The loiterers were soon brought in by the guard and the launch put off for the destroyer. It was dark when they arrived at the _Colodia_. Ensign MacMasters, the Navy Boys’ very good friend, was at the gangway, and he passed Belding on Whistler’s word. Phil and the new boy went at once to Commander Lang. It was eight bells, and the anchor watch was just being mustered. There was no searchlight or signal drills on this evening because of the air raid. There might be other Zeppelins in the fog that hung over the sea. The boys coming aboard at once swung their hammocks and had a chance before the first call at 8:55 to visit around with their friends and swap experiences. Of course, everybody was excited over the air raid; but nobody had been in the thick of it as had Philip Morgan and his chums. As there is no smoking allowed below the main deck after 7:30 p. m. the lads could gather on the berth deck and talk until the first anchor watch was set. Then the thrill of the boatswain’s pipe called for silence on the berth deck and the boys that were not on watch or already in their hammocks prepared swiftly to be under covers when taps was sounded at five minutes past nine. But on this night, almost immediately after nine o’clock, there was a chattering of the wireless. The boys on watch saw the messenger dash along the deck from the wireless station with the message for the commander. A murmur passed from group to group about the main deck of the destroyer. It even seeped below, and the boys who were not yet asleep heard the whisper. Orders! Something of moment afoot that had not been expected; for the _Colodia_ was not supposed to leave port till the next day. Whistler, whose watch it was, almost stumbled against Ensign MacMasters in the waist of the ship. It was the ensign’s own fault, for he was on the starboard side. “Hello, my boy!” he said to Phil. “Heard the news?” “I know there is news, sir,” said Whistler. “But I don’t know what it is.” “You’ll all know soon. We’ll up anchor and sail in half an hour. Orders from the port admiral. He has got information from the prisoners that there may be another Zeppelin fallen in the sea outside. They saw her fall, and it may be possible for us to rescue some of her company.” “More of the baby-killing Heinies?” exclaimed Whistler. “Ah, well, we have to be merciful,” said the ensign. “They were obeying their orders. We must obey ours.” “But you know, Mr. MacMasters,” said Morgan earnestly, “if our superiors ordered us to commit the crimes the Huns commit, there would be mighty few of us who would obey orders.” “Aye, aye, my lad,” sighed the older man. “But remember we have not lived under Prussian masters all our lives. We have different teaching and different ideals, thank God!” In ten minutes the whole ship’s company was making ready for departure. CHAPTER VII--ON THE GREY WATERS