“So too with the German submarines.  They also must cross and cross again in their cruises, those lines along which your feluccas continually come and go.”

Jose Medina threw up his hands.

“The submarines!  Senor, if you listen to the babblers on the quays, you would think that the seas are stiff with them!  Schools of them like whales everywhere!  Only yesterday Palma rang with the account of one.  It pursued a French steamer between Minorca and Mallorca.  It spoke to a fishing boat!  What did it not do?  Senor, there was no submarine yesterday in the channel between Minorca and Mallorca.  If there had been I must have known.”

And he sat back as though the subject were disposed of.

“But submarines do visit these waters, Senor Medina, and they do sink ships,” replied Hillyard.

Jose Medina shrugged his shoulders and spread out his hands.

“Claro! And it is said that I supply them with their oil.”  He turned swiftly to Hillyard.  “Perhaps you have heard that story, senor?”

Hillyard nodded.

“Yes.  I did not believe it.  It is because I did not believe it that I am here, asking your help.”

“I thank you.  It is the truth.  I will tell you something now.  Not one of my captains has ever seen one of those submarines, neither on this side nor on that,” and Medina touched the lines which Hillyard had drawn on both sides of the Balearics on his chart.  “Now, what can I do?”

“One simple thing, and well within your scruples as a neutral,” replied Hillyard.  “These submarines doubly break the laws of nations.  They violate your territorial waters, and they sink merchant ships without regard for the crews.”

“Yes,” said Jose Medina.

“You have agents along the coast.  I have friends too in every town, Englishmen who love both England and Spain, Spaniards who love both Spain and England.  We will put, if you permit, your agents in touch with my friends.”

“Yes,” said Jose Medina innocently.  “How shall we do that?  We must have lists prepared.”

Hillyard smiled gently.

“That is not necessary, senor.  We know your agents already.  If you will secretly inform them that those who speak in my name,” and he took his card from the table, and gave it into Medina’s hands, “are men to be trusted, it will be enough.”

Jose Medina agreed.

“I will give them instructions.”

“And yet another instruction if you will be so kind, to all your captains.”

“Yes?”

“That they shall report at the earliest possible moment to your nearest agent ashore, the position of any submarine they have seen.”

Jose Medina assented once more.

“But it will take a little time, senor, for me to pass that instruction round.  It shall go from captain to captain, but it will not be prudent to give it out more widely.  A week or two—­no more—­and every captain in my fleet shall be informed.  That is all?”