As he spoke, Trent pointed to various small groups of figures swimming about or hanging on to pieces of wreckage. Some were survivors of the _Knat_, some of the German cruiser, and in several cases men who less than a quarter of an hour ago had been endeavouring to kill one another were now rendering each other mutual help--such are the uncertainties of war. "Even now," went on the Sub-Lieutenant, "the chances are that we shall all be drowned before----" He was interrupted by a shout from Lawless and, looking round, saw a couple of destroyers approaching at full speed, followed by several patrol boats. "Saved!" he ejaculated. A few minutes later the destroyers had arrived on the scene and lowered boats to pick up the survivors, friend and foe alike. Among the last to be rescued were Lawless and his junior officer, and when the boats had returned to the destroyers the latter made off at full speed towards the land, leaving nothing but a few masses of floating _débris_ as witnesses of that memorable fight. * * * * * "It's all right," said Lawless, looking up from a letter as he and Trent sat at breakfast in a certain old-fashioned hostelry off the East Coast. "The old boy's dubbed up." "You mean he's handed over the boodle?" asked Trent with interest. "Yes; he sent a cheque to the major yesterday, who's paid it into my account." "Lucky pig, you." "And that's not all," went on Lawless. "Seen to-day's paper?" "Not yet." "Well, then, look at this." The Lieutenant handed over the paper and placed his finger on "Naval Appointments." Trent leaned forward and read: "Lieutenant-Commander F. H. Lawless, H.M.S. _Knat_, promoted to Commander." "Congrats!" he cried. "You'll be an admiral some day if you are not very careful." "Don't mention it. If you persevere in your profession and cultivate habits of cleanliness and sobriety, you may become even as I, my son." "Returning to that little matter of the thousand pounds," said Trent, "don't you think you might pay that half-quid you've owed me for the last eighteen months?" "Great Scot, I thought you'd forgotten it. 'Pon my soul you have a tenacious memory, Trent," answered Lawless. "However," he went on condescendingly, "I'll see what I can do for you. What with the super-tax, the increased duty on motor-cars, and other drains on a fellow's income----" He broke off abruptly, crossed to the window and stood watching a patrol boat which had just come fussily into harbour. When Trent joined him there he was puzzled to find his senior plunged in gloom. "Well, for a fellow who's just come into money----" he remarked in disgust. "Do you remember," asked Lawless dreamily, "how gallantly she behaved in that scrap with the _Lansitz_ and her attendant destroyers?" Trent stared for a moment. "Oh, you're thinking of the old _Knat_," he said, a light breaking in on him. "And again in that storm off the coast of Northumberland?"