in less than a quarter of an hour they returned.
By this time the smoke had disappeared. One of their number worked the
semaphore attached to the station.

"Fires made with damp straw. Found old blankets apparently used to
stifle smoke. Saw large car stationary; made towards Lewes on
approach; number known; have informed police."

"Smart youngsters!" exclaimed Captain Syllenger. "They've helped to
nip some little plan in the bud. We'll have to be jolly careful for
the next few days, I expect. Did you make a note of the fog-signals,
Mr. Fox?"

"I did, sir," replied the Sub, producing a leaf of a notebook covered
with an unintelligible number of lines. "Each of these strokes
represents a column of smoke according to its position."

"I can make nothing of it," remarked Syllenger. "At any rate I'll send
your result to the Admiralty with the utmost dispatch. Take her in,
Mr. Fox, and bring up where you find the two-fathom mark."

The _Capella_ headed nearer towards the shore, a leads-man sounding
until the required depth was found. One of the boats was lowered,
manned, and rowed to the coast-guard station, Sub-lieutenant Barry
being in charge, with Ross as his immediate subordinate.

"I want this to be forwarded to the Admiralty with the least possible
delay," he announced, addressing the chief officer. "How long do you
think it will take to get through?"

"Too late for the eleven something train from Brighton, sir," was the
reply. "There's a gentleman in the village who has a big car. He's a
member of the Volunteer Training Corps. No doubt he'll take it as far
as Lewes. Why, sir, here's the gent himself! Mr. Hyde's his name."

The newcomer was a sparely built man of below medium height. He looked
about thirty years of age. In reality he was nearly fifty. Having
vainly attempted to obtain a commission in the R.N.R. and the Army, he
had joined the V.T.C. in the hope that, perhaps, some day his services
might be utilized in a very practical form. Now his chance was at hand.

He had strolled down to the beach on noticing a boat putting off from
the patrol vessel.

"Lewes? Certainly," he replied in answer to Barry's question. "I
doubt whether you'll save much. Why not let me take the message right
to the Admiralty? I'd like to do it, 'pon my word I would."

The Sub hesitated. Perhaps the stranger might be all right; but he
might be all wrong. One had to be very careful in these times. Yet