‘I rather thought I should get you that time. How did the “fish” run?’
‘Very well. A good straight run, but they seemed to me to be a bit deep. What depth did you have them set at?’
‘Sixteen feet. Best to be on the safe side. That makes sure of them going well underneath you if I get a good shot in, and leaves a margin in case they rise a bit. I don’t want to damage ’em if I can help it.’
‘No, of course not. Do you want another run?’
‘Yes, please. I’d like to get rid of the other two fish now we’re on the job. Same speed zig-zag will do me nicely.’
‘Right-oh. I’m picking up your torpedoes now. If you sheer off at once, by the time I get ’em aboard you’ll be far enough away to dive. I’ll get out to sea again to the limit of the area.’
‘All right. Thanks very much. But I shall be some time, so don’t shake things too much. I’m pumping out the tubes so as to go through the whole show again for the benefit of the crew. I haven’t had any attacks for some time and there are some new hands in the boat.’
‘Never mind!’ bawled Jenkins, waving the megaphone in adieux. ‘I’ll steam out slowly and give you plenty of time. Cheer-oh.’
Meanwhile the gig had pulled quickly to the nearer of the two torpedoes. The war-heads, with their great charges of T.N.T., had been removed the night before and the harmless collision or peace-heads substituted. Other slight adjustments had also been made in order to make them sufficiently buoyant, to control their speed and the depth and distance they should run, and now they bobbed on the surface in a perpendicular position, spouting water and pointing their noses to the skies.
As they drew alongside the first of them the T.I. grabbed at the wire grummet fixed to the head, and passed the end of a line through it. The torpedo was then pulled gently forward by the boat’s crew until the expert could reach and force back the starting lever, rendering harmless her knife-edge propellers. Then off they pulled for the other, the ‘mouldy’ touring astern and bobbing after them.