Sir William put his watch back in his pocket and stood looking from one speaker to the other. Finally he removed his eye-glass and began to polish it with scrupulous care.
"Do I understand——" he began.
The voice of the Lieutenant-Commander at the periscope cut him short.
"Stand by the tubes!" he shouted.
There was a swift bustle of men's footsteps down the electric-lit perspective of glistening machinery.
"Fritz must be in a tearing hurry to get home," commented the First Lieutenant. "P'raps they've all got plague or running short of food … or just tired of life?"
"P'raps," conceded the Lieutenant-Commander. "Anyhow, that's as may be…. The beam torpedo tube will just bear nicely in a minute." The white teeth beneath the rubber eye-piece of the periscope showed for an instant in a broad grin. "Won't old man Gedge jump!"
"Starboard beam tube ready!"
Sir William replaced his eye-glass. A sudden bead of perspiration ran down and vanished into his left eyebrow.
"The Lord," said the Lieutenant in a low voice, "has placed the enemy upon our lee bow, Sir William."
"Has he?" said Sir William dryly. "Then I hope He'll have mercy on their souls."