of speed you can command," he resumed, "what does a
craft like this do, Hedgeby, if a German destroyer comes racing along
after you?"

"We just shut off speed, sir, and the blooming destroyer goes by so fast
that nine times hout of ten she doesn't see us at all."

"But if the destroyer sees you and stops to engage, what then?"

Once more the quizzical expression faded from the British sailorman's
eyes. He stepped back, resting one hand on a light gun mounted on a
swivel pedestal.

"We do hour best with this piece, sir."

"An unequal combat, Hedgeby!"

"You may well say it, sir, but hat least we come hout of the fracas as
well as does the submarine that our sweep locates on the bottom."

"Have you known of any case in which a mine-sweeper had any show at all
against a German destroyer?"

"Yes, sir; this very craft was the boat, sir. The destroyer 'eld 'er fire
and come hup close, sir, to 'ave fun teasing us. Only one shot we fired,
sir, from our after gun, at the houtset, sir, but that one shot carried
away the destroyer's rudder just below the water line. It was hall a
piece of luck, sir."

"And then?" pressed Ormsby, for at last Hedgeby seemed to be imparting
real information.

"Well, of course, sir, the 'Uns started hin at once to rig a jury rudder
with timbers and canvas."

"Yes?"

"Naturally, sir, we didn't give 'em any time or chance we could 'elp,
sir. We sailed round and round 'er, taking position so that we could play
both guns on 'er at the same time. She couldn't steer, sir, to back 'er
aim, that 'ere 'Un, so we banged away at 'er stacks and her water line
until she was worse than 'elpless."

"Did you sink her?"

"No, sir. She was captured."

"By whom?"

"By two of 'is majesty's destroyers, sir, that came up. And maybe you
think Hi'm joking, sir, w'en Hi tell you that the destroyers were
credited with the capture because they made the 'Un strike 'is colors and
take a prize crew."

Subsequently Dave and Ormsby learned from Mr. Hartley that this account
was a true one.

"But we got a bit of credit in the public press," Hartley added,
modestly.

Right after that it was reported that one of the wire sweeps had located
a bomb. Instantly several men were rushed to aid in landing the prize.
Dave and Ormsby hurried to join the group and watch a mine being taken
aboard.

On account of its weight the deadly thing was handled by tackle.
Carefully the men proceeded to hoist the mine aboard.