Oil in convincing quantities had come to the surface where the _Starke_ had dropped its charge. Of course, the Germans often pumped oil out of their U-boats, when no damage had been done, for the purpose of deceiving the hunters and making them think they had destroyed a U-boat when they had not. But the officers of the _Starke_ had been satisfied with their findings; they would follow up the other U-boat and then return. They understood that only two U-boats had appeared to the _Ribot_; if another came or if either of the two reappeared, the _Starke_ would return instantly. No third enemy came; and neither of the others reappeared. In fact, the _Starke_ failed to find any further trace of the U-boat which, for a time, had fought upon the surface and then run away. Either the gunfire of the _Ribot_ or of the _Starke_ had so damaged it that it suddenly sank, leaving no survivors; or--as the men aboard the _Ribot_ seemed to think was more likely--the crew succeeded in repairing the damage done so that it was able to submerge and escape. In this case, it might venture another attack, by torpedo, upon the drifting _Ribot_; so the _Starke_, after abandoning the search, put herself beside the _Ribot_. An American officer came aboard, bringing with him a surgeon to aid in care of the _Ribot’s_ wounded; he brought also mechanics to assist the engine crew of the _Ribot_ in repairs and he supplied, from his own crew, men to take the places of the _Ribot’s_ crew who had been killed. Ruth watched the young lieutenant--he was few years older than Gerry Hull or herself--as he went about his business with the officers of the _Ribot_. If any shame for recreancy of his country had ever stirred him, it had left no mark; he was confident and competent--not proud but quite sure of himself and of his service. She looked for Gerry Hull to see whether he observed this one of their people; she looked to see whether Captain Forraker and “1582” also saw him. And she found that “1582” was the first to make opportunity to meet the American officer and compliment him. “You chaps might have been blowing up U-boats for a thousand years!” The pounding and hammering in the engine rooms was resulting in thrust again from the port engine. The _Ribot_ started under steam and ran through an area of water all iridescent with floating oil. Bits of wood and cloth scraps floated in the oil--bits which men scooped up to preserve for proof that the depth charges, which the _Starke_ had dropped there, had burst and destroyed a German submarine.