about five in the afternoon
Yet what a difference marked the methods adopted by the humane commanders of our submarines when dealing with German mercantile shipping . A punctilious regard for the safety of the crews of overhauled merchantmen won admiration even from the seamen of the destroyed vessels . Humiliation and reproach seemed to haunt the white-bearded dotard , whose hands had sought in vain to wrest the trident from Britannia 's virile grasp . At about five in the afternoon the _ Capella _ arrived at her station off Beachy Head , relieving her sister ship the _ Markab _ , that , with three other motor-driven craft , had been engaged in a vigorous , but for the most part uneventful , patrol . Day and night for a fortnight at a stretch , unless anything unforeseen took place , the _ Capella _ was to cruise up and down , keeping a smart look-out for any sign of an object resembling a hostile periscope . In order to economize her fuel supply her speed was reduced to 10 knots . It was then that her bad qualities showed themselves .