can't say it here, but you know why I know."

Captain Erskine nodded, and did his best to conceal an unofficial smile.

"That's right, Castellan," he said. "I'll take your word for it. Get
that chap on board, lads, as quick as you can. We'll follow at once."

Ship's Corporal Sandy M'Grath, the huge Scotsman, whose great fist had
stifled Count von Eckstein's attempt to cry out, touched his cap and
said: "Awa' wi' him, boys," and out they went at a run. Then Erskine
turned to Lennard, and said:

"We can do all this that you've given me on board the _Ithuriel_. It
isn't quite regular, but in consideration of this, if you like to take a
cruise, and see your own work done, I'll take the responsibility of
inviting you, only mind, there will probably be some fighting."

Even as he spoke two deep dull bangs shook the atmosphere and the
windows of the hotel shivered in their frames.

"I'll come," said Lennard. "They seem to have begun already."

"Begorra they have," said Denis Castellan, making a dash to the door.
"Come on. If that's so, there'll be blood for supper to-night, and the
sooner we're aboard the better."

The next moment the three were outside, and sprinting for the end of the
Railway Pier for all they were worth.

CHAPTER VIII

FIRST BLOOD

When they got to the end of the Railway Pier where the pinnace was lying
panting and puffing, a Flag-Lieutenant touched his cap to Erskine, took
him by the arm and led him aside. He took an envelope out of his pocket
and said, in a low tone:

"Here are your instructions, Erskine. They've jumped on us a bit more
quickly than we thought they would, but the Commander-in-Chief trusts to
you and your ship to do the needful. The position is this: one division
of the Russian, German and Dutch fleets is making a combined attack on
Hull and Newcastle. Two other divisions are going for the mouth of the
Thames, and the North Sea Squadron is going to look after them. The
French North Sea Squadron is making a rush on Dover, and will get very
considerably pounded in the process. Two French fleets from Cherbourg
and Brest are coming up Channel, and each of them has a screen of
torpedo boats and destroyers. The Southern Fleet Reserve is concentrated
here and at Portland. The Channel Fleet is outside, and we hope to get
it in their rear, so that we'll have them between the ships and the
forts. If we do, they'll have just about as hot a time of it as anybody
wants.

"As far