This apparently peaceful ketch was one of those armed mystery sailing ships which came into service during the last year of the war. To face p. 188] Although the submarine escaped, _Probus_ had succeeded in luring him from the convoy, and had sent him right away. These sailing Q-ships became, in fact, one of the best types of escort for other sailing vessels in convoy, and thus allowed armed steam patrol vessels to be employed elsewhere. Looking in no way different from the rest of the convoy, but fitted with concealed wireless and, later, even with howitzer armament, they had a much better chance than the armed trawler or destroyer of enticing the submarine. Apart altogether from these important considerations, the scheme of carrying freights was a big financial success, and _Probus_ paid for herself over and over again. It was nothing unusual for her to earn over £1,000 a month. Naturally enough, then, we find other sailing ships being taken up for this dual work. In November, 1917, the 900-ton three-masted fore-and-aft schooner _Fresh Hope_, lying at Granton, was requisitioned. She had formerly been the United States’ _Edith E. Cummins_, and in a fresh breeze could log her 12 knots. Known also as the _Iroquois_, she was fitted out and commissioned by the first week of April, 1918, and served until the Armistice. Other sailing vessels were thus commissioned in 1918, specially selected as being able to carry each at least one 4-inch and two 12-pounders, and to be fitted with auxiliary engines. These were the _Rentoul_, _Imogene_, _Viola_, _Cymric_, and _Elizabeth_. They were actually armed with a 7·5-inch howitzer, in addition to the three guns just mentioned. _Imogene_ was a barquentine, and had been carrying china clay from Fowey to St. Malo. _Rentoul_ was also a barquentine, _Viola_ was a schooner; _Cymric_ was a three-masted schooner.