"Himmel! They have arrived already," exclaimed von Ruhle.
"So it appears," replied Ramblethorne dryly. "I pride myself that I have exceptionally good eyesight, but I fail to see her. The neutral colour of the submarine is indeed excellent for night work."
They descended the sandy and shingly beach until further progress was barred by the lapping wavelets of the rising tide.
Through the mirk loomed up the outlines of a canvas collapsible boat crowded with men. At two lengths from the shore the rowers laid on their oars. One of the men gave vent to a low whistle resembling the call of a curlew.
"All clear," replied Ramblethorne.
The boat's keel rasped on the shingle. A cloaked figure in the stern-sheets made his way for'ard and leapt ashore.
"Herr von Hauptwald?" he asked.
"The same," replied the doctor. "And Kapitan Schwalbe?"
"The captain is still on board," replied the officer. "It is hard to resist the opportunity of getting ashore after being cooped up there for more than a fortnight. But the petrol?"
"We have not so much as we hoped to obtain," replied von Ruhle.