“No,” said Belding, quietly. “I didn’t say that. I joined the crew of the one-time _Sirius_ because when I arrived in England your old _Colodia_ was out scrapping with the part of the Hun fleet that tried to make a break.” “Oh, yes,” said Whistler. “We were in that fight; but we were on the _Kennebunk_.” “And our gun made the first hit and we sunk a Hun battleship!” cried Al. “Huh!” scoffed Frenchy, “you listen to Al and Whistler, and you’d think their old gun fought the whole battle.” “Did you fellows really help work a gun in that fight?” cried George Belding, in amazement and admiration. Even the giant British seaman gazed at the Navy Boys with increased respect. “We were in the fight, and we belonged to one of the gun crews,” admitted Whistler. “But we are willing to agree that we did not do it all. Frenchy and Ikey were there.” Belding laughed. “Well, let’s go along to the admiral’s, and I’ll tell you how I came to get billeted on the _Colodia_. Uncle Sam is training more men than he has boats for--yet. But the _Colodia’s_ lost several of her crew, hasn’t she, from one cause or another?” “Of course. And are you a ‘filler-in’?” said Whistler. “Guess so. I came over expecting to go right aboard the destroyer, as I say. But I had to wait for her to come back from the North Sea. And there was the old _Sirius_, with a chap in command that I knew. So I got a chance to take a trip. We took out a convoy bound westward; and on the way back we had a scrap with a sub.” “Did you sink her?” asked Frenchy eagerly. “We did something to it. The boys said they knew she was a goner. Oil and litter rose to the surface after we dropped a depth bomb. I’m sorry for her crew; but they are in bad business.” “Don’t yuh be too bloomin’ sorry for the filthy ’Uns,” growled Willum Johnson. “Say, Big Bill,” sang out Frenchy, “don’t you be so bloodthirsty. You are a regular tiger--to hear you talk.” “Don’t forget them school kids down there,” replied the man, shaking his head. Whistler had hoped to put the memory of the innocents butchered by the Zeppelin out of his memory for a few minutes. He shuddered, and led the way into the head of one of the steep streets, lined on either side by white painted cottages. The streets leading down to the harbor were so steep that Al said he always felt like putting out his hands to brace himself against the walls of the little houses as they went down. The boys grew silent when they heard the weeping and wailing from inside the houses. Here the children had lived who were so mangled in the explosion of the Hun bomb. The destruction below in the middle of the town could not have been so bad, for there were few women and children there. This was not market day.