"And you, Mr. Fernald, will cross the course continually ahead of the steamship and keep the most vigilant guard against submarine attack!"
Dave next went to the chart-room, his teeth chattering from his soaked, chilled condition.
Here he stripped and gave himself as vigorous a rub-down as he could administer, after which he attired himself in dry clothing throughout and sent orders to the mess kitchen for a pot of hot coffee.
Over this warmer Dave lingered long enough to gulp down three cups of the steaming beverage.
Then pulling on a dry sheepskin coat and turning up the fur collar against the wintry blast, he went to the bridge.
"All's secure, and no sign of trouble so far, sir," reported Lieutenant Fernald.
Yet, unknown to any on the destroyer, the "Grigsby," driving ahead obliquely from port to starboard well ahead of the steamship, was heading straight toward a mine that lurked beneath the surface of the water.
