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For a single second Conyers hesitated。 Then he looked downwards。 The corpse of a woman went floating by； a child； tied on to a table； was bobbing against the side。 The red fires flashed before his eyes； the thunder of his voice broke the momentary stillness。 In obedience to his command； the guns belched out a level line of flame；there was nothing more left of the submarine； or of the men clinging on to it like flies。 Conyers watched them disappear without the slightest change of expression。
〃Hell's the only place for them！〃 he muttered。 〃Send out the boats； Johnson； and cruise around。 There may be something else left to be picked up。〃
The word of command was passed forward and immediately a boat was lowered。
〃A man and a woman clinging to a table； sir；〃 an officer reported to Conyers。 〃We're bringing them on board。〃
Conyers moved to the side of the bridge。 He saw Geraldine lifted into the boat； and Thomson； as soon as she was safe； clamber in after her。 He watched them hauled up on to the deck of the destroyer and suddenly he recognised them。
〃My God！〃 he exclaimed； as he dashed down the ladder。 〃It's Geraldine！〃
She was standing on the deck； the wet streaming from her； supported by a sailor on either side。 She gasped a little when she saw him。 She was quite conscious and her voice was steady。
〃We are both here； Ralph；〃 she cried； 〃Hugh and I。 He saved my life。 Thank heavens you are here！〃
Already the steward was hastening forward with brandy。 Geraldine sipped a little and passed the glass to Thomson。 Then she turned swiftly to her brother。 There was an unfamiliar look in her face。
〃Ralph；〃 she muttered； 〃don't bother about us。 Don't stop for anything else。 Can't you find that submarine？ I saw them allthe menlaughing as they passed away！〃
Conyers' eyes blazed for a moment with reminiscent fury。 Then his lips parted and he broke into strange； discordant merriment。
〃They'll laugh no more in this world； Geraldine；〃 he cried； in fierce triumph。 〃They're down at the bottom of the sea； every man and dog of them！〃
She gripped him by the shoulderGeraldine； who had never willingly hurt and insect。
〃Ralph；〃 she sobbed； 〃thank God！ Thank God you did it！〃
CHAPTER XXXIV
It was towards the close of an unusually long day's work and Major Thomson sighed with relief as he realised that at last his anteroom was empty。 He lit a cigarette and stretched himself in his chair。 He had been interviewed by all manner of people； had listened to dozens of suspicious stories。 His work had been intricate and at times full of detail。 On the whole； a good day's work； he decided； and he had been warmly thanked over the wires by a Brigadier…General at Harwich for his arrest and exposure of a man who had in his possession a very wonderful plan of the Felixstowe land defences。 He lit a cigarette and glanced at his watch。 Just then the door was hurriedly opened。 Ambrose came in without even the usual ceremony of knocking。 He held a worn piece of paper in his hand。 There was a triumphant ring in his tone as he looked up from it towards his chief。
〃I've done it； sir！〃 he exclaimed。 〃Stumbled across it quite by accident。 I've got the whole code。 It's based upon the leading articles in the Times of certain dates。 Here's this last message'Leave London June 4th。 Have flares midnight Buckingham Palace； St。 Paul's steps； gardens in front of Savoy。 Your last report received。'〃
〃'Leave London June 4th；'〃 Thomson repeated； glancing at his calendar；〃to…day！ 'Have flares；'Zeppelins； Ambrose！〃
The clerk nodded。
〃I thought of them at once； sir；〃 he agreed。 〃That's a very plain and distinct warning in a remarkably complicated code； and it's addressedto Sir Alfred Anselman。〃
A smouldering light flashed in Thomson's eyes。
〃Ambrose；〃 he declared； 〃you're a brick。 I sha'n't forget this。 Just find out at once if the Chief's in his room； please。〃
There followed half an hour of breathless happenings。 From the Chief's room Thomson hurried over to the Admiralty。 Here he was taken by one of the men whom he had called to see； on to the flat roof； and they stood there； facing eastwards。 Twilight was falling and there was scarcely a breath of air。
〃It's a perfect night；〃 the official remarked。 〃If they start at the right time； they'll get here before any one can see them。 All the same； we're warning the whole coast； and our gun…stations will be served all night。〃
〃Shall we have a chance； do you think； of hitting any of them？〃 Thomson asked。
The sailor winked。
〃There are a couple of gun…stations I know of not far from here；〃 he said。 〃I tell you they've got armament there which will make our friends tear their hair' shells that burst in the air； mind； too； which you needn't mind letting 'em have as quick as we can fire 'em off。 I shall try and get on to one of those stations myself at midnight。〃
〃What time do you think they'd attack if they do get over？〃
The other took out his watch and considered the subject。
〃Of course；〃 he reflected； 〃they'll want to make the most of the darkness； but I think what they'll aim at chiefly is to get here unobserved。 Therefore； I think they won't start until it's dark； probably from three or four different bases。 That means they'll be here a little before dawn。 I shall just motor my people up to Harrow and get back again by midnight。〃
Thomson left the Admiralty； a little later； and took a taxi to Berkeley Square。 The servant hesitated a little at his inquiry。
〃Miss Geraldine is in； sir； I believe；〃 he said。 〃She is in the morning…room at the moment。〃
〃I shall not keep her；〃 Thomson promised。 〃I know that it is nearly dinner…time。〃
The man ushered him across the hall and threw open the door of the little room at the back of the stairs。
〃Major Thomson； madam；〃 he announced。
Geraldine rose slowly from the couch on which she had been seated。 Standing only a few feet away from her was Granet。 The three looked at one another for a moment and no word was spoken。 It was Geraldine who first recovered herself。
〃Hugh！〃 she exclaimed warmly。 〃Why； you are another unexpected visitor！〃
〃I should not have come at such a time；〃 Thomson explained； 〃but I wanted just to have a word with you； Geraldine。 If you are engaged； your mother would do。〃
〃I am not in the least engaged；〃 Geraldine assured him； 〃and I have been expecting to hear from you all day。 I got back from Boulogne last night。〃
〃None the worse； I am glad to see；〃 Thomson remarked。
She shivered a little。 Then she looked him full in the face and her eyes were full of unspoken things。
〃Thanks to you；〃 she murmured。 〃However；〃 she added； with a little laugh； 〃I don't want to frighten you away； and I know what would happen if I began to talk about our adventure。 I am sorry； Captain Granet；〃 she went on； turning towards where he was standing； 〃but I cannot possibly accept your aunt's invitation。 It was very good of her to ask me and very kind of you to want me to go so much； but to…night I could not leave my mother。 She has been having rather a fit of nerves about Ralph the last few days； and she hates being left alone。〃
〃Captain