if it could be arranged conveniently, James?"

"Not to-day," was the reply. "We're looking for the lame ducks on the
scene of yesterday's action. It's very rough and blowing like blue
blazes, so I don't suppose there are many lame ducks left afloat--poor
devils.... With any luck we ought to get in to-morrow morning, though."

The sleeping figure with the outstretched arms suddenly raised his head
and blinked at Thorogood. "Where's the elusive Hun?" he demanded.

"'Opped it," was the reply. "Otherwise vamoosed----"

"Singing 'I'm afraid to go home in the dark,'" interposed the
India-rubber Man dryly. He got down off the table and stretched his
arms. "Well, I shan't be sorry to get some sleep."

"Sleep!" echoed Thorogood. "You ought to see the stokers' mess-deck.
The watch-off have just come up from below after sixteen hours in the
stokeholds. They're lying sprawling all over the deck like a lot of
black corpses--just all-in."

Tweedledum sat down on the corner of the table vacated by the
India-rubber Man.

"I wish I knew exactly how many of them we did sink before the
Commander-in-Chief called off the Destroyers this morning," he said
plaintively.

"So would a lot of people," replied Thorogood. "We're three hundred
miles from home, and there's every reason to suppose there are one or
two submarines and mines on the way. Those of us who get back will
probably find out all we want to know in time. I shouldn't worry,
Tweedledum. In fact, I don't see why you shouldn't get a bit of sleep
while you can."

"By Jove!" said Gerrard as a sudden thought struck him. "I wonder if
they know all about it at home yet. Won't our people be bucked!"

"And the papers," added the Captain of Marines. "Can't you hear the
paper-boys yelling, 'Speshul Edition! Great Naval Victory!' My word,
I'd like to be in town when the news comes out." He considered the
mental picture his imagination had conjured up. "I think I should get
tight...!" he said.

* * * * *

The village street had a curiously deserted air when Betty walked up it
on her way to the post office. The mail train had passed through about
an hour before, and as a rule about this time the tenants of the rooms
and cottages on the hill-side made their way to the post office at the
corner to collect their letters and chat in twos and threes round the
windows of the little shops.

In the distance Betty saw a little group gathered