I mean
the armour-plate frauds."
"Sure enough!" said Montague. He carried a long list of indictments
against the steel kings in his mind; but he had forgotten this one.
"I know about it particularly," the other continued, "because my
father was on the board of investigation fifteen years ago. I am
disposed to be a little keen on the subject, because what he found
out at that time practically caused his death."
Montague darted a keen glance at the young officer, who sat gazing
ahead in sombre thought. "Fancy how a naval man feels," he said. "We
are told that our ships are going to the Pacific, and any hour the
safety of the nation may depend upon them! And they are covered with
rotten armour plate that was made by old Harrison, and sold to the
Government for four or five times what it cost. Take one case that I
know about--the Oregon. I've got a brother on board her to-day.
During the Spanish War the whole country was watching her and
praying for her. And I could go on board that battleship and put my
finger on the spot in her conning-tower that has a series of blow-
holes straight through the middle of it--holes that old Harrison had
drilled through and plugged up with an iron bar.
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