"It's too much to hope that their main fleet's out," he said.
"Their main fleet's sure to be in support somewhere," replied the Captain. "It's a question whether they realise we're all down on top of 'em, though, and nip for home before we catch them."
A second messenger flung himself, panting, up the ladder, and handed in a second message.
"Intercepted wireless to Flag, sir."
The Captain read it and took a breath that was like a sigh of relief.
"At last!" he said.
The Navigator turned from the chart.
"Der Tag, sir?" he asked interrogatively with a smile.
The Captain nodded ahead at the haze curtaining all the horizon. "If we catch 'em," he replied.
The signal platform was awhirl with bunting; the voice of the Chief Yeoman repeating hoists rose above the stamp of feet and the flapping of flags in the wind.
Thorogood turned to the Navigator. "Will you take on now?" he asked in a low voice. "If the balloon's really going up this time I'd better get along to my battery."