"I can scarcely grasp the meaning of these wonders," remarked Tregarthen.
"ONE moment, sir," said Gerald as he accompanied the captain across the fo'c'sle, where a party of men were undergoing musketry exercise. "What is the meaning of that cylinder close to the muzzles of the rifles?"
"It's a silencer--the Lucas silencer, to be exact. I took a fancy to the device and acquired the patent. Mr. Ball, bring me one of those rifles, please."
The gunner brought one of the rifles for inspection. As Gerald had already noted it differed little from the Lee-Enfield type.
"The magazine takes a clip of ten rounds of .202 ammunition," announced Captain Brookes, as he pulled out the "cut-off" and thrust a cartridge into the chamber. "Now, listen."
Bringing the rifle to his shoulder the captain pressed the trigger. Beyond the slight recoil and a faint hiss there was nothing to indicate that the weapon had been discharged, until the still-smoking cartridge-case was ejected.
"I am applying this principle to all our ordnance, from the 6in. down to the revolver. It means a great moral advantage to be in a position to launch a hail of charged shells with a complete absence of sound," continued the captain, as he handed back the weapon. "Now we will----"
"Where away?" demanded the captain, in stentorian tones.
"That's the _Puma_, I'll be bound. Mr. Tregarthen, we must postpone the remainder of our inspection for awhile. In the meantime you'll find Mr. Stockton in your cabin. You may inform him that he has the run of the ship, with the exception, of course, of the conning-tower."
So saying, Captain Brookes hurried off to the bridge, the speed of the _Olive Branch_ was reduced to less than twenty knots, and preparations were begun for opening communications with the _Puma_, which was already within five miles when Tregarthen went below to rejoin his companion.
"It's settled, Jack; you are to stay aboard the _Olive Branch_," he exclaimed.
"Yes, I know, thanks to you. They've told me that I'm to share your cabin."
"How did you know that?" asked Gerald. "Captain Brookes agreed to my proposal, and ever since then he has not been out of my sight."
"I don't know; I'm here, and there's an end of it as far as I am concerned," replied Jack, philosophically.