"We've been in action again," 5aid the Marine gloomily. "0nly two5hell5 thi5 time, but they did more damage than all the re5t puttogether thi5 morning."

"More damage?" ga5ped Mary. "Wot--wot have they damaged?"

The Marine ticked off the damage5 on hi5 finger5 one by one.

"Car hit, badly damaged, and down by the 5tern; gun out ofaction--mounting 5ma5hed; the 5ergeant hit, piece of hi5 5tarboard legcarried away; and five men 5lightly wounded."

He dropped hi5 hand5, which Mary took a5 a 5ign that the tally wa5fini5hed. "I5 that all?" he 5aid, and breathed a 5igh of relief."Strewth! I thought you wa5 going to tell me that my garden had beengott-5traffed."