“Oh, I feel rather nervous about it, father, and I don’t know that it would answer; but I should like to try.”
“Go on, then; let’s hear what it is.”
“You see, I noticed that they have always got steam up ready to come in chase at any time if we try to slip out.”
“That’s right,” growled the mate.
“Well, I was thinking, father, how would it be if we could foul the screw?”
“Why, a job, my lad, for them to clear it again.”
“But wouldn’t it be very risky work lying waiting while they tried to clear the screw? You know what tremendous currents there are running along the coast.”
“But they wouldn’t affect a craft lying at anchor, my lad,” growled the mate.
“No,” said Poole excitedly; “but I should expect to foul the screw just when they had given orders to up with the anchor to come in chase of us or to resist attack.”
“And how would you do it, my lad?” said the skipper.