Meanwhile von Loringhoven was being entertained in the cabin of the kapitan-leutnant of the U-boat, and at an early stage in the conversation he startled his brother-officer by remarking,
"If you should fall in with a felucca, Heinrich, have a care—she's dangerous."
CHAPTER XXII
FARRAR'S FIRST BAG
SUBLIEUTENANT NIGEL FARRAR had a very busy week following the return of H.M. armed merchant cruiser "Zenodorus" to Malta. With a celerity undreamt of in pre-war days his project had been submitted to the Commander-in-Chief, who returned it with the magic word "Concur."
"That's splendid, Mr. Farrar," remarked Lieutenant-Commander Aubyn. "The next thing to be done is to find a suitable craft. There are several condemned prizes lying off the Pieta Marine. Take the steam cutter and have a look at them."
The sub lost no time in carrying out his commanding officer's suggestion. Accompanied by the bo'sun and the carpenter of the "Zenodorus"—for their expert advice was highly desirable—he steered the cutter down the Grand Harbour, rounded St. Elmo on the port hand, and ran up the long, land-locked arm known as the Quarantine Harbour, thus almost circumnavigating the rocky peninsula on which the town of Valetta is built.
Almost at the head of the creek were between twenty and thirty sailing craft of all sizes up to a hundred tons, of all variety of rigs, and of half a dozen different nationalities. Some had been owned by enemy firms and had been detained when war broke out or else captured within a very few days of the declaration of hostilities; others had been seized on suspicion of having conveyed contraband or assisting U-boats in their career of piracy and murder.
It was not long before Farrar picked upon a likely vessel for his forthcoming "independent cruise." She was of about eighty tons burthen according to Board of Trade measurements, and well built and structurally sound both above and below water. She was felucca-rigged, her long lateen yards, destitute of canvas, lying along her sheering deck.