"Smack ahoy!" hailed an unmistakable English voice.
"Ay, ay, sir!" shouted Old Negus in reply
"Are you foul of this fellow's trawl?"
"Ay," replied the old fisherman grimly. "'Twas what I meant to do."
"Righto! Clear your gear and carry on. When do you think you'll make Aberstour?"
"Soon as we can," declared Old Negus.
"Shout when you're clear, then," continued the boarding officer. "We want to haul in this fellow's trawl and be taken in tow."
It was a tricky job disentangling the Frolic's anchor from the beam of the trawl, but, aided by the smack's winch, the task was accomplished.
With a fair tide and steady head wind the Frolic beat homeward. Before long the destroyer overtook her with the Marie-Celeste in tow.
"I'll be gettin' a new otter trawl out o' she," remarked Old Negus, jerking his thumb in the direction of the captured drifter. "T'old 'un was a bit shaky," he added with a grin. "But it fair beats me to know 'ow that there destroyer came up just when she were wanted."