"Do you see that all-colors-of-the-rainbow flag at the half yardarm?" Jim said. "It means that all ships present are to come to attention and receive a message. Let's have the glass, Garth; they'll probably send it in semaphore."
Joan sat with pencil poised, ready to put down the words.
"Now we shall hear something really important," she said; "an order to go and shoot at a submarine, or something."
"There she goes!" said Jim. "The—Billington—has received—"
"Orders, probably," murmured Joan, scribbling.
"Forty—five—"
"What, I wonder?" whispered Garth.
Jim proceeded steadily, gazing through the glass at the tiny form of a sailor moving his flags on the signal-bridge of the Billington.
"Pounds—of—Cucumbers—"
"Oh, oh!" laughed Joan.
"Which—were—not—ordered—by—her. The—ship—to—which—they—belong—will—please—com—municate—with—the—Billington—at—once."
The three were all laughing so much that they
