red-and-white flag in his extended hands.  

This much the crew of the Diomeda had barely time to take in, for close astern of the leading destroyer came another, and another, and yet another, less than thirty feet separating the black cross ensign of the leading boat from the knife-like bows of the one next astern. Any miscalculations on the part of the coxswains of the several boats would inevitably result in disaster.  

Just as the fourth destroyer darted past the violently pitching yacht—for she was in the thick of the combined "wash"—one of her crew, who was in the act of securing a stanchion rail, slipped on the heaving, wave-swept deck. Unnoticed by his comrades, he rolled under the rail and fell into the sea.  

The Diomeda was "in irons". Her sails were slatting violently in the wind. She carried no way, nor would she answer to her helm, and some minutes elapsed ere the ketch fell off sufficiently for her canvas to draw.  

Running forward and gripping the shrouds, Hamerton seized a boathook. The unfortunate man still floated, face upwards, but made no attempt to save himself.  

"Guess he's broken his back," shouted Detroit to his companion, in reply to which the Sub nodded. Falling off a boat travelling at thirty knots, a man would strike the water with terrific force.  

"Now luff!" bawled Hamerton. "Easy with your helm—port a little."  

Leaning outwards to the full extent of his left arm, the Sub made a futile attempt with the boathook to reach the sailor.  

"Up helm, and gybe her," he shouted. "We'll pick him up on the next tack."  

Then to his surprise Hamerton saw the American leap out of the cockpit, steady himself on the waterways for a brief instant, then plunge into the sea.  

"Silly ass!" grunted the Sub, although recognizing Detroit's pluck. "I'll have two men to haul aboard now instead of one."  

With that he made his way back to the cockpit to steady the yacht on her helm. Then it was that he found that Oswald had acted with discretion as well as bravery, for before leaping he had taken a turn of the end of the mainsheet round his waist. Rescuer and rescued were trailing astern at the end of forty feet of rope.  

Hauling the Diomeda's headsails to windward, 

 Prev. P 6/172 next