When the soup had been taken away and fish set before them, Matthews asked:
“Don’t you find the patrol work a dreadful bore?”
“It’s often monotonous,” Dave agreed, “but there are some exciting moments that atone for the dulness of many of the hours.”
“And frightfully dangerous work,” Matthews suggested.
“Fighting, I believe, has never been entirely separated from danger,” retorted Dalzell, with a grin.
“Have you sunk anything lately?”
Both naval officers appeared to be too busy with their fish to hear the question.
Matthews looked astonished for only a moment. Then he waited until they were half through with the roast before he inquired:
“How do you like the work of the depth bombs? Are they as useful as it was believed they would be?”
Dave Darrin glanced up quickly. There was no glint of hostility in his eyes. He smiled, and his voice was agreeable as he rejoined: