‘All ready, sir.’
‘Group down?’[1]
‘Grouped down, sir.’
‘Let go fore and aft,’ cried Raymond to the waiting men on the superstructure.
‘All gone, sir.’
At the fore part of the conning-tower a small pedestal rose containing the magnetic compass and steering gear and a number of small switches.
Raymond pressed two of these and a hooter or ‘Klaxon Horn’ sounded below, a bell rang, and the twin screws began to revolve.
‘Astern both it is. Helm amidships.’
‘’Midships, sir,’ from the coxswain.
‘Keep a look out aft, Boyd,’ said Raymond, turning to the navigator.