“Dick, the Owl,” said the officer, with a slight laugh.
“That will do. Aft there, stand by the wheel.”
“Ay, ay, sir,” came in muffled reply.
“We won’t steer her from the bridge, madam,” said the Captain, “all the lights must be out, and the orders passed by mouth.”
“Do you think they’ll challenge us?” spoke the young lady, her voice sounding so near that Frank involuntarily drew back his head.
“They’ll speak us, but we’ll get through right enough. If there’s any trouble it’ll be off Sheerness.”
“Why there?”
“They’ll wire to the coastguard, and they’ll signal the guardship.”
“That’s a man-of-war, isn’t it?”
“She is that, miss, but she’ll not fire, I hope; and we’ll slip by before she’s rubbed her eyes. There are the lights of Gravesend, and isn’t that something black ahead under the bank? You won’t go below, I s’pose, Miss Laura?”