"Signal just come through, sir," reported Plover, as he handed the pencilled form to the skipper.
"All right," replied the Old Man brusquely. "Hand me that book; the second on the left. That'll do, carry on."
It did not take Captain Bullock long to decode the message, but a frown of perplexity spread over his forehead as he read the momentous words.
Then he rang the bell and ordered Plover to return.
"Who received this?" he asked.
"Mr. Mostyn, sir; he had the signal repeated."
"All right. You may go."
The assurance that the Wireless Officer had personally taken down the code message removed all doubts from Captain Bullock's mind.
"Mr. Preston," he sang out.
"Ay, ay, sir,"