"It's a fact."
Lawless sprang out of his bunk and began hurriedly to pull on his garments.
"I gave strict orders that she was to be watched all night," he said. "How is it they've been disobeyed?"
"They haven't; come on deck and see for yourself," answered Trent.
On reaching the deck Lawless saw at a glance how he had been outwitted. On the spot where the smack had been anchored floated a barrel with a tall spar stuck in it and, at the top of this, glowing dimly in the morning light, was a lantern.
"I see," he murmured.
Taking advantage of the darkness—for there had been no moon—the skipper of the smack had fixed up this dummy riding-light in order to deceive the watchers aboard the destroyer and then extinguished the real one. This done, he must have got a row-boat with muffled oars to tow him out of the harbour, thus obviating the necessity for using the engines and so warning the Knat's men of his manœuvres. It was an ingenious trick, cleverly carried out.
"We must get under way at once," said Lawless. "We may catch up with the rascal and collar his pal Mahoney before he has time to warn him. Evidently that's his dodge."
Half an hour later the Knat was steaming in a westerly direction with the Lieutenant on the bridge, scanning the coast-line through his glasses. Presently a smudge was seen against the horizon and this gradually resolved itself into a destroyer steaming at full speed towards them. As she approached the Knat a signal hoist broke at her masthead, and when within hailing distance the two vessels slowed down. The newcomer was the Kite and her commander stood on the bridge with a megaphone in his hands.
"D'you happen to have sighted a fishing smack, ketch-rigged?" he inquired.