This was indeed the case. An investigation of the garden had shown clear indications of the struggle that had taken place there the night before, and servants had been discovered who had seen the inventor issuing into the garden with the unsavory Pulsifers. The odor of chloroform still clinging to the grass decided the matter, and completed the chain of circumstantial evidence. Herc, too, had been able to supplement the mute testimony by his story of the convict film and the names of the conspirators. Already a launch full of marines had been sent to Boco del Toros to intercept the yacht Carl and Silas had mentioned in the lad's hearing. This much having been done, a code message had been sent to the secretary of the navy, who had at once ordered every port in Cuba watched, and detailed secret service men in the United States to special duty to apprehend the Pulsifers if they attempted to land in America. The examination of Herc, who was, of course, the principal witness, went on. At its conclusion an officer of the _Illinois_ begged permission to ask one more question. "My man, did you or your friend talk over this step of his?" "Not any more than I have told you, sir," rejoined Herc, somewhat puzzled. "I submit, sir," remarked the officer, turning to the rear-admiral, "this looks somewhat as if the lad was in league with the Pulsifers. We know now, from what this lad has told us, that other members of the crew were disaffected; possibly Strong was bribed, too." "You don't know Ned Strong, sir," spoke up Herc, "or----" "Silence, sir!" thundered the officer. "Huh!" grunted Herc, in a low tone, however. "As I was saying, sir, the whole thing looks, as you said, suspicious. We know that the lad was recently placed in the forward turret of the _Manhattan_, and would have had an opportunity to examine the breechblock of the Varian gun. He might even have made rough drawings of it." "What you say is plausible, Captain Stirling," nodded the rear-admiral gravely. "I don't believe a word of it!" snapped Captain Dunham hotly. "I'll stake a good deal on that youngster's honesty, and----" "You'll win!" came a crisp voice from the rear of the room. The officers turned, amazed, and set up a shout of astonishment as they beheld, framed in the door which they had entered noiselessly, the figures of the inventor, and, standing, cap in hand, by his side, the Dreadnought Boy, the lad to whose pluck and resourcefulness the inventor largely owed his liberty. "I repeat it, gentlemen," went on the inventor, for it was he who had voiced the interruption; "there isn't a finer, more capable or grittier lad in the service to-day than Ned Strong of the _Manhattan_." "But, but--gentlemen, pray sit down----" began the rear-admiral. "Really this is most irregular." He sat down resignedly as the officers pressed about the inventor and Ned. In a few moments order was restored, and the two newly escaped captives were telling their story.