"Hallo, Dick! I didn't recognize your voice. How goes it?"
"So, so!" replied Dick. "Look here, I vote we stick together. Why aren't they lowering the boats? They don't seem in any sort of a hurry."
"Perhaps it is as well. You know----"
Again a bugle rang out. The ranks stiffened.
"Boys!" exclaimed the Colonel; "the Captain has just sent word that there is no immediate danger. There has been a slight explosion in a bunker. One compartment--the for'ard stokehold--is flooded. For the present the men will remain on deck. The cooks will issue a hot ration. Stand at ease!"
Out came pipes and cigarettes. The men began chatting and yarning, discussing the possibilities and chances of the catastrophe. The explosion had been an internal one, sufficient to cripple the vessel's engines. The question naturally arose as to whether it was the work of a Hun agent.
"I'd like to know who the idiot was who yelled out something about being torpedoed," remarked a rifleman.
"I did," owned up the man in question. "What about it?"
"If you were in C Company they'd give you poison," declared the first speaker contemptuously.
"And," retorted the other, "if I were in C Company I'd take it. As for----"