no more.

Lieutenant Franklin came on to the bridge and saluted; he returned the
salute, gave the orders for changing the course, and went down to his
cabin, muttering:

"Good Lord, if that's only so. Why, half a dozen things like that could
fight a fleet, then go on gaily to tackle the forts. I wonder whether my
Lords of the Naval Council will see me to-morrow, and believe me if they
do see me."

By great good luck it happened that the Commander of the North-eastern
District had come up from Hull to Scarborough for a few days' holiday.
When he saw the _Cormorant_ steam into the bay, he very naturally wanted
to know what was the matter, and so he went down to the pier-head, and
met the _Cormorant's_ cutter. As Erskine came up the steps he recognised
him and saluted.

"Good-morning, sir."

"Good-morning, Erskine. What's the matter? You're a little off your
ground, aren't you? Of course, there must be a reason for it. Anything
serious?" replied the District Commander, as he held out his hand. "Ah,
good morning, Castellan. So you've both come ashore. Well, now, what is
it?"

Erskine took a rapid glance round at the promenaders who were coming
down to have a look at the cruiser, and said in a low tone:

"Yes, sir. I am afraid it is rather serious; but it is hardly the sort
of thing one could discuss here. In fact, I was taking the
responsibility of going straight to London with Castellan, to present a
report which we have drawn up to the Board of Admiralty."

The District Commander's iron-grey eyebrows lifted for the fraction of a
minute, and he said:

"H'm. Well, Erskine, I know you're not the sort of man to do that sort
of thing without pretty good reason. Come up to the hotel, both of you,
and let us go into it."

"Thank you, sir," replied Erskine. "It is really quite fortunate that we
met you here, because I think when you've seen the report you will feel
justified in giving us formal leave instead of French leave."

"I hope so," he replied, somewhat grimly, for a rule of the Service had
been broken all to pieces, and his own sense of discipline was sorely
outraged by the knowledge that two responsible officers had left their
ship with the intention of going to London without leave.

But when he had locked the door of his sitting-room at the hotel, and
heard the amazing story which Erskine and Castellan had to tell, and had
read their report, and the evidence of the men who had also seen the
strange appa