The same afternoon he met the commanding officer of the Monsoon.
'Well, Peter,' said the latter, 'we got jolly well out of that show last night.'
'By George! yes,' Wooten agreed. 'I thought we'd never get you round head to wind. How did your chaps take it?'
'They weren't particularly cheery at first,' said the other, laughing. 'But as soon as you got us in tow they spent their time singing "Lead, kindly Light." You know how it brings in "The night is dark, and I am far from home," so it was quite suitable to the occasion. The ship was in a shocking mess, though; and when the mine went up it blew the after storerooms and most of the wardroom into the sea, so we hadn't any food. We were all jolly glad to get back into harbour again, and it was only by the mercy of God that we had no casualties.'
Wooten nodded.
'I suppose you know, Peter,' continued the other, 'that we were bang on the top of a Hun minefield.'
'Minefield! I thought the one that got you was a floater.'
'Don't you believe it. They tell me the place we were in is fairly thick with 'em. You can thank your lucky stars you didn't bump one.'
The possibility of the Mariner also being blown up had never really occurred to Wooten at the time. Perhaps it was just as well for him that it didn't, and that the taking of the Monsoon in tow gave him little or no time to think of anything else. 'Great Scott!' he observed, with his usual slow smile and a little whistle of astonishment; 'I'm glad we didn't come a mucker—jolly glad! What about a glass of sherry to celebrate the auspicious occasion?'
'I'm on, Peter,' said his friend; 'but I really think it's up to me to pay for it.'