"You never know your luck," exclaimed the rightful skipper of the _Talisman_, a bluff, grey-haired salt of the burly, breezy type. "I expected to find myself in a German prison-camp within the next thirty-six hours. A light cruiser nabbed us four miles outside Christiansand harbour. They clapped us under hatches and put a prize crew on board, and a rascally set they are." "They treated you decently?" "Not so bad," replied the "old man", "until they found I had an Admiralty certificate for sinking a U-boat. Blew her to bits at fifty yards. Not a doubt about it; there was oil enough to spread over a couple of hundred yards." "And when did that occur?" asked Fordyce. The master of the _Talisman_ gave the date. "The swine tore up my certificate," he added bitterly. "I suppose the Admiralty will give me a duplicate?" "I should imagine so," replied Fordyce. "Excuse me, but time is precious. I must ask instructions from my commanding officer." The Hon. Derek, upon being informed of the state of affairs, ordered Fordyce and four seaman to remain on board the prize. "We'll stand by you," he added. "I suppose there's enough coal left in her bunkers to carry her home?" "I'll enquire, sir. By the by, her master has or had a certificate presented him by the Admiralty for having fired at us. Luckily he missed." "You didn't enlighten him, I hope?" asked the Hon. Derek anxiously. "Oh no, sir!" "That's good. Carry on--yes, certainly, take Flirt with you. And good luck!" * * * * * "So that dog's turned up again," observed Mr. Fordyce, senior, when a taxi deposited Noel, Flirt, and a portmanteau outside the Sub's paternal home, and informal but warm greetings had been exchanged. "I thought she was lost." "I took her for a cruise for the benefit of her health, Pater," said his irrepressible offspring. "Benefit of her health indeed," re-echoed Mr. Fordyce. "And, pray, is she better for the change? I was under the impression that she was far too high spirited before. I hope to goodness, Noel, that there will be no repetition of the Councillor Mindiggle business." "I'll answer for that, Pater," replied the Sub. "She won't nip him again." "You seem jolly sure of it," rejoined Mr. Fordyce. "If she does she'll have to be des----" A dinner gong sounded, and Noel linked arms with his somewhat biased parent and led him into the dining-room. "I'm awfully peckish, Pater," he remarked. "Then set to," suggested Mr. Fordyce. "Well, what have you been doing with yourself?" When at length Noel finished his yarn--on this occasion he was more communicative as to his adventures than on former occasions--Mr. Fordyce called to Flirt, who was contentedly coiled up on the hearth-rug. "Come here, little girl!" he exclaimed. "By Jove, you're a brick! I'll take back all I said of you. Dash it all, I'd give you a biscuit but for my Lord Rhondda!" PRINTED AND BOUND IN GREAT BRITAIN _By Blackie & Son, Limited, Glasgow_ [Transcriber's Notes: