From that starting point the boys began to speak of the remarkable changes that had occurred in many things since the great world war broke out. Fleets of airplanes were serving as the eyes of each army and raining down tons upon tons of explosives on ammunition dumps, reserves, trains, railway stations where troops were gathered; and an endless number of other astonishing feats were of daily occurrence that a short time ago would have been looked on as wild dreams.
Suddenly came a warning from the crow's-nest of the steamer, "Periscope off the weather bow!"
This time it was no false alarm. The experienced seaman who spent his watch aloft in the crow's-nest with a glass glued to his eyes would not be apt to make a mistake.
The greatest excitement followed. Every one sprang to his feet. Faces turned white. Hands that gripped glasses trembled as with sudden palsy. Excited voices were heard. There was a sudden quiver throughout the great vessel, as the watchful commander on the bridge gave the order to change instantly her course.
All glasses were pointed in one direction. Some of the most sanguine declared they could make out a slender moving object that came
