"One moment," said von Ludwig. "If I should be the man to stay, I want one of you to take these papers in my pocket. They must be turned over to the admiralty at the earliest possible moment. Should the man who carries them be in danger of capture, they must be destroyed. Do you understand?" "Yes, sir," said Jack. Frank nodded. "It shall be as you say, sir," said Harris, "Now who will cut first?" "It may as well be me as another," said von Ludwig. He cut the cards and exposed to view a jack of hearts. "Looks like you will carry the papers yourself, sir," said Frank, as he advanced to cut the cards. He held up a nine spot of spades. "That lets you out, sir," he said to von Ludwig. The latter was plainly nervous. Jack cut the cards next. Frank uttered a cry of consternation: "The three of clubs!" "Looks like I was the fellow to stay, all right," said Jack, smiling slightly. "And this time," said Frank, "you may not be as fortunate as upon the day you remained behind and faced death on the submarine." Jack shrugged. "Can't be helped," he said quietly. Now Harris advanced and cut the cards quickly. As he picked up the upper half of the deck, he turned his shoulder slightly so that the others, for the moment, might not see what he had cut. He glanced at the bottom card. It was the six of diamonds. Deftly, Harris shuffled the cards with his hands. Adept in the art of trickery, though the others did not know it, he had placed the cards in such position that he knew almost identically where the high and low cards were. Like a flash his hand passed across the bottom of the deck and when it was withdrawn the six of diamonds had disappeared. Then he turned to the others and exposed: The two spot of spades! "I lose," he said quietly. Harris' movements had been so quick that they had not been perceived by the others. Jack was the first to extend a hand. "I'm sorry," the lad said quietly. "I was in hopes that it would be me." As he shook hands with the others, Harris kept his left hand behind him; for in it reposed the card he had palmed--the six of diamonds, which would have allowed him to go with the others and would have put Jack in his place. As he turned, Harris slipped the card quickly into his pocket, that it might not be accidentally seen. Then, he knew, he was safe. Jack picked up the deck. "I shall keep these, Harris," he said, "that I may always remember a brave man." All this time the thundering on the door of the companionway had continued. "Come," said von Ludwig, "we must delay no longer. Already it is growing light." He hastened along the deck to where the high-powered motor boat lay covered with a tarpaulin. Quickly the little craft was lowered over the side, von Ludwig first inspecting it. "Plenty of water and provisions," he said quietly. He turned to Harris. "It is time to say goodbye," he said quietly. "You are a brave man. This gallant action shall be known to the world."