But after the declaration of war, the spy question assumed an aspect as serious as it was unlocked for.  Spain worked silently, secretly and through one of the best-handled branches of her government and with all the Latins’ natural love of intrigue.  She no longer paid much heed to Palma or Rubens, or to Captain O’Brien.  She was playing a bigger game.  American detectives no longer represented her interests here—­an impossibility under existing conditions, of course.  Under Polo was established a most complete department of espionage, which he controlled from the refuge Canada offered him.

The gathering together of information and those facts which usually concern the operation of secret service of civilized countries seemed to be a side issue with this particular department.  The scope of its operations was along different lines from those usually followed by the mere spy.

Polo’s intention appeared to be to carry the war into America in a new and startling manner—­startling, because his movements could not be seen or foretold until the blow was struck.  He made use of the corps under his control to place the bomb of the anarchist and apply the torch of the incendiary under our arsenals and to those buildings where the government stored its supplies for the army and navy.

For a time he was successful in his cowardly scheming and his emissaries celebrated his success with many tons of good American gunpowder, and at the cost of some good American lives.  Bombs were found in the coal reserved for use aboard our men-of-war.  They were even taken from the coal bunkers of our ships and they were found in certain of the government buildings at Washington.  Indeed, the situation became so serious that finally strangers were not allowed to visit a man-of-war or enter a fort.

It must be remembered that there are in America thousands of Spaniards who, unless they commit some overt act of violence, can enjoy all the privileges accorded to a citizen.  This, together with our mixed population, in many quarters made up largely of the peoples of Southern Europe, all more or less of one type, all speaking languages which, to untrained ears at least, are almost identical one with the other, gave the Spanish spy in America a protection and freedom from suspicion and surveillance he would hardly meet with in any other country, and which, by the inverse, offered no opportunity for the American spy in Spain, had we chosen to make use of the same methods.

Playing A desperate game.

These Spaniards were playing a desperate game, however.  It was literally at the peril of their necks, for should a man be apprehended, there would be no possibility of escaping the ignominious death that usually awaits on such services.  Sobral was allowed to go, though there was no question but that his conduct was so incriminating that he was liable to arrest, trial, and, if convicted, death, had this country cared to hold him.  His fate abroad would be easy to foretell.  His guilt was almost as great as that which brought Major Andre to his death in the times of the Revolution.