To the southward, that is, between us and the shore, our smoke-screeners had laid down a "pea-soup" fog. Nothing was to be seen in that direction except the glare of searchlights and of gun flashes, the latter being presumably directed against the fast motor boats which had run into the anchorage behind the Mole for the purpose of torpedoing vessels secured alongside. At this stage the wind died away completely and the rain was heavier than ever. {176} In _Vindictive_ we took up our action stations. Our battery guns had been instructed not to open fire until it was certain that our individual presence had been discovered. The guns in the fighting-top on our foremast were in readiness to engage. Rocket men had been stationed to fire illuminating flares for the purpose of locating the Mole. The storming parties were under cover awaiting the order to storm the Mole. The cable party were in the forecastle standing by to drop anchor at the foot of the high wall. Other parties with wire hawsers were stationed to assist the _Daffodil_ in her important task of pushing _Vindictive_ bodily alongside. Crews were standing by the bomb-mortars and flame-throwers for clearing the Mole before sending the stormers over the wall. The Engineering and Stokehold personnel were at their stations below for giving immediate response to all requirements from the conning positions. The first lieutenant--Lieutenant-Commander R. R. Rosoman, R.N.--was in the conning tower, from where the ship was being steered by the quartermaster, in readiness to take over the handling of the ship immediately I was rendered _hors de combat_. It was a decidedly tense period, but there were others to follow. [Sidenote: Nearing the Goal] At a given moment by watch-time _Vindictive_ altered course towards the Mole--or rather towards the position where it was hoped to find the Mole. Almost immediately we ran into the smoke screen. _The wind had now changed to an off-shore direction_, diametrically opposite to that on which the screening plans had been based. I thought at the time that this smoke screen was the thickest on record--that opinion was changed later. {177} The visibility at this time can hardly have amounted to a yard--the forecastle was invisible from the bridge. The firing of star shells and guns, and the flashing of searchlights became more frequent. _Vindictive_ was being conned from the flame-thrower hut on the port end of the conning-tower platform. This position was especially suitable in that it plumbed over the ship's side and thus provided a very good outlook for berthing at the Mole. There was a curious absence of excitement. Even the continued repetition of the question, "Are you all right, sir?" from my first lieutenant--a prearranged idea to ensure a quick change over of command--became monotonous. Nothing had yet been seen of the Mole from _Vindictive_. This comparatively quiet period was not of long duration. {178} CHAPTER III