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me？ Our meeting was so unexpected； and； for me； such a pleasure。 Don't let us spoil it。〃
〃Let us talk of other things；〃 she agreed readily。 〃Tell me； for instance； just what does a submarine look like when it pops up out of the sea？〃
〃I have never seen one close to； he admitted 〃except on the surface。 Why do you ask？〃
She pointed with her forefinger to a little spot almost between two banks of mist。
〃Because I fancied just now that I saw something sticking up out of the water there； something which might have been the periscope of a submarine；〃 she replied。
He looked in the direction which she indicated but shook his head。
〃I can see nothing；〃 he said； 〃but in any case I don't think they would attack a hospital ship。 This is a dangerous area for them； too。 We are bound to have a few destroyers close at hand。 I wonder if Ralph〃
He never finished his sentence。 The shock which they had both read about but never dreamed of experiencing； flung them without a moment's warning onto their hands and feet。 The steamer seemed as though it had been lifted out of the water。 There was a report as though some great cannon had been fired off in their very ears。 Looking along the deck； it suddenly seemed to Thomson that her bows were pointing to the sky。 The after portion； where they were seated； was vibrating and shaking as though they had struck a rock； and only a few yards away from them； towards the middle of the boat； the end of the cabin was riven bare to the heavens。 Timbers were creaking and splintering in every direction。 There was a great gap already in the side of the steamer； as though some one had taken a cut out of it。 Then； high above the shrieking of the escaped steam and the cracking of woodwork； the siren of the boat screamed out its frantic summons for help。 Geraldine for the moment lost her nerve。 She began to shriek； and ran towards the nearest boat； into which the people were climbing like ants。 Thomson drew her back。
〃Don't hurry；〃 he begged。 〃Here！〃
He threw open the door of a cabin which leaned over them； snatched two of the lifebelts from the berth and rapidly fastened one on her。 There was some semblance of order on deck now that the first confusion had passed。 The men were all rushing to quarters。 Three of the boats had been blown into splinters upon their davits。 The fourth； terribly overloaded； was being lowered。 Thomson； working like a madman； was tying some spare belts on to a table which had floated out from the cabin。 More than once the boat gave a great plunge and they had to hold on to the cabin doors。 A huge wave broke completely over them； drenching them from head to foot。 The top of the rail now was on a level with the sea。 Thomson stood up for a moment and looked around。 Then he turned to Geraldine。
〃Look here；〃 he said； 〃there'll be plenty of craft around to pick us up。 This thing can't sink。 Keep the lifebelt on and get your arms through the belt I have tied on to the table； so。 That's right。 Now come over to the side。〃
〃You're not going to jump overboard？〃 she cried。
〃We are going to just step overboard；〃 he explained。 〃It's the only chance。 Throw off your fur cloak。 You see； if we stay a moment later we shall be dragged down after the steamer。 We must get clear while we can。〃
〃I can swim；〃 he answered quickly； throwing off his coat and waistcoat。 〃This thing will support me easily。 Believe me； Geraldine； there's nothing to be frightened about。 We can keep her afloat for half…a…dozen hours； if necessary； with this only don't let go of it。 Keep your arms through； andby God！ Quick！〃
A huge wave broke right over their heads。 The boat； which had nearly reached the level of the water； was overturned； and the air seemed full of the screaming of women； the loud shouting of orders from the bridge； where the captain was standing with his hands upon the fast sinking rail。 The water was up to their waists now。 In a moment they ceased to feel anything beneath their feet。 Geraldine found herself suddenly buoyant。 Thomson； swimming with one arm； locked the other in their raft。
〃Push yourself away from everything as well as you can；〃 he whispered； 〃and； Geraldineif anything should happen to us； I never changednot for a moment。〃
〃I don't believe I ever did； either；〃 she sobbed； holding out her hand。
Another wave broke over them。 They came up； however。 He gripped her wet hand for a moment。 All around them were articles of ship's furniture； broken planks； here and there a man swimming。 From close at hand came the shriek of the vanishing siren。
〃Look！〃 Geraldine cried。
Barely fifty feet away from them was the submarine。 The captain and four or five of the men where on deck。 Thomson shouted to him。
〃Can't you save some of these women？〃
The answer was a laughhoarse； brutal； derisive。 The submarine glided away。 Thomson's face as he looked after it； was black with anger。 The next moment he recovered himself； however。 He had need of all his strength。
〃Don't listen to anything； Geraldine；〃 he begged her。 〃They will nearly all be saved。 Can't you hear the sirens already？ There are plenty of ships coming up。 Remember； we can't go down so long as we keep hold here。〃
〃But you've no lifebelt on；〃 she faltered。
〃I don't need it；〃 he assured her。 〃I can keep afloat perfectly well。 You're not cold？〃
〃No；〃 she gasped； 〃but I feel so low down。 The sky seems suddenly further away。 Oh； if some one would come！〃
There were sirens now； and plenty of them； close at hand。 Out of the mist they saw a great black hull looming。
〃They're here all right！〃 he cried。 〃Courage； Geraldine！ It's only another five minutes。〃
Thirty miles an hour into a fog of mist； with the spray falling like a fountain and the hiss of the seawater like devil's music in their ears。 Then the haze lifted like the curtain before the stage of a theatre； and rolled away into the dim distance。 An officer stood by Conyers' side。
〃Hospital ship Princess Hilda just torpedoed by a submarine； sir。 They're picking up the survivors already。 We're right into 'em sir。〃
Even as he spoke； the moonlight shone down。 There were two trawlers and a patrol boat in sight； and twenty or thirty boats rowing to the scene of the disaster。 Suddenly there was a shout。
〃Submarine on the port bow！〃
They swung around。 The sea seemed churned into a mass of soapy foam。 Conyers gripped the rail in front of him。 The orders had scarcely left his lips before the guns were thundering out。 The covered…in structure on the lower deck blazed with an unexpected light。 The gun below swung slowly downwards； moved by some unseen instrument。 Columns of spray leapt into the air； the roar of the guns was deafening。 Then there was another shouta hoarse yell of excitement。 Barely a hundred yards away； the submarine； wobbling strangely； appeared on the surface。 An officer in the stern held up the white flag。
〃We are sinking！〃 he shouted。 〃We surrender！〃
For a single second Conyers hesitated。 Then he looked downwards。 The corpse of a woman went floating by； a child； tied on to a table； was bobbing against the side。 The red fires flashed before