The Dreadnought of the Air

uadron on the China Station, owing to the understanding with Japan, had led to a decline in the greatness of Hong-Kong as a base. And what Hong-Kong had lost Singapore had gain

submarines, of which twelve of the "C" class and six of the "D" type were stationed there. Bomb-proof sheds for

from the dockyard to the flagship of Rear-Admiral Maynebrace. It read: "Commander-in-Chief to 'Repulse

unicated through the manifold yet proper channels to the gun-ro

ped to revel in the gorgeous glades, eating pine-apples and coco-nuts till the services of the sick-bay staff might have to be called into requisition. The prospect, ignoring the consequences

hade! This ordeal was sufficient to crush even the resistanc

een dinned into his head forty years ago, and since the King's Regulations say nothing about flag officers po

e landed him at the Kelang Steps. Somehow there was no conveyance in waiti

directed towards an individual who, even amidst the quaintly

bowed in the shoulders. His sun-dried face was partly concealed by a bristling black moustache an

aling a wide, turned-down collar and an enormous red silk tie. His frock coat was of a late nineteenth century pattern; while his trousers, baggy fo

g his "stove-pipe" made a most elaborate bow, a compliment that Maynebrace returned

r," remarked

ctor, I believe, sir,"

that on bo

icable instruction in French is to be given to midship

hipman," ejaculated Maynebrace, as he fran

sely kept it to himself, and trotting along with short jerky steps

into the stern sheets. His surprise was still greater when the lat

object in the stern-sheets would give as the boat ran alongside the flagship. As a matter of fact he gave none, but pulling at the wrong yoke-line he made the li

waiting for the boat to be brought properly alongside, made his way from thwart to

r's disgust the instructor committed a most heinous offence: he spat upon the sacred p

d not a word, and before he could recover his compos

r than to merit. He shone in the reflected light of his parent,

isitioned by the commander. When the childish punishment known as 10a (which consisted of compelling blacklist men to stand on the lee side of the quarter-deck from 8 to 10 p.m., to have their meals under the sentry's charge and t

first lieutenant remarked: "

off his stove-pipe hat

ow," and looked about him as if he expe

he beat a retreat, signing to a quarter-master to

d with no great zest the arrival of their instructor; but their apa

en if they hoped to rag th

truction to ze midsheepmens before, eh? You make great mistake. Ze first zat acts

chalk the instructor

aison, mais ma

young zhentleman with ze red ha

him hours of uneasiness at Osborne and Dartmouth. By a succession of lucky shots he

entence, Moxitter stood up, squared

easons that my sis

The rest of the midshipmen nearly succumbed to apoplexy, while even the Frenchman w

family are of no concern to ze rest of ze class, mais you are a good-for-nothing rascal, I s

s treatment of the men. They had to submit: the alternative of having their leave stopped by the captain put all idea of resistance out

papers the instru

ent before you leave?" aske

many tanks. Perm

Frenchman go over the side. The coxswain of the gig had been previous

icer of the watch glanced at the instructor

esseur de litérature et

e piece of pasteboard more intently. He even tilted h

droom," he ordered, and the quarter-deck mes

ed over the pages, then looked dubiously at th

'll speak to the comma