I

An Unexpected Capture

"I can see no possibility of landing you at present," said the officer
of the watch, after Ross had reported the events that had led up to the
rescue of the two boats. "We're under sealed orders. We have to make
for a certain rendezvous at full speed. When we arrive we shall know
where we are bound for--until then we are quite in the dark. We'll
wireless, however, and let the Commander-in-Chief at Portsmouth know
that you are safe."

"Have you any news of the _Capella_?"

"Yes; she was mined while in pursuit of a submarine. It is a dickens
of a puzzle to know why, for our sweepers were over there early that
morning and never found a single mine. Whatever it was, it was not so
powerful as they generally are, for the _Capella_ was able to make for
shore and run aground within a few miles of Barfleur. All hands were
saved, luckily, but I'm afraid this gale will do for her entirely.
It's blowing great guns."

"Then those fellows on the unterseeboot were wrong," remarked Vernon.
"They said she had gone down with all hands. We believe that the
submarine is a mine-layer, and perhaps it was one of her mines that the
old _Capella_ bumped against."

"Let's hope the patrol-vessels will settle her," rejoined the officer
of the watch. "But you must be awfully knocked up. I'll introduce you
to your new messmates, and they'll give you a shake-down in the
steerage flat. The _Orontabella's_ officers can mess with the
'warrants', and the men will be berthed for'ard."

The Lieutenant stepped to the top of the ladder from the navigation
bridge. A couple of midshipmen were standing on the superstructure,
watching with professional interest the splicing of a six-inch hawser.

"Mr. Sefton!" sang out the officer of the watch.

The midshipman ran up the ladder and saluted.

"Your messmates for the time being," continued the Lieutenant, after he
had formally introduced Trefusis and Haye. "They've had a pretty rough
time, and they are jolly peckish, I know."

Midshipman Sefton led the two chums below, and piloted them into a very
long room on the main deck. It was plainly, nay scantily furnished,
and appeared at first sight to be utterly cheerless. Possibly the idea
was heightened by the fact that frequently the scuttles were obscured
by the seas that slapped viciously against the cruiser's sides.

"This is the gun-room," explained Sefton apologetically. "We've had to
clear it out pretty th