But the place to find roaring, ostentatious activity was on board the old _Tyneshire Glen_. This rusty steamer fairly hummed. Captain O’Shea visited her daily, and Johnny Kent hustled an engine-room crew with loud and bitter words. It appeared as though the ship must be in a great hurry to go to sea. While they were stirring up as much pretended industry as possible, the question of a cargo was not overlooked. It was shoved on board as fast as the longshoremen in the holds could handle it. Nor did these brawny toilers know that all these stout wooden boxes so plainly marked and consigned to Trinadaro “via S.S. _Tyneshire Glen_” contained only bricks, sand, stones, and scrap-iron. They were part of the theatrical properties of Captain O’Shea, who could readily produce a make-believe cargo for a faked voyage in a steamer which had no intention of leaving port. The London newspapers showed renewed interest in the schemes and dreams of King Osmond I of Trinadaro. The _Tyneshire Glen_ was visited by inquisitive journalists with note-books and cameras. Captain O’Shea welcomed them right courteously, and gave them information, cigars, and excellent whiskey. They returned to their several offices to write breezy columns about the preparations for the singular voyage of the _Tyneshire Glen_. So severe are the English libel laws that never a hint was printed of the possible legal obstacles which might bring the enterprise to naught. For purposes of publication, King Osmond I was as sane as a trivet unless a judge and jury should officially declare him otherwise. Nevertheless, the intimation had reached the newspaper offices that the relatives of Colonel Sydenham-Leach were likely to take steps to prevent him from leaving England. And reporters were assigned to watch the _Tyneshire Glen_ up to the very moment of departure. Now and then Johnny Kent quietly trundled himself on board the _Tarlington_, usually after nightfall, and was gratified to find that progress was running smoothly in all departments. So nearly ready for sea was the big cargo-boat that the time had come to devise the final details of the stratagem. Accordingly, Captain O’Shea went boldly to the custom house, and took out clearance papers not for the _Tarlington_ to Australia, but for the _Tyneshire Glen_ to the island of Trinadaro. The chief officer whom he had selected to sail with him held a master’s certificate and the ship was cleared in his name. As for the _Tarlington_, which was really to sail while the _Tyneshire Glen_ remained peacefully at her moorings in the East India Docks, O’Shea decided to omit the formality of clearances. As he explained to Johnny Kent: “The less attention called to the _Tarlington_ the better. Once at sea we will hoist the flag of Trinadaro over our ship, and His Majesty’s government will give her a registry and us our certificates. ’Tis handy to be an independent sovereign with a merchant marine of his own.”