"You're safe and sound on board the Polarity, my lad," announced Ranworth soothingly.
"Where's my chum, Leslie?"
"In the bunk underneath yours," replied the charterer of the Polarity. "He's still sound asleep. What's your name?"
"Guy Anderson."
"A smack's boy?"
Guy smiled, then winced, for the action caused his scorched face to smart terribly.
"Hardly! We were on board the Laughing Lassie for a holiday cruise, and she was run down in a fog. I don't think anyone else was saved."
"What's your friend's name?" asked Ranworth.
"Leslie Ward; his people live at St. Albans."
"Surely he's not the son of Decimus Ward, the well-known electrical engineer?"