m.

Vernon did so. It required very little movement on his part, since the
bunks were rather narrow. The same voice-tube that Ross was "tapping"
ran vertically past Haye's bunk, which was immediately underneath the
one Trefusis had appropriated from the time when he had been laid upon
it under the influence of the injection.

This particular pipe formed a means of vocal communication between the
conning-tower and Kapitan Schwalbe's cabin. For some reason the
whistle had been removed from the cabin end, and consequently sounds
from the Kapitan's quarters were conveyed with tolerable clearness.

There were two men engaged in conversation. One was Kapitan Schwalbe;
the other, who spoke in a lower key, and so rapidly that Ross had great
difficulty in mentally translating his words, was the
Lieutenant-Commander of U77. He had been put aboard U75 only a few
minutes previously.

"My dear von Hoffner," Kapitan Schwalbe was saying. "Your plan is all
very well as far as you are concerned; but where do we come in?
Understand that while we are on the surface our risks are increased
ten-fold. Suppose, for instance, the battleship does not notice, or
affects not to notice, the white flag?"

"She will, right enough," assured the Lieutenant-Commander of U77.
"These English are such fools that in their anxiety to observe the
rules of warfare" (here von Hoffner laughed sardonically) "they play
into our hands. More than a twelvemonth of war has not taught them
that the hitherto recognized observances of war are no longer binding.
This is not a petty squabble between two nations. It is a struggle for
existence; consequently it is where our frightfulness scores."

"It hasn't up to the present, according to my experience," objected
Kapitan Schwalbe gloomily. "These Englishmen simply won't be
frightened. But to return once more to the point: what steps do you
propose to take to minimize my risk?"

"There must be risk, of course," remarked von Hoffner. "According to
latest reports, it seems pretty certain that we cannot hope to
intercept the _Tremendous_ during the hours of darkness. Consequently
we have to make use of a ruse. Directly I spot her I dive, keeping as
much as possible close to her track, say three hundred metres off."

"Yes, you dive," commented Schwalbe caustically. "That is quite
feasible. But what of U75?"

"She will keep on the surface almost exactly in the indicated path of
the battleship. You wil