With perfect judgment Raymond manœuvred her astern of the _Parentis_, and ‘123’ slid alongside with barely a foot’s clearance. As she slid by,-- ‘Stop both!’ rapped the captain. ‘Group up! Astern both!’ The water bore aft as the propellers checked her way. Heaving lines were thrown fore and aft, ‘123’ thought about it, shuddered, and stopped dead alongside. ‘Stop both. Finished with motors. Make fast fore and aft,’ called Raymond. ‘Is the “Sperry” stopped, Boyd?’ ‘Yes, sir. I stopped her when we got on the bearing,’ replied the navigator. ‘Right-oh. Come on the pair of you. Time for a gin and bitters.’ ‘Clear up below, coxswain,’ cried Seagrave, as the gang plank went out; and five minutes later the three officers of H.M. Submarine ‘123’ were in the _Parentis’s_ ward room clamouring at the top of their voices for gin, bitters, and baths. THE MOTHERS I We knew them in their infancy, We knew them as our sons; We loved them for their own dear sakes, We bade them man the guns. We knew they’d do their honest best, We prayed that they might live; And proud were we the day we gave The utmost we could give. II We saw them go, our cherished ones, We bade them fond farewell; And we, the mothers of our sons, Were left alone ... in hell. O Lord, we humbly pray Thee, Have mercy on the slain; But most of all, have mercy on, The women who remain! EMPTY SADDLES ‘Chicago high,’ announced the Fleet Surgeon of the _Parentis_, throwing the dice on the ward room table. ‘One hundred, two hundred, three hundred and sixty-four,’ said the Staff Paymaster as he gathered them up. ‘Not so dusty, P.M.O., but watch Little Willie.’ ‘Sixty, sixty-four, sixty-six, seventy-two,’ cried the surgeon triumphantly. ‘The worst cut of modern times. Waiter, Mr Ponsonby will provide cocktails.’ ‘That shakes your wine bill, Pay,’ remarked the Engineer Commander. ‘Six cocktails makes you sit up and take notice. _And_ don’t forget that you’ve got to shake with old “Snatcher” when “159” gets back. He’s absolutely undefeated, a regular snatcher of drinks at other people’s expense.’ ‘You’re probably speaking from bitter experience, Chief,’ asked Blake, one of the submarine captains. ‘I am,’ replied the Engineer, shaking his head. ‘Last time I took him on I got six at “Chicago low,” and he lurked me with a possible. I used to think I was a pretty fair hand at cutting, but I admit that where “159” is concerned I’ve met my Waterloo.’ ‘By Jove, yes. She ought to be in by now, unless she’s had bad weather, which isn’t likely. You can usually trust “Snatcher” to sit on the bottom if it comes on to blow. But he ought to be back shortly. I always work it so as to get back in time for a bath before dinner when I’m on the patrol he’s got now.’