The man saluted and disappeared. A few seconds after, my brother beckoned to Doris.
"Now, then," he said, "be brave!"—and then, turning to me, "Stand out of sight on deck, John, and be ready to help."
We crept up on deck. To my unutterable surprise, Doris went to the side and leant over. She spoke in German and in a very low voice.
"She's telling them that they're to come up on board and have a drink," my brother said.
The two figures below rose with alacrity. The first one ascended the ladder as Doris whipped down the hatchway into the cabin. The second sailor followed his companion.
I was not called upon to help, thank Heaven! Scarlett, Adams, and Bosustow rose from nowhere.
"That accounts for three," said my brother, but I turned my head away not to see what was going on.
When we were again down in the cabin I was shaking like a leaf.
"Drink this," Bernard said sternly, "and pull yourself together. It is War, don't you understand that, man?"
Doris was leaning over the table by the side of Lieutenant Murphy. In front of her was a paper. The lovely face, oddly boyish under its cap, was wrinkled with scrutiny.