“Officer-of-the-watch reports a vessel in sight on our port bow, sir, steering nor’-west.”
“Very good,” replied the lieutenant-commander. “I’ll be on deck in a brace of shakes!”
II
Raxworthy followed the Owner to the upper deck and thence to the bridge, where Lieutenant Yardley and Sub-lieutenant Cartwright were levelling telescopes in the direction of a steamship about three miles off.
There was reasonable cause for their curiosity.
The vessel was steering diagonally towards the shore, where no harbour of commercial importance existed within fifty miles. She had not been challenged, yet she had hoisted the International Code signal “All’s well”—and without displaying her “number” beforehand.
She was flying the Chinese Republican ensign. On her stern was the legend Su-me —London. That, in itself, would not occasion suspicion. Ships originally British owned have frequently been sold abroad, and although their names might be altered, their port of registry remains unchanged.
“What d’ye make of her, Yardley?” demanded Buster’s lieutenant-commander.
“She’s not jonnick,” replied the second in command.
“I’m of that opinion,” agreed Maynebrace.