"I'll give her a hail," said Lawless, picking up the megaphone.
But before he had time to raise it to his mouth the fog was split by a yellow streak of fire and a shell came whizzing over the Knat's bows.
"By the Lord, an enemy ship!" ejaculated the Lieutenant, and passed the word to open fire with the machine guns. The quick-firer just below the bridge led off, but before the other guns had a chance to follow suit a heavy bank of fog rolled up and obliterated the steamer as completely as though a curtain had been lowered. Although invisible, the vessel's engines could still be heard and, guided by the sound, the Knat was kept on her trail, Lawless waiting only for the fog to lift in order to open fire again. While he was still expecting this to happen there came the notes of a bugle and at the sound the Lieutenant nearly tumbled down the bridge ladder in astonishment. For it was the dinner call as given on British ships:
"Officers' wives eat puddings and pies,
But soldiers' wives eat skilly."
"What the dickens does it mean?" he murmured, and then, raising his voice, hailed the mysterious steamer.
"Ahoy there, ahoy! Where away?" came the answer.
"On your port quarter."
"What ship is that?"
"British destroyer, Knat."
The fog lifted again, and this time Lawless could see the decks thronged with anxious passengers and the captain leaning over the port bridge-rail.