the convoy lurched forth; fired a shot and
tossed up the waves in answer. The resonance against the steel sides
of the transport rang out clear, bringing hundreds scampering out of
the hatches and state rooms of the ship, on to the decks, to peer out
over the rail and watch in awe the great drama that was being enacted
in serious reality upon the waves of the ocean.

The sun was shining brightly. Every transport in the party struck out
at full speed, while the zigzagging was increased in comparison. Eight
sub-chasers cut the waves with frantic speed. The circle-convoy
formation was abandoned. The destroyers cut short to make for the
scene of action, which held forth and was witnessed to good advantage
from the starboard side of the Morvada.

As the transports fled under full steam the cruiser and sub-chasers
snorted and crashed and roared in the vicinity the periscopes had been
discovered. Depth-bombs came into play. Those missiles of destruction
were hurled from the destroyers as they combed the waves for miles and
miles around the spot where danger threatened. Each discharge of
depth-bomb raised an avalanche of water; the deadly bombs blasting the
depths for great distances, while the reverberation shook the
transports, creating the impression that the transport was in direct
contact with each explosion.

For fully an hour the detonations continued as the depth-bombs were
discharged. Finally the destroyers swept back and the convoy formation
was resumed. The news was spread that the final result of the battle
was success, as vouched for by films of oil the destroyers saw appear
on the water's surface. General report had it that five submarines
composed the attacking party and that wreckage and oil coming to the
surface gave evidence of two having been destroyed.

The convoy continued on its journey. Sailing orders were executed in
detail. It was 4 o'clock, one hour after the sub-battle, that the
convoy parted, the various ships bound for different ports of
debarkation, which were soon to loom in sight.

At 6 p. m. that same day the soldiers on board the Morvada sighted
land. Throughout the night the ships sped on but land was dimly
discernible, the rugged outline appearing through the shadows of the
night, while the appearance of fishing smacks, which the transport
passed without fear or sign, created the impression that friendly
shores were near.

Unable to ply their nets at their life's occupation as fisherm