THE "ORONTABELLA" (missing from book)

"THE WORK OF DEMOLITION WAS ACCOMPLISHED"

THE SUBMARINE HUNTERS

CHAPTER I

The Mysterious Meeting on St. Mena's Island

"We've made a proper mess of things this time!" ejaculated Ross
Trefusis--"or rather I have."

"It can't be helped," rejoined his chum, Vernon Haye. "We've done our
level best to get her off. How long is it before the tide floats her?"

"A matter of seven or eight hours, worse luck. You see, it was only
half ebb when we landed."

Ross bent down to remove a streak of bluish-grey mud from his ankle.

"I wish we'd taken the rowing-boat instead of this heavy old tub," he
continued. "We'll be pretty peckish before we get back to the Hall,
and dinner's at seven-thirty."

Vernon laughed.

"It wouldn't be the first time I've had to go without grub," he
remarked. "If you don't mind, I don't."

"Then it's no use standing here," said Ross. "Let's get on our shoes
and go for a stroll."

Vernon Haye was a broad-shouldered lad of fifteen, with clear-cut
features and dark hair. His companion was of about the same age, but a
good two inches taller. His complexion was florid, his hair of an
auburn tint that narrowly escaped coming within the category of red or
ginger. His features were full and rounded. In short, he was a
typical Cornish youth.

Ross's father, Admiral Paul Trefusis, lived at Killigwent Hall, a
large, rambling, sixteenth-century house, standing within a mile of the
sea on the North Cornish coast.

Both lads went to the same public school, but owing to the fact that
Vernon's father, Captain Haye, was on active service with the Grand
Fleet, young Haye was spending the summer holidays with his chum at
Killigwent Hall.

That afternoon the lads had taken a small sailing-boat and had made for
St. Mena's Island, a small rocky piece of land lying about a mile off
shore, and nearly five miles from Killigwent Cove. The island was
roughly three-quarters of a mile in length, and four hundred yards wide
in the broadest part. The north and west sides were precipitous, but
on the side nearest to the mainland the ground sloped gradually, and
was indented by several narrow tidal coves.

The glamour of romance lay thickly around that rocky pile. Centuries
ago it was the abode of a hermit, who, amongst his various self-imposed
tasks, had built a chapel on the summit, from the tower of which a wood
fire was kindled nightly to warn mariners