Page:Cruise of the Dry Dock.djvu/268

 “War! What countries?” demanded Smith in an excited whisper.

“Hall countries! Hingland, France, Rooshia, Japan, that's one side, an' Germany and Austria on th' other.”

“America in it?” demanded Madden.

“Right enough. Canada is sendin' troops and——”

“America! America! The United States of America!”

“Oh, no, she's the only nootral in th' whole world among th' big powers! But she'll be in soon enough!”

“What's this we're on?” inquired Caradoc. “It isn't a warship?”

“Kind o' warship. It's a mother ship for submarines—sort of floatin' dry dock for the little sneakers. She takes 'em aboard, over'auls 'em, gives 'em new stores and torpedoes.”

“England at war!” repeated Caradoc in a maze. “I must get out of here!”

“That's th' word, war!” whispered Malone thickly. “They say Hingland's got a tight blockade aroun' th' German ports, so th' German cruisers bring their prizes here in th' Sargasso,