But one evening, about a week after the Krajero episode, something did occur to break the monotony of searching harmless vessels and listening to the deep-throated profanities of outraged skippers. Lawless, being on the bridge scanning the horizon with his glasses, caught sight of a large motor fishing smack in the distance and, close alongside her, something which looked remarkably like the conning tower of a submarine. In another moment he had altered the course and was bearing down on her at full speed, the men standing by their guns, delighted at the prospect of a "scrap."
"It's a U boat sure enough," said Lawless, handing the binoculars to Trent.
"Yes, and she's holding up that fishing boat; trying to get information, I suppose."
Unfortunately, the submarine was well under the lee of the smack, and a shot at that distance was as likely to hit one as the other.
"Better hold your fire till you get a bit nearer, Trent," said Lawless reluctantly.
As the distance lessened, a puff of smoke issued from the vicinity of the submarine and a shell whistled over the Knat's bridge.
"Plant one in her conning tower," shouted Lawless to the chief gunner, who stood by the quick-firer just below the bridge. If the smack were hit it couldn't be helped; the risk must be taken.
There was a deafening report and, when the smoke cleared away the submarine had entirely disappeared. The inference was that she had submerged without suffering injury, for had the shot struck her she would certainly not have sunk as rapidly as all that.
"She's given us the slip all right," muttered the Lieutenant bitterly, and the gunner below the bridge echoed his remark in more pungent terms.
As the destroyer came up, a man on the smack's deck—obviously the skipper—hailed her.