Captain Nicholson laughed.
"It will," he said briefly.
"But what are you doing in these waters?" asked Lord Hastings, having already explained his own presence there.
"Well," said Captain Nicholson, "I understand that there are at least three Turkish cruisers anchored in the mouth of the Euphrates, in the Persian gulf. I suppose they are there to protect Bassora, about 70 miles up the river, from possible attacks. I had thought of attempting to sink them."
"What, alone?" said Lord Hastings.
The captain of the submarine shrugged his shoulders.
"Why not?" he wanted to know.
"Well," said Lord Hastings, "it's a desperate venture, but if you are successful, it will be a feather in your cap."
"I'm not looking for glory," replied Captain Nicholson. "But I would give my right arm to destroy those Turkish cruisers, guarded as they are by a fort. And I mean to have a try at it."
"I'd like to go with you," said Lord Hastings, "but the Sylph would be worse than useless in such an encounter."