The pinnace was waiting for them and in a very few minutes they were on their way across the harbour.

The _Scorpion_ was lying well away from other craft, her four squat funnels emitting faint wreaths of smoke.

She rode very low in the water and her appearance was certainly menacing.
"Personally," Geraldine observed, leaning a little forward to look at her, "I think a destroyer is one of the most vicious, the most hideous things I ever saw.

I do hope that Ralph will be quick and get a cruiser." "Is that the _Scorpion_ just ahead of us ?" Granet asked.
Geraldine nodded.
"Did you ever see anything so ugly?
She looks as though she would spit out death from every little crevice." "She's a fine boat," Granet muttered.

"What did your brother say she could do ?" "Thirty-nine knots," Geraldine replied.