"By the by," interposed Sir Peter Garboard. "I suppose you ascertained that none of our submarine flotilla were manoeuvring at Spithead?"
"Oh, no, sir; or rather, I mean yes, sir," replied the harassed lieutenant. "We signalled to Fort Blockhouse and in reply were informed that F 1, 3, 7, and 9 of the 2nd Flotilla went out at 7 this morning for exercise off the Nab. Those were the only submarines under way from this port. I also asked them to communicate with the Submarine Depots at Devonport, Dover, Sheerness, Harwich----"
"I hope you didn’t give the reason, by Jove!" exclaimed Sir Peter vehemently. "If the papers get hold of the news there’ll be a pretty rumpus."
"I shouldn’t be surprised if the Press hasn’t received more information than we have," remarked Rear-Admiral Maynebrace. "It passes my comprehension how they manage it. One thing, it’s no use trying to hush the matter up. We cannot expect to muzzle nearly five thousand men."
"Wish to goodness I could!" snapped Sir Peter. Then addressing Mr. Watterley, he added: "Oh, first lieutenant, will you please send for Mr. Hythe, so that we can hear his version of the business."
Five minutes later Sub-Lieutenant Hythe was shown into the Admiral’s cabin. The young officer was still pale. His iron nerves had received a severe shock, but thanks to Doctor Hamworthy’s attentions he was able to pull himself together sufficiently to give a fairly full account of what had occurred.
"How would you describe the submarine that passed so close to you?" asked Captain Warborough.
"She was quite unlike any of our types, sir. I noticed she was almost wall-sided, with a very flat floor. Instead of tapering to a point fore and aft she had a straight stem and, I believe, a rounded stern, cut away so as to protect the propellers."
"Two, I think, sir. I distinctly saw the starboard one revolving. The eddy from it prevented my seeing anything more."
"H’m. By the by, had she a conning-tower?"
"I could not see, sir. Her upper deck must have been quite twelve feet above my head."
"That, sir, I can hardly describe. I can only liken the sides to a huge mirror that reflected objects without reflecting the sunlight at the same time. As it was I could only see that portion of her that passed immediately in front of me. I could not even give an estimate as to her length, or even the speed at which she was travelling."