"There it is!" cried the two men simultaneously, pointing out the grey, swift phantom.
The captain saw the bird-like object, and one glance sufficed.
"It is an aeroplane," he said, and there was just a touch of uneasiness in his voice.
"An aeroplane?" echoed the others, and an instant later, viewing it through his glasses, the colonel added:--
"Why, so it is; but I say, Captain, what a peculiar type of aeroplane! It is one of the patrols, I expect, come to meet us."
"Your glasses, if you please, for one moment," asked the captain, and he almost snatched them from the hands of the officer.
The next instant a violent expletive burst from the captain's lips.
Leaving his companions, he dashed down the corridor to the wireless operator's room. The operator was already engaged in conversation with the aerial visitor by means of the wireless telephone, and the captain took in the situation at a glance.
"What does he want? Who is he?" blurted out the skipper.
CHAPTER X