CHAPTER VI.
THE SECRET AGENT.
Upon landing the three made their way at once to Jack's small home, arudely constructed native hut.
"Sorry I haven't a better place to offer you," said Jack, "but I guessyou can put up with it for one day."
"No apology is needed," said Hetherington. "This is plenty good enoughfor me."
"And for me," declared Frank.
"Well, just make yourselves at home, then," said Jack. "I'll see if Ican't scare up something to eat."
Their appetites appeased, Frank bethought himself of Hetherington'spromise to tell him his story, and reminded him of it.
Hetherington hesitated a moment, and then said:
"I don't know as there is any reason I shouldn't tell you, particularlyas I undoubtedly owe my life to you both. In the first place, I am whatis known as a secret agent of the British government."
"A what?" demanded Jack.
"A secret agent; in other words, a diplomatic agent, though I am notofficially recognized as such. Which means, that in the event ofanything happening to me, England could not be held responsible for myactions, nor could I look to my government for aid."
"I see what you mean," said Frank, and Jack nodded his head in assent.
"You mean that what you do, although under instructions, you do at yourown risk?" he questioned.
"Yes. For instance, if, in some diplomatic undertaking, I should beapprehended upon the order of a foreign government, say as a spy, or forsome overt political act, my government would not countenance my action,even though I am acting under direct orders."
"It must be dangerous work," declared Frank.
"You take your life in your hands every time you are sent upon amission," said Jack.
Hetherington smiled grimly.
"Practically that," he admitted. "It's dangerous work, no doubt; butthere is a spice of excitement to it that makes it worth while."
"Besides which, someone has to do the work, I suppose," suggested Frank.
"Precisely. Every one of the great powers has its set of secret agents.The peace of Europe has been saved more than once by these men. The gamegoes on daily, and our safety depends entirely upon our keeping ouridentity secret. More than one man has disappeared, never to be heard ofagain."
"You don't mean that they were assassinated?" demanded Jack.
"Exactly; nine times out of ten, when a secret agent is caught, his lifepays the forfeit. Sounds barbarous, doesn't it?" and Hetheringtonsmiled.
"It certainly does," replied Frank. "I thought the days of barbarism hadpassed."
"Well, to tell the truth, England and France have given up suchpractice. Germany, Austria, and even Russia, in some cases, continue theold custom. So you may see why the life of a secret agent is not allroses."
"I should say no roses at all," declared Jack. "But go on with yourstory."
"Well," said Hetherington, "the situation is this, but," and the speakerpaused, "in case you haven't political conditions in Europe at yourfinger-tips, I guess I had better explain how the great European powersare lined up.
"Germany, Austria and Italy, some years ago, formed what is now known asthe Triple Alliance. This alliance sets forth that in case eithercountry that signed the agreement is attacked by a hostile power, theother two members of the alliance are bound to support it. Although anatural enemy of Austria, Italy nevertheless was in some mannerinveigled into the agreement, practically against her will. There is nodoubt that in the days since the alliance was formed, she has been usedas a cat'spaw by Germany. Now Italy is beginning to realize it.
"To offset the Triple Alliance and maintain the balance of power inEurope, England, France and Russia, a few years later, entered into apact and the alignment of these three countries is known as the TripleEntente. While not bound to support each other in case of war, therenever was any doubt that each would do so should the other be attacked.It was this knowledge that held the Kaiser's warlike spirit in checkuntil a few days ago.
"Now, in spite of the fact that Italy has begun to realize she is beingused as a cat'spaw by Germany, and also in spite of the natural Italianantagonism toward Austria, Germany's other ally, it will take more thanthis to keep Italy from joining her allies in the war. She is in honorbound to support the alliance, and she will, unless she can be made tobelieve that Germany, in secret conjunction with Austria, is plottingher downfall. And it is this that Italy must be made to believe."
"But is that exactly fair?" Frank wanted to know.
"'All's fair in love and war,'" quoted Hetherington. "Besides, we havelearned enough through secret channels to know that it is true. Now wemust make Italy see it without suspecting that we have had a hand init."
"Looks like quite a sizable job," remarked Jack dryly.
"And so it is," was the reply; "which is the reason I must be in Nalutas soon as possible."
"Surely you don't expect to accomplish all this by yourself?" exclaimedFrank.
"No, indeed," replied Hetherington. "But I must do my part. The planshave all been laid, and day after to-morrow is the one set upon which toact."
"But the thing I can't see," Jack broke in, "is why it is necessary tocome to Africa to carry out the plans."
"Well, it's like this," said the secret agent. "Suppose it became quiteplain to Italy that Germany was aiding the Arabs in Tripoli to get upanother serious insurrection against the Italian army----"
"But she's not," broke in Frank. "She has her hands too full elsewhere."
"Who said she was?" demanded Hetherington. "But suppose old FranciscoDellaya, the great Italian diplomat, recognized as the foremost of allthe diplomats in Europe, should come upon Abu ben Sedar, who has ledmore than one uprising against Italy, in Nalut, hobnobbing with abearded man who presumably is in the Austrian or German army? Suppose hesees them about together once or twice? What do you suppose he'd think?"
"I see what you mean," declared Frank. "But surely that would not beenough to satisfy him."
"No; the plot goes deeper than that. But suppose, again, that he learnedthat Abu ben Sedar had been furnished with several thousand rifles ofunmistakable German make, and that they had been delivered by a Germanvessel straight from Hamburg. Also a few machine guns. And suppose ahundred thousand freshly minted German and Austrian silver marks shouldbe distributed to every hostile Arab in Tripoli? And suppose old Dellayagot wind of this? Do you see what I mean?"
Frank and Jack nodded affirmatively.
"This together with the fact that Dellaya had seen what he supposed wasa German or Austrian officer pretty thick with Abu ben Sedar, wouldconvince Dellaya that Germany and Austria were putting up some kind of agame on Italy," continued the secret agent. "He would, without doubt,have the sheik followed, and we would see that he got plenty ofevidence. Then would came a hurry call to his home government. And thenext step would be that Italy, already only lukewarm toward the TripleAlliance, would withdraw its support, leaving Germany and Austria in thelurch. Do I make myself clear?"
"Perfectly," replied Jack.
"But is the Italian diplomat in Tripoli?" asked Frank.
"No," replied the secret agent, "but he will be day after to-morrow.Once a year he takes a cruise as the guest of Lord Hastings, apparentlya wealthy English gentleman, but in reality a member of the Britishsecret service. He has made many trips to Tripoli, and knows probablyevery Arab sheik within a hundred miles. All this was counted upon whenwe laid our plans. Oh, he will be there, all right, and he will see justwhat we have planned for him to see."
"But how does it come that you were captured in Naples by CaptainHarwood?" Frank demanded.
"I was just making my way to the ship on which I had engaged passagewhen I was set upon by three men, apparently Germans. I was overcome andcarried aboard the ship, where you found me. That's all I know aboutit."
"Do you think your mission was suspected?"
"I am afraid so. I fear we have bee
n harboring a traitor."
"Well," said Jack, "it's getting late. I guess we would better turn in.We must get an early start in the morning."