ar of his greatcoat was turned
up. His face was blanched by the intense cold. As the whaler
approached and he saw that it was a British one, he held up his hands
in token of surrender.

Dropping to leeward, Ross luffed smartly. The whaler lost way almost
alongside the waterlogged boat.

Awkwardly the German clambered over the gunwale, for his limbs were
numbed. Then, as soon as he was safely on board, he drew a revolver
from the pocket of his greatcoat and fired twice in quick succession.

Ross saw his chum throw up his arms and pitch across the centre thwart.
The next instant he felt a stinging pain in his shoulder, as if it were
pierced by a red-hot needle.

"The brute has plugged me!" was the thought that flashed through his
mind, as he subsided heavily upon the grating by the side of the A. P.

He was still conscious, although everything seemed misty. Up to a
certain point he remembered exactly what happened, for with a sudden
spring Shrap flew at the treacherous Teuton's throat.

Again and again the German fired, wildly and in the air, for the
sheep-dog had him fixed in his unyielding jaws, shaking the fellow like
a rat. Unable to move a limb, Ross remained conscious until the issue
was decided and victory rested with the devoted Shrap; then his head
dropped upon his chest and everything became a blank.

* * * * *

Ross Trefusis recovered consciousness to find himself in hospital on
the East coast. In the next cot was Jolly, cutting a sorry figure with
his head swathed in surgical bandages. Vernon was in an adjoining
ward, making a promising recovery from the wound caused by the cowardly
German's bullet that had passed between his ribs, fortunately just
missing his lungs.

It was not until a week later that Ross heard of the manner of his
rescue. The whaler had been picked up by a destroyer. In it they
found the three wounded British officers, and a dead German with his
throat fearfully lacerated. Not only had Shrap saved the situation,
but he had helped still further to save his master's life, for it was
owing to the warmth of the dog's body that Vernon was saved from death
by exposure.

One of the first of visitors to Ross's bedside was John Barry, now
Commander Barry, R.N.R., D.S.O.

"And how did the scrap come off?" asked Ross.

"Fairly well," replied the Commander. "We bagged a cruiser and a
couple of destroyers. The old _Hunbilker_ justified her existence,