ve. "If you run into anything and need
help, send up rocket signals and we'll steam back to you at top speed."

Before ten o'clock that night Darrin had encountered and spoken with or
signalled to the commanders of not less than a dozen mine-sweeping craft.
What struck Dave as the most prominent feature of these small,
unpretentious craft was the slow, systematic way in which they performed
their duty.

"It's a wonderful work," Dave explained to Fernald. "If it were not for
these dingy, stub-nosed little craft, and the fine spirit of their crews,
hundreds of steamships would probably be blown up in these waters in a
month. The Hun sneaks through these waters, laying mines, mostly from
submarines built for the purpose, and these patient mine-sweeper
commanders go along after them, removing most of the mines from the paths
of navigation."

Having cruised as far north as his instructions directed him to do,
Darrin ordered the "Grigsby" and the "Reed" to turn about and nose their
way back under bare headway.

Every mine-sweeper carried a radio outfit for sending messages. Each
craft was also supplied with the mast-head "blinkers" for flashing night
signals. When the craft signalled to, however, was near enough, colored
lights operated from the deck were used instead, that the messages might
not be sent far enough into the night to be picked up by skulking enemy
craft.

"It looks like a night of tame sport, sir," said Fernald, just before he
went below for a nap.

"It has been quiet so far," Darrin agreed. "But the most striking thing
in naval service is that whatever starts comes without warning. We might
have a whole week as quiet as to-night has been, and then run into
twenty-four hours of work that would give both of us gray hair."

An hour after Fernald went below Dave had a steamer chair brought to the
bridge, also a rug. The chair was placed where a canvas wind-shield would
protect the sitter from the keen edge of the wind.

"I'm going to doze right here, Mr. Ormsby," Dave explained to the ensign
who was on bridge watch. "I'm to be called the instant anything turns
up."

Accustomed to such sleeps Darrin had barely closed his eyes when he was
off in the Land o' Nod. Some time afterwards the sharp orders of Ensign
Andrews, new officer of the bridge watch, caused Darrin to open his eyes,
cast aside the rug and spring to his feet all in the same instant.

"Torpedo coming on our starboard bow, sir," reported Mr