyman. "I've just despatched the news to Manila by wireless. Of course they won't believe it there." "Then you've done a very stupid thing," cried Parrington, horrified. "Look there," he added, pointing to the cloud above the harbor of Manila; "that has most certainly cost our friend Harryman, of the _Monadnock_, his life. His presentiments did not deceive him after all!" "Cost Harryman, on board the _Monadnock_, his life?" asked Prettyman in astonishment. "I'm afraid so," answered Parrington. "The Japanese steamer which brought us the news of the famous seaquake has been anchored beside him for four days. When you sent your wireless message to Manila, the Japanese must have intercepted it, for they have a wireless apparatus on board--I noticed it only this morning." The _Mindoro_ now lay fast beside the wharf, and Colonel Prettyman hurried across the gangway to the gunboat and went straight to Parrington's cabin, where the two shut themselves up with the German officer. A few minutes later an excited orderly rushed on board and demanded to see the colonel at once; he was let into the cabin, and it was found that he had brought a confirmation of Parrington's suspicions, for a wireless message from Manila informed them that the _Monadnock_ had been destroyed in the roads of Manila through some inexplicable explosion. Parrington sprang from his chair and cried to the colonel: "Won't you at least pay those cursed Japs back by sending the message, 'We suspect that the Japanese steamer anchored beside the _Monadnock_ has blown her up by means of a torpedo?' Otherwise it is just possible that they will be naive enough in Manila to let the scoundrel get out of the harbor. No, no," he shouted, interrupting himself, "we can't wait for that; we must get to work ourselves at once. Colonel, you go ashore, and I'll steam toward Manila and cut off the rogue's escape. And you"--turning to the German--"you can return to your ship and enter the bay; there are no"--here his voice broke--"no mines here."