“Yes; I suppose my father will be angry,” Virginia agreed demurely. “However, that can’t be helped. I never have been able to understand his great friendship for Portiforo,” she went on, frowning. “It is a mystery to me why he is so persistently blind to the grossness of that tyrant. Possibly,” she suggested archly, “it is because Portiforo flatters him. Father is very susceptible to flattery.” “Probably that is the reason,” the Camera Chap acquiesced. “Think you’ll be able to manage this boat all right after I leave you?” he inquired anxiously. “She runs very smoothly, and all you’ve got to do, you know, is to keep her headed straight for the fortress landing. “That will be easy,” she assured him. “Fortunately I’ve had some experience with motor boats.” “And you haven’t forgotten your instructions? You know just what you are to do after you land? Remember, everything depends upon your ability to keep the attention of the sentry focused on you until after I’ve got my picture.” “Don’t worry about that,” said Virginia confidently. “He’ll have to be an automaton if he’s able to turn a deaf ear to my heart-rending screams of distress.” Hawley, busy with the motor, echoed her laugh. A little later the launch, running now under its own power, had drawn so near to the _Kearsarge_ that they could hear her bells striking the hour. The Camera Chap abruptly changed their course. “We don’t want to get any nearer to the warship,” he explained to his companion. “They might take it into their heads, you know, to throw a searchlight on us, and just at present we’re not at all eager to bask in the limelight.” Virginia gazed wistfully at the shadowy outline of the big vessel. “If only we could get them to help us,” she murmured. “With a hundred sturdy bluejackets from that ship, we could take the fortress and bring back President Felix himself, instead of merely his photograph.” “A hundred!” exclaimed Hawley, with a laugh. “I venture to say that half a dozen would be enough. But I’m afraid that’s out of the question. For the present I guess we’ll have to be content with the picture.” “If we get it,” said the girl, in a sudden fit of depression. “We’re going to get it,” the Camera Chap declared confidently. The motor boat was heading, now, straight for the fortress. Presently Hawley slackened her speed and motioned to Virginia to take his place at the wheel. “I guess the psychological moment has arrived,” he announced. “We won’t risk going any nearer.” He took off his coat and shoes, and threw them overboard. Then he fastened around his waist a belt to which was attached a water-tight bag, which contained his photographic apparatus. “Au revoir,” he said lightly, extending his hand to the girl. “Sure you don’t feel scared?”