read
red figures unless he looked through a green glass. Do you know that
when I received your letter I imagined that your temporary
disappearance had something to do with your running away to sea?"
reiterated the Admiral. "The idea, I believe, comes to most boys
almost as a matter of course; something like measles, in fact."

"Well, now we've had a taste of submarine work, we feel that it is high
time we had a hand at helping to collar the German unterseebooten,"
explained Ross.

"I think it could be arranged," remarked the Admiral. "You haven't had
actual experience, of course----"

"Eh!" exclaimed Bourne. "By Jove, Uncle, I should say they had!"

"From a strictly professional standpoint, I ought to have said, only
you didn't give me time," added Sir Peter. "I'll write off to the
Admiralty to-night and see if I can get you both into the R.N.R. You
are too young to receive commissions as Sub-lieutenants, but no doubt
you can be taken on as midshipmen. Stringent regulations go by the
board in war-time. Isn't that so, Cecil?"

"They would probably be appointed to an armed liner for patrol duty,"
observed Bourne. "There are, I believe, no midshipmen on the trawlers
and motor-boats in submarine-hunting."

"We must take what we can get," said Vernon, "but we would rather----"

"Yes, yes," interrupted the Admiral. "I know. You leave that to me."

Accordingly Ross and Vernon "left it to" the genial Sir Peter, with the
result that within a week they were specially appointed as temporary
midshipmen to the motor-patrol ship _Capella_.

CHAPTER XVI

H.M.S. "Capella"

With the least possible delay the two chums joined the _Capella_ at
Southampton. She was one of an entirely new class of vessel, built for
the express purpose of ridding the high seas of the presence of the
modern pirates. Looking at her as she lay in the Empress Dock, there
was little about her to attract the eye. A raised fo'c'sle and poop,
and a low superstructure abaft the funnel, two stumpy masts and
grey-coloured "wall" sides, gave her the appearance of a trawler. It
was only when one had an opportunity of seeing her in dry dock, where
her graceful under-body, with its fine "entry" and clean run aft, was
visible, that any idea of her speed could be arrived at. Further
details would be undesirable. Sufficient to add, to quote a Yankee
journalist who had been given an opportunity of paying a visit to the
Grand Fleet and inspec