Suddenly, however, a pair of arms closed round his neck, and glancing backwards he caught a glimpse of the black coarse fringe of the woman whom he had befriended, "I've got him!" she shrieked.

"I'll 'old 'im.

Now, Bill, knock the tripe out of him!" Her grip was as strong as a man's, and her wrist pressed like an iron bar upon the Admiral's throat.

He made a desperate effort to disengage himself, but the most that he could do was to swing her round, so as to place her between his adversary and himself.

As it proved, it was the very best thing that he could have done.