“It’s the Black Duke, Captain Johnson, from London to Smyrna.”
“Gee! captain,” exclaimed Raymond; “you must have second sight. How do you know what ship that is at this distance?”
“I know her as well as I know the Princess Mary.”
“I couldn’t tell the Princess Mary as far off as that,” declared Raymond.
“Well, I could. When she comes up I’ll speak her and we’ll get the news.”
The two ships rapidly drew together, and laid their courses to pass about one hundred yards apart. When the Black Duke, for such the ship was in fact, was still some three or four hundred yards distant, Captain Foster took the trumpet and shouted,—
“Ahoy! Black Duke.”
“Ahoy! Princess Mary,” came the answer.
“What news of the war?”
“Turkey closed the Dardanelles this morning.”