"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. "You'll note the little horns standing out from the top of the mine," explained Mr. Hartley, pointing to the circular mine. "These horns are usually called studs. Hit one of these studs even a light blow with a tack hammer, gentlemen, and the mine would explode. A mine like this is more deadly than the biggest shell carried by a super-dreadnaught. Let this mine explode, for instance, under our hull forward, and it would tear us to pieces in a way that would leave us afloat for hardly sixty seconds. Moreover, it would kill any man standing at or near the rail over the point of contact." He had no more than finished speaking, while the mine was being hoisted aboard, than a terrified gasp escaped the workers. For the mine slipped from its tackle, and slipped back toward the water, striking the side hull in its downward course! Dave Darrin did not move. He knew there would not be time to escape! CHAPTER VI IN THE TEETH OF THE CHANNEL GALE SPLASH! The mine sank below the surface. A quick turn by the helmsman at the wheel, and the course changed violently on the instant. "No stud struck or scraped the side as the mine went down!" exclaimed Mr. Hartley, in a voice as cool as though he were discussing the weather. "That was what saved us." "That, and the presence of mind displayed by your man at the wheel," Dave calmly supplemented. "That quick turn of the wheel saved your hull under the water line from striking against the infernal thing." "I thought we were goners!" exclaimed Ormsby. "So did I," Dave nodded, "until I saw the thing sink and then realized how prompt the helmsman had been to act without orders."