"Game's up, Fritz," shouted an unmistakable Devonshire voice. "Be yu comin' quiet-like?"
For a moment the men sat dumfounded. Then Wakefield laughed mirthlessly.
"She's one of our new submarines!" he exclaimed. "And we've been engaging her by mistake. Good heavens, what a proper lash up! Make fast there!"
The bowman threw a coil of rope, and as the boat swung alongside the giant submarine Wakefield leapt on board, followed by Meredith.
The surprise of M.L. 1071's officers was more than equalled by the consternation of the skipper of the submarine, who burst out into a torrent of eager questions.
"Then I've sunk you, by Jove!" exclaimed the latter. "How was I to know? Why the deuce didn't you make your private signal? You fired first, you know."
"Admitted," replied Wakefield. "We spotted what we took to be a U-boat and, having had official information that none of our submarines was within eighty miles of us, we naturally let rip the moment we sighted you."
He gave a quick glance at the deck and superstructure.
"Any damage?" he asked.
The other smiled grimly.