Ralph, with a sheet of paper stretched out before him and a pencil in his hand, was apparently sketching something.

By his side was Granet.

The two girls with arms interlocked, were watching intently.
"You see," Ralph Conyers explained, drawing back for a moment to look at the result of his labours, "this scheme, properly worked out, can keep a channel route such as the Folkestone to Boulogne one, for instance, perfectly safe.

Those black marks are floats, and the nets--" "One moment, Ralph," Thomson interrupted from the background.
They all started and turned their heads.

Thomson drew a step nearer and his hand fell upon the paper.