uth coasts of Ireland, rather than
risk the hazardous passage through the Straits of Dover, or the almost
equally dangerous North Channel between Scotland and Ireland. Two of
the five were missing; the other was supposed to be in the
neighbourhood of Cape Ushant. U7's particular mission was to intercept
transports that were known to be leaving Southampton for the French
coast.

The men admitted that they had been tricked. A light had been flashed
seaward, and although the signal was not strictly in accordance with
the prearranged plan, it was sufficiently accurate to delude the U7's
Lieutenant-Commander.

The German officer had shown considerable skill and audacity in closing
with the shore so close to the numerous and powerful batteries. He
dwelt upon the almost absolute certainty of the gunners devoting their
attention solely to the Needles Channel, and since it was a little past
the time of dead low water the intervening Shingles Bank, which in
places rears itself 20 feet above the sea, would afford an efficient
screen from the search-lights.

But he had reckoned without the patrol vessels. Barely had the
U-boat's collapsible rowed a hundred yards from her parent when the
_Capella_ raced up, and promptly put another hostile submarine to her
credit.

Early next morning, the _Capella_ having returned to her station off
Yarmouth to await orders, Vernon Haye went ashore in charge of the
whaler in order to pick up mails and secure fresh provisions.

Arriving alongside the little stone quay, he left a boat-keeper in
charge and proceeded towards the post office, while the coxswain and
the rest of the men went in search of the much-desired commodities in
the shape of fresh butter and milk.

Just as Vernon was about to enter the post office, he nearly collided
with a very sleepy-looking subaltern in the uniform of the Royal
Garrison Artillery.

"By Jove, Barraclough!" he exclaimed. "I didn't expect to see you
here."

Barraclough was an Upper Sixth man at the same school as Haye, but had
left four terms previously. On the outbreak of war he had applied for,
and had obtained, a commission, and had been stationed, somewhat to his
disappointment, at Hurst Castle. Beyond a few false alarms and a
liberal experience in target practice, his existence at that isolated
fortress bordered on the monotonous. He was simply on thorns to be
able to proceed to the Front; the probability was that he would have to
"do his b