ck, and we're saddled with two
raw lubbers."

"There is no mention of their having had previous sea-service, sir?"
remarked Barry. "But perhaps they'll turn out fairly smart."

"They will," added the Lieutenant-Commander grimly; "that is, if I have
anything to do with them for any length of time. But, by Jove! here
they are, unless I'm much mistaken."

Looking rather self-conscious in their brand-new uniforms, Ross and
Vernon doubled down the steeply sloping gangway. As they came aboard,
Syllenger noted with professional satisfaction that they both saluted
the quarter-deck. The action showed, by one thing at least, they were
not the greenhorns he expected to receive.

"You have had no previous experience, I believe?" he asked, after the
midshipmen had introduced themselves.

"Very little, beyond knocking about in yachts and boats," replied Ross.

"That's something," decided the skipper. "A fellow who starts his
career in a small boat has the makings of a good seaman. It is rare
indeed that a man who goes straight to sea in a steamship makes a smart
man in a boat. If ever you go on patrol duty you'll find your
experience of value. By the by, I suppose you know our particular job?"

"Yes, sir," replied Ross. "Hunting submarines."

"Ever seen one?" asked Syllenger abruptly.

"Several of the D and E classes manoeuvring in Plymouth Sound."

"But a German one?"

"Yes, sir."

"Where?"

"We've both spent nearly a week on board an unterseeboot, sir."

The skipper sternly regarded the two midshipmen.

"Look here," he said. "If you think you've come on board to gammon me,
the sooner you get that idea out of your heads the better. There's no
room on the _Capella_ for a pair of modern Ananiases."

Ross said nothing. From the outside left breast-pocket of his
"undress" coat he produced a white foolscap envelope, bearing in blue
the "foul anchor" badge of the Admiralty.

The Lieutenant-Commander took the proffered envelope somewhat
suspiciously. He more than half expected that it was a letter of
introduction from a high official at Whitehall, on the strength of
which the two midshipmen felt inclined to "put on side".

Instead, he found that it contained an autograph letter from the
Admiralty, thanking the lads for their bravery and presence of mind,
whereby they materially assisted in the preservation of H.M.S.
_Tremendous_ and in the destruction of two of the enemy submarines.
The document finished