"Well," said the prisoner, "in the eastern theater of war we have been successful. Field Marshal Von Hindenburg has defeated the Czar's troops with terrible losses, practically annihilating an entire army corps. Also in the Carpathians and in Northern Poland the Russians have been forced back. In the western war area, reports are conflicting. French and British reports claim some slight successes and the German reports tell of material advances. Of course, we believe the German report to be truthful, while you probably will put more faith in the others. "But the news that will be the most pleasing to you is the fact that the combined French and British fleets are even now attempting to force a passage of the Dardanelles. Even German reports show that they have met with some success. The first lines of defenses have been shattered, the forts being dismantled and razed. The allied fleets have penetrated twelve miles into the straits." "By George, that is good news," exclaimed Jack. "You bet," agreed Frank. Even Lord Hastings lost his habitual calm and smiled. "The attempt to force the passage of the Dardanelles," continued the prisoner, "is being led by the monster dreadnought _Queen Elizabeth_, and it is due to the heavy caliber of her guns that so much success has been attained." "She is a powerful ship," said Lord Hastings quietly. "She must be," replied the prisoner. "The others of the fleet follow in her wake, and when she has practically put a fort out of commission they come up and finish the work. She fires her terrible projectiles, and with accuracy, too, a distance of almost twenty miles." "Twenty miles!" exclaimed Frank. "Exactly," replied Lord Hastings. "The _Queen Elizabeth_ is probably the most powerful ship of war afloat today." "Of course," continued the prisoner, "reports received through German sources would indicate that the damage being inflicted by the allied fleet is insignificant. However, reports from other sources lead us to believe that the damage may be greater than even England claims." "In other words," said Lord Hastings, "it would seem that the forcing of the Dardanelles is only a question of weeks." "Or even of days," agreed the German. "Which will clear the road to Constantinople for the Allies." "Exactly; and Constantinople, according to an agreement between England, France and Russia, is to be turned over to the Czar as a war prize, in case Germany is defeated," said the prisoner. "Quite a piece of diplomacy," said Lord Hastings. "It will bind the nations of the Triple Entente closer together." "There is no doubt about that," replied the prisoner. "But that is about all the news I can tell you." "We are grateful for what you have told us," replied Lord Hastings, "and hope we have not bored you." "You have not," said the German simply. "But I would like to ask what you intend to do with me?" Lord Hastings hesitated.