As they passed the first of the big ships lying at anchor, the ‘Sub’ gave a sharp order, and the men came to attention facing towards her, and as the quarter deck drew abeam, Raymond raised his hand in a salute which was answered from the battleship by the officer on the watch.
‘’Bout turn!’ ordered Seagrave, as they passed the next ship, and once more salutes were exchanged.
By now ‘123’ was well up the bay, and the Parentis was visible as the boat threaded her way through the crowded harbour.
‘Finished harbour stations,’ ordered Raymond. ‘Stand by to go alongside.’
Then down the conning-tower hatch,—
‘Motors, group down! Three hundred!’
‘Both engine clutches out, sir,’ came the reply. ‘Three ’undred, sir.’
The exhaust wavered and died away; there was a pause, and then the faint churning aft indicated that the screws were being turned by the electric motors, which were taking three hundred amperes.
With perfect judgment Raymond manœuvred her astern of the Parentis, and ‘123’ slid alongside with barely a foot’s clearance.
As she slid by,—