He took up his position at the for'ard scuttle of the conning-tower, while Devereux and Crosthwaite remained by the observation scuttles on either side of the elongated steel box. Hour after hour passed. The "E--" was still proceeding without mishap, steered by a compass course. She was now well within the Dardanelles. The fixing of her position was merely a matter of guesswork, since the periscope could not be used without risk of being fired at from the alert batteries. Twice she had to circle, owing to the water shoaling, and attempt a fresh course. It was the only means of keeping to the deep-water channel as it wended its tortuous way through the intricate Narrows. Suddenly Dick gave an exclamation of surprise. Less than thirty feet from the scuttle, a large, ill-defined grey object darted past. Before he could call the skipper's attention to it, the thing had vanished. For several minutes the "E--" swayed and pitched in the undulations caused by the moving mass. "A submarine, sir--that I can swear to," reported Crosthwaite. "Then it's a dashed German one," declared Huxtable. "None of our own were to operate in the Narrows until we reported ourselves. That's rotten luck." His face bore a grim expression as he spoke, then he broke into a boisterous laugh. "We're in luck, Crosthwaite," he exclaimed. "How, sir?" asked the Sub, puzzled at the rapid change in his superior's manner. "How? Don't you see? The Turks have been expecting that German _unterseeboot_. Consequently they've made preparations. They've ceased to throw out floating mines, and have given her directions for a safe course through the anchored minefield, and we're in the same channel. By Jove! I'll risk it! We'll pop up and see where we are. I shouldn't be surprised if we were close to Sedd-ul-Bahr, or somewhere within range of the guns, otherwise the German submarine would be running awash with her ensign displayed." Although Huxtable had declared that he would not be surprised at the result of his observation, when the periscope showed above the surface he was completely taken aback. He had considerably underrated the speed of the current, and instead of being still within the Dardanelles, Cape Helles was sighted bearing three miles N.W. What was more, "E--" was within two thousand yards of the _Hammerer_ and the _Tremendous_, both battleships being engaged in a long-range bombardment of the Turkish trenches on the Gallipoli Peninsula. Concealment was no longer necessary. Running awash, the submarine "made her number", thus revealing her identity; and in response to a request the _Hammerer_ dispatched a picket-boat to take off her two missing officers and the survivors of her whaler's crew.