I suppose you have yet another point of view?"

A division of Armed Trawlers lumbered out of their path, the bow gun on
each blunt forecastle rising and dipping as they plunged in the
incoming swell.

"Ah!" said the Lieutenant-Commander, "they're different. They never
had any preconceived notions about us or their own invulnerability.
The boot's on the other foot there. We used to jeer at them once; but
now I'm not so certain...."

"You never know what the hell they'll do next," explained the
Lieutenant with the shadow of his eyelashes on his cheek-bone. "That's
the trouble. 'They knows nothin' an' they fears nothin','" he quoted,
smiling.

"The personal element comes in more, I suppose, in those craft," said
Sir William musingly. He focused his glasses on a turf cabin ashore.
"The Admiral was telling me that a London brain specialist was born in
one of those crofter's huts."

The Submarine Commander nodded. "It's not unlikely," he said. "These
Northern fishermen are a fine breed. But this patrol work has
developed a new type of seaman altogether. We've got a fellow up here
huntin' Fritzes--he's a merchant seaman with a commission in the Naval
Reserve.... There are times when he makes _me_ frightened, that
sportsman. It's a blessing the Hun can't reproduce his type: anyhow, I
haven't met any over the other side, or up the Baltic."

"Name of Gedge?" enquired Sir William dryly.

"That's the lad," was the reply. "D'you know him, sir?"

"No, but I've heard of him."

"You'll see him presently," said the other. "He's waiting for us
outside onboard his trawler. If you go onboard, have a look at the
beam of his fore-hatch: rather interestin'."

"What about it?" asked Sir William.

"A little row of notches--that's all. He adds another from time to
time, and I feel sort of sorry for Fritz when he's about."

"Like rats' tails hanging on a stable door," supplemented the First
Lieutenant in explanation.

"I see," said Sir William. "This is going to be interesting." He
pitched the stump of his cigar overboard and turned up the collar of
his ulster as the spray began to drift past their heads.

"We work together sometimes," said the Submarine Officer, "Gedge and I.
Little stunts, you know.... It's part of my job, of course, huntin'
Fritzes, but it's more than a job with him: it's a holy mission.
That's why I'm a bit frightened of him really." The speaker searched
the visitor's face with his guilel