d and ruddy, Darrin drew on his tunic and over that his sheepskin
coat. Placing his uniform cap on his head he stepped out on deck before
the sun had begun to rise up above the sea.

In the distance, in three different directions, as many British
mine-sweepers could be seen patiently combing the seas for mines.

"What number recovered?" Dave signalled.

"Three," replied one craft. "Five," said another. "One," came from the
third sweeper.

"Nine in all," Dave remarked to Fernald. "We're in a mine field, then. We
shall need to be vigilant."

The sun soon rose, strong and brilliant, only to pass behind a bank of
clouds and leave the air damp and chilly. An hour later a fog settled
over the English Channel, soon becoming so dense that one could not see
beyond about three hundred yards.

Dave went below to a hurried breakfast. Returning, he sent Lieutenant
Fernald to his meal and rest.

"I'll remain on the bridge all day, unless this fog lifts," Darrin
decided. He increased the number of lookouts and ordered slow speed, so
that the long, narrow destroyer, capable of racing rapidly over the
waves, now merely crept along.

When the watch was changed Dave barely returned the salutes of the
departing and oncoming watch officers, for his whole attention was
centered on the sea. Half an hour after that he started slightly, then
stared hard.

Off the starboard bow he thought he made out something moving as slowly
as the "Grigsby" herself was proceeding.

"Pick that up, Mr. Ormsby, and see if it's anything more than a dream,"
ordered Dave, pointing.

Instantly the course of the destroyer was changed several points to
starboard and speed increased a trifle.

Through the haze there soon developed the outlines of a steam craft, set
low in the water, and of not more than two thousand tons. She was not a
handsome craft, but, on the contrary, appeared ghostlike as she stood
only half-revealed through the fog.

Undoubtedly the stranger had a lookout up forward, but no sign of one
could be made out as the "Grigsby" gained on her.

Her markings indicated that she belonged to one of the neutral countries
to the northward. The wet flag that she flew drooped so tightly around
the staff that nothing could be learned from that bit of bunting.

"One of the neutral traders," remarked Ensign Ormsby.

"She must give an account of herself," Dave answered. "Whatever she is,
or carries, she doesn't look like a craft to be entrusted w