Maintaining an erratic zigzag course the "Antipas" steamed round and round the felucca and the boats, until with the arrival of her sister ships and the subsidence of the gale she was able to make a closer acquaintance with the suspicious-looking Greek.
At three bells in the first dog watch a large vessel was sighted bearing down in the direction of the destroyers. The "Antigone" steamed off to offer protection against U-boat attack, while the new arrival, which proved to be the empty transport "Hopalong," manoeuvred to windward of the boats in order to receive the survivors of the ill-fated "Epicyclic."
With the rapidly subsiding sea this was done without delay or loss. The "Antipas" then discharged her complement of supernumeraries, while the felucca was ordered by signal to run under the "Hopalong's" lee.
"You might board her, Mr. Holcombe," suggested Lieutenant-Commander Aubyn. "See that her papers are all in order, and find out what those guns mean."
"I may have been mistaken, sir," said the sub, giving the felucca another glance through his glasses; "but I'm hanged if I can see any signs of guns now."
"All the more reason for a strict search," rejoined the skipper grimly. "Once when I was on examination service in the North Sea I came across a short-calibred quick-firer stored in the case of a grand piano. Quite a bit of luck on my part, though," he added modestly. "The thing was in the main saloon of a supposedly Norwegian passenger and cargo boat. There was a bit of a lop on—almost as bad as it was this morning—and one of my men, an R.N.V.R. who hadn't quite found his sea legs, was shot clean on top of the blessed piano, rifle and all. I apologised to the master for the damage done, but the old chap seemed mighty particular to let the matter drop—too mighty particular I thought. So I had the top lifted—deuce of a job, for the old rascal of a skipper swore he'd lost the key. Nothing much doing at first sight—only wires and hammers and all that sort of fakelorum appertaining to pianos; but sure enough, my testing rod rasped against metal that was a jolly sight too solid even for an iron-framed 'Grand.' Yes, it was all U P with the ship. No more a Norwegian than I was, but a commerce raider two days out of Swinemunde. So you see, Mr. Holcombe, it's up to us to 'frustrate their knavish tricks.' It's our job; but as to 'confounding their politics,' well——"
The lieutenant-commander shrugged his broad shoulders. Like many another naval and military officer he had about as much admiration for the British diplomatic service as the office cat.
As soon as the felucca ran alongside the "Hopalong" Holcombe took the destroyer's whaler and an armed crew and boarded the object of his suspicions.
The felucca's deck was now almost deserted. The last of the rescued Tommies had been taken on board the transport. There were no men in naval uniform; only a handful of moustachioed Greeks.
"Where's your capitano?" demanded Holcombe, trusting that some of the crew spoke English.