"Sail-ho, on the starboard bow," sung out the look-out man.
"A tramp, judging by the smoke," remarked the sub. after the lapse of a few minutes.
Soon the vessel was observed to be steaming eastwards, so slowly that the following wind drove her smoke in a dense, trailing cloud over her bows.
Directly the Frome was within signalling distance the tramp made her number.
"SS. Steephill Castle of Hull," announced Fielding, after consulting the register. "She's light, by George! One blade of her propeller is quite clear of the water."
"Yes; I shouldn't care to be caught out in dirty weather in a craft so high in ballast as that," added Drake. "We'll close, and ask her if she has any information to give."
Drake made known his request by megaphone, and in reply the master of the tramp shouted from the bridge—
"Cruiser, two masts and three funnels, in tow. Passed her three and a half hours ago. Thought she had broken down."
"On what course?" asked Drake, eagerly.
"Due west, I should think, sir," replied the "old man." "Anything amiss?"