Repel Boarders

The Jap submarine had been rammed, it was on fire. It should have surrendered.

Unarmed but for their seamen's knives, shocked into temporary immobility, the astounded depth-charge crews on wind Rode's quarterdeck saw a horde of savage me jump, and grab hold, and clamber through the guard rails with sub-machine guns and pistols in their fists.

Captain Bentley had been looking astern, watchful of his screws so close to that other steel. He also was astonished, but he was a boxer, his reflexes were trap-quick. Jumping back he grabbed out the microphone.

For the first time for almost a century the order passed through a British warship.

"Repel boarders!' the loudspeaker blared. "On the quarterdeck, repel boarders!"