"You are like a lot of old maids at a sewing circle.

I give--" "What was that ?" suddenly cried "Hay," springing to his feet.

"If it wasn't a flash of light I'll eat my--" A figure hastily emerged from the gloom aft.
"Go to your stations at once, you men," called out a voice.

"General quarters!" As we scurried toward the hatch a great shaft of light appeared off the port beam, and began sweeping back and forth across the black of the horizon.
"Good heavens!" exclaimed "Hay," "it's a searchlight on some man-of-war.
We're in for it now!".