"Don't handle anything, boys," he said, pushing his goggles up over his forehead. "She's all right. But I see there's a crowd of people on the cliff. They'll be coming down to nose around. Keep guard here, while I step along to your camp and get some warmth into me."
Rodney Redisham strode forward to meet him, and, seeing the two gold stripes on his sleeve, greeted him with a very formal naval salute.
"Why, it's Lieutenant Aldiss!" he cried. "Where have you come from, sir?"
"Dover," returned the officer. "And what are you doing here? Why aren't you in your ship? Any news?"
"News?" Redisham repeated. "Do you mean about the ultimatum to Germany?"
"Yes, of course. Is it to be war?"
"I don't know. It looks precious like it. But we haven't heard yet."
"It's beastly cold up there this morning," said the lieutenant, indicating the sky. "Have these Scouts got any hot coffee? Ah, I see one of them is fetching some. That's nice."
"But won't you come up to my home and have a proper breakfast, sir?" Rodney invited. "It's that red house with the tower, on the cliff."
Lieutenant Aldiss shook his head.