ult that quite a choppy sea was met with outside Southampton Water.
Like a knife, the sharp cutwater of the _Capella_ cleft the waves,
sending up showers of white spray; but such was her speed that, before
the wind could carry the spindrift on deck, the swift vessel was beyond
the cascade of foam. She hardly felt the motion of the waves; indeed,
she was so steady that it was possible to place a pail of water on deck
without any of the contents being spilt by the "lift" of the ship.

Under the guidance of Noel Fox, the midshipmen made the round of the
vessel, the Sub explaining everything to them in detail. Already the
lads had taken a great fancy to the Sub, and Fox reciprocated the
sentiment. He had a way about him that enabled him to give particulars
of the most intricate mechanism without having to resort to dry,
parrot-like instruction.

By the time he had explained the ingenious devices used to entrap the
German unterseebooten, Ross and Vernon felt inclined to marvel how it
was they found themselves on board the _Capella_, since only sheer good
luck had saved U75 from being doomed during every hour of their brief
and involuntary detention.

"Yes, we can mop up the German submarines quicker than they can turn
them out," said the Sub. "Of course I don't mean to say that a few of
them won't get a smack at some of our ships for some time to come; but
all the same we are giving them beans. From a strictly professional
point of view we would be sorry if Old Turps abandoned his 'effectual'
blockade. Our chances of having a high old game with the
unterseebooten would be considerably reduced."

"There are still some in the English Channel," hazarded Vernon.

"Yes, a few; but have you noticed how those fellows fight shy of Dover?
They shun it like the plague. It's horribly unhealthy for them. D'ye
know why? Perhaps you wouldn't have paid much attention to it, but
some months ago the Admiralty issued a 'Notice to Mariners', stating
that the Straits of Dover were heavily mined, and that all shipping was
to pass through the Downs within three miles of the Kentish coast.

"So it's fairly safe to assume that the few stray unterseebooten that
are still lurking in the Channel have made the passage round the north
coast of Scotland. It's only a matter of time before we bag the lot, I
fancy."

"And our submarines?" enquired Ross.

"Have fewer opportunities since the Hun battleships and cruisers have
such a decided