"Yes, sir," replied Ross. "Hunting submarines."
"Ever seen one?" asked Syllenger abruptly.
"Several of the D and E classes manoeuvring in Plymouth Sound."
"But a German one?"
"Yes, sir."
"Where?"
"We've both spent nearly a week on board an unterseeboot, sir."
The skipper sternly regarded the two midshipmen.
"Look here," he said. "If you think you've come on board to gammon me, the sooner you get that idea out of your heads the better. There's no room on the Capella for a pair of modern Ananiases."
Ross said nothing. From the outside left breast-pocket of his "undress" coat he produced a white foolscap envelope, bearing in blue the "foul anchor" badge of the Admiralty.