"There always has to be a first time," Holmes retorted.
"All right, then," smiled Prescott. "We're going to be torpedoed.
Now, I hope that satisfies you."
"You know it doesn't," Holmes rejoined. "This sea air makes me so sleepy, all the time, that I don't feel as though I could stand any real excitement."
"Being torpedoed would be something to look back upon in later years," Dick observed thoughtfully.
"Yes, if we had any later years on earth in which to look back,"
Captain Holmes responded.
"Who's this strange-looking creature coming?" Dick suddenly demanded, as he stared aft.
"Captain Craig, the adjutant, of course," Greg answered. "He has his life belt on, and he's stopping to talk to others."
"After he speaks they hurry away," Dick went on. "I understand.
All hands are ordered to put on life belts."
And that, indeed, proved to be the message that Captain Craig brought forward with him. Dick and Greg did not have far to go to reach their cabin. In five minutes they reappeared on deck in the bulky contrivances intended to buoy them up in the water should they have the bad fortune to find themselves tossing on the waves.
"This makes the danger seem real," Prescott observed.