they waited, watching the approach of Hans Koppe, and also looking
for the undesired reappearance of U77.

"Ach! My wife and children!" exclaimed Hans Koppe disconsolately, as
he brought his lifebuoy close alongside. "I shall never see them
again."

"Cheer up, Hans!" replied Vernon. "At any moment U77 might come to the
surface and take you on board. We don't mind, so long as they let us
alone. We've had enough of your unterseebooten."

"U77?" gasped the German incredulously. "How do you know that?"

Briefly Haye related the story of the ill-fated Kapitan Schwalbe's
treachery. As he proceeded Han's face bore a surprised expression that
presently changed to one of fear.

"If we are picked up by an English ship," he remarked, "they will shoot
me for abuse of the white flag. And I am innocent. Ach! my poor wife."

"They won't," replied Ross reassuringly. "We can swear that you knew
nothing about it."

The minutes passed slowly. There was no sign of U77. Little did the
three survivors know that she lay within a quarter of a mile of her
consort, on the bed of the English Channel--to add to the
ever-increasing roll of unterseebooten that were fated never to enter a
German port again.

The sun rose higher and higher, its rays gathering strength as it did
so. The heads of the three survivors were exposed to the solar heat;
their bodies and limbs were numbed by prolonged immersion. The desire
for conversation had long since passed. Almost exhausted they hung to
their supports, listless and torpid. A few sea-gulls, struck with the
silence of the three men, hovered overhead, and swooped with shrill
cries to settle on the water within close distance of what appeared to
be a possible meal. One bolder than the rest perched upon Trefusis'
head.

Raising his arm, Ross dealt the bird a furious blow. It missed, but
had the effect of scattering the gulls. Apathetically the lad watched
them as they flew off. As he did so he caught sight of three vessels
being driven at high speed.

"Hurrah!" he exclaimed feebly. "The destroyers, old man; we are saved!"

CHAPTER XIII

The Arm of the Law

"Hulloa! What the deuce have we got here?" enquired Commander Devereux
of H.M. torpedo-boat destroyer _Yealm_, as three dripping figures were
transferred from the destroyer's dinghy to the deck. "One strafed Hun,
right enough; but who are these fellows in mufti?"

"Can't say, sir," replied the coxswain. "They s