Presently he went forward, and sent a few flashes seaward from a lantern carefully screened from the shore. There were answering flashes out at sea. In half an hour a destroyer loomed up out of the darkness. The lieutenant-commander went aboard with Frank and the seamen, and the fishing vessel was made fast to a hawser from the stern. There was a brief conference on deck.
"That's all right then," said the officer. "Now, my dear chap, you must be dead tired. Tumble below. I'll wake you when I want you."
While Frank slept, the destroyer ran slowly up the gulf. He awoke at a touch.
"Sorry to disturb you so soon, but you must come up."
Frank rose sleepily and went on deck. The destroyer was moving dead slow.
"We're on a course parallel with the shore," said the officer. "Just keep your eye lifting over the port quarter, will you?"
Frank did as he was instructed. In a minute or two he saw two dim lights on shore, which vanished almost immediately.
"The question is, are they the lights of a farmhouse, or somewhere in the channel?" said the officer.
"It's late for a farmhouse."
"Exactly. Wait a little. Keep looking out."