"Correct, my boy," rejoined the officer. "Our reason for making the voyage on the _Seneca_," he continued, "is that no regular passenger steamer makes a stop near Barren Island. Furthermore, if we went down on a naval vessel some of these sharp reporters would be sure to make inquiries, with the result that our retreat might be discovered." "And that would be a serious matter?" put in Rob. "Yes, very serious. Several nations are on the _qui vive_ to discover just what the _Barr Peacemaker_ is. They have sent shrewd, cunning men, versed in the art of espionage, to this country on that mission. These men will stick at nothing to ferret out the secret if they can. Mr. Barr has been approached with all sorts of offers. But he is a staunch American to the backbone, as you will discover when you meet him. If anyone is to have the _Peacemaker_ it is to be Uncle Sam, first, foremost and all the time." "Kree-e-ee-ee!" shrilled the Boy Scouts of the Eagle Patrol in unison. The sharp, screaming note of the Eagle was still resounding when Merritt uttered a startled cry, and pointed to the open transom above the door. The others were still staring at him when he darted toward it and flung the portal open. The passage beyond was empty, and the boy turned to his companions with a puzzled look on his face. "What's up, Merritt?" asked Rob. "Seeing spooks?" inquired Tubby. "Seeing nothing," snapped out Merritt; "I _saw_----" "Saw what?" demanded Lieutenant Duvall. "A face peering at us over that transom. It dodged into the darkness as I looked up, but I saw it as plain as daylight." Both officers bent forward almost breathlessly. Merritt's communication appeared to affect them strangely. "What kind of a face was it?" demanded Ensign Hargreaves. "A wild looking one. Very pale, and fringed with dark whiskers." The effect on the officers was electrical. They both sprang up and made for the door followed by the puzzled Scouts. "Was--was it anyone you know?" demanded Rob, as he paced beside Lieutenant Duvall. "Yes. From the description it was Berghoff, the spy of a powerful European nation whose ambition it is to outgeneral all other powers on the sea. We must apprehend him if possible. It is only too clear that he followed us here from Washington and must have heard a great part of our conversation." "Phew! This is action with a capital A!" gasped Rob as they ran down the stairway and out into the lighted street. But although a rigorous search was made and all trains watched, no trace was found of Nordstrom Berghoff, the naval spy. It was surmised that he must have made good his escape in a speedy "roadster" car in which he had crept into Hampton earlier in the evening. CHAPTER III. AN OCEAN DERELICT. "What's that object off on the starboard bow, sir?"