"By the by," interposed Oswestry, "Staggles ought to be recommended for the V.C."
"What's that, Torps?" asked Barracombe. "Our staff-paymaster the V.C.?"
"What for?" inquired the staff-paymaster innocently.
The commander entrenched himself behind a double number of an illustrated periodical.
"For bringing Mephisto in out of action," he replied with a chuckle.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
THE FOILED AIR RAID.
Late that evening the "Sunderland" brought up in the Admiralty Harbour at Dover, in company with three other light cruisers, two monitors, and a flotilla of destroyers. All night long the men slept at their guns, while the cruiser's searchlights aided those of the forts both ashore and on the breakwater in sweeping the approach to the sheltered harbour.
"Nothing to report," announced Barracombe, as Aubyn relieved him as officer of the watch. "A jolly fine night. I shouldn't wonder if we were favoured by a visit from a Zeppelin or two."