"I shouldn't be surprised if the Press hasn't received more information than we have," remarked Rear-Admiral Maynebrace. "It passes my comprehension how they manage it. One thing, it's no use trying to hush the matter up. We cannot expect to muzzle nearly five thousand men."
"Wish to goodness I could!" snapped Sir Peter. Then addressing Mr. Watterley, he added: "Oh, first lieutenant, will you please send for Mr. Hythe, so that we can hear his version of the business."
Five minutes later Sub-Lieutenant Hythe was shown into the Admiral's cabin. The young officer was still pale. His iron nerves had received a severe shock, but thanks to Doctor Hamworthy's attentions he was able to pull himself together sufficiently to give a fairly full account of what had occurred.
"How would you describe the submarine that passed so close to you?" asked Captain Warborough.
"She was quite unlike any of our types, sir. I noticed she was almost wall-sided, with a very flat floor. Instead of tapering to a point fore and aft she had a straight stem and, I believe, a rounded stern, cut away so as to protect the propellers."
"How many propellers?"
"Two, I think, sir. I distinctly saw the starboard one revolving. The eddy from it prevented my seeing anything more."
"H'm. By the by, had she a conning-tower?"
"I could not see, sir. Her upper deck must have been quite twelve feet above my head."
"What colour was she painted?"