persuaded himself, and he certainly did not wish to patent the fact
that he could not keep the ship in station, whatever the circumstances.

No; he would not call him. He solved the problem by increasing the
speed of the engines ever so slightly above the normal, and five
minutes later heaved a sigh of profound relief as the black shape of
the next ahead hove up out of the darkness.

In an hour his helpless feeling had gone and he was jogging merrily
along without any difficulty.

* * * * *

But the skipper, who was accustomed to the ways and tricks of
newly-joined officers generally, and sub-lieutenants in particular, had
been awake the whole time. He always slept with one eye open at sea,
and as the charthouse was immediately beneath the bridge and the
shafting of the wheel and engine-room telegraphs passed within a few
feet of his head, he knew at once from their agitated movement when
anything really desperate was happening. So when the helm went
overhand the revolution telegraph revolved frantically five or six
times in quick succession he yawned wearily, flung off his rug, and sat
up.

"I won't go up and interfere unless he sends for me," he thought to
himself. "He must learn." He had been a "sub" in a destroyer himself.
The summons never came.

At three o'clock, by which time the dawn was breaking, the "C.O." did
appear on the bridge.

"Well, Sub?" he asked. "What d'you think of station keeping at night?"

"Quite easy, sir," said that young officer blandly, quite unaware of
the acoustic properties of the charthouse. "As easy as falling off a
log."

"Did you have any difficulty in seeing the next ahead?"

"Not much, sir. It was a bit dark at times, though."

The "C.O." smiled to himself. He knew.

* * * * *

The "sub," he has passed out of the "acting" stage, is now an expert at
the game, and, to use the phraseology of his latest confidential
report, is "energetic and trustworthy" and a "most promising and
capable officer."

THE MOTHER SHIP

Sixteen years ago, when the ships of the Royal Navy still disported
themselves in black hulls, with red water-lines, white upper works, and
yellow masts and funnels, she was a smart cruiser attached to one of
the large fleets. She was as spick and span as elbow grease and
ingenuity could make her, and the show ship of her squadron and the
pampered darling of the admiral, went by the name of