but they escaped, thank God — others weren't so fortunate."
"No," he answered, turning away, "but America got quite angry — wrote a note, remember? Over there's one of the latest submarines. Germany can't touch her for speed and size, and better than that, she's got rat-tat — "
"I beg pardon?" I wailed, for the hammers were riotous again, "what has she?"
"She's got rat-tat forward and rat-tat aft, surface speed rat-tat-tat knots, submerged rat-tat-tat, and then best of all she's rattle-tattle-tattle. Yes, hammers are a bit noisy! This way. A destroyer yonder — new class — rat-tat feet longer than ordinary. We expect her to do rat-tat-tat knots and she'll mount rat-tat guns. There are two of them in the basin yonder having their engines fitted, turbines to give rat-tat-tat horse power. But come on, we'd better be going or we shall lose the others of your party."
"I should like to stay here a week," said I, tripping over a steel hawser.