“She looks fit enough,” said Frank.
“The trouble is you can never tell by the looks,” said Lord Hastings. “However, I guess she is in no danger of sinking.”
“Let us hope her death list is small,” said Jack fervently.
“Let us hope so,” agreed Lord Hastings. “Come, we may as well go below.”
The commander of the D-16 descended from the bridge and the lads followed him.
“We may as well submerge here,” said Lord Hastings, “for every foot we advance on the surface of the water is putting us in the way of hitting a German mine. We can’t be too careful.”
“But it is hardly likely there would be any about here, sir,” said Frank.
“Have you forgotten what it was that caused Admiral Beatty to give up the pursuit of the enemy?” asked Lord Hastings.
“That’s so, sir,” said Frank. “I had forgotten.”
“Besides,” said Jack, “the Germans may have dropped more mines to cover their retreat.”