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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Boy Allies with the Victorious Fleets
+by Robert L. Drake
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: The Boy Allies with the Victorious Fleets
+       The Fall of the German Navy
+
+Author: Robert L. Drake
+
+Release Date: January 7, 2005 [EBook #14626]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BOY ALLIES ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Emmy and the PG Online Distributed
+Proofreading Team
+
+
+
+
+
+
+The Boy Allies
+With the Victorious Fleets
+
+OR
+The Fall of the German Navy
+
+By ENSIGN ROBERT L. DRAKE
+
+AUTHOR OF
+
+"The Boy Allies With the Navy Series"
+
+[Illustration: A.L. BURT COMPANY NEW YORK]
+
+The Boy Allies
+
+(Registered in the United States Patent Office)
+
+With the Navy Series
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+By Ensign ROBERT L. DRAKE
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+    The Boy Allies on the North Sea Patrol
+      or, Striking the First Blow at the German Fleet
+
+    The Boy Allies Under Two Flags
+      or, Sweeping the Enemy from the Sea.
+
+    The Boy Allies with the Flying Squadron
+      or, The Naval Raiders of the Great War.
+
+    The Boy Allies with the Terror of the Seas
+      or, The Last Shot of the Submarine D-16.
+
+    The Boy Allies in the Baltic
+      or, Through Fields of Ice to Aid the Czar.
+
+    The Boy Allies at Jutland
+      or, The Greatest Naval Battle in History.
+
+    The Boys Allies Under the Sea
+      or, The Vanishing Submarine.
+
+    The Boy Allies with Uncle Sam's Cruisers
+      or, Convoying the American Army Across the Atlantic.
+
+    The Boy Allies with the Submarine D-32
+      or, The Fall of the Russian Empire.
+
+    The Boy Allies with the Victorious Fleet
+      or, The Fall of the German Navy.
+
+Copyright, 1919
+
+By A.L. BURT COMPANY
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+
+
+
+THE BOY ALLIES WITH THE VICTORIOUS FLEET
+
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+ABOARD U.S.S. PLYMOUTH
+
+
+"Sail at 4 a.m.," said Captain Jack Templeton of the U.S.S. Plymouth,
+laying down the long manila envelope marked "Secret." "Acknowledge by
+signal," he directed the ship's messenger, and then looked inquiringly
+about the wardroom table.
+
+"Aye, aye, sir," said the first officer, Lieutenant Frank Chadwick.
+
+"Ready at four, sir," said the engineer officer, Thomas; and left his
+dinner for a short trip to the engine room to push some belated repairs.
+
+"Send a patrol ashore to round up the liberty party," continued Captain
+Templeton, this time addressing the junior watch officer. "Tell them to
+be aboard at midnight instead of eight in the morning."
+
+"Aye, aye, sir," said the junior watch officer, and departed in haste.
+
+There was none of the bustle and confusion aboard the U.S.S. Plymouth, at
+that moment lying idle in a British port, that the landsman would commonly
+associate with sailing orders to a great destroyer. Blowers began to hum
+in the fire rooms. The torpedo gunner's mates slipped detonators in the
+warheads and looked to the rack load of depth charges. The steward made a
+last trip across to the depot ship. Otherwise, things ran on very much as
+before.
+
+At midnight the junior watch officer called the captain, who had turned in
+several hours earlier, and reported:
+
+"Liberty party all on board, sir."
+
+Then he turned in for a few hours' rest himself.
+
+The junior watch was astir again at three o'clock. He routed out a sleepy
+crew to hoist boats and secure for sea. Seven bells struck on the
+Plymouth.
+
+Captain Templeton appeared on the bridge. Lieutenant Chadwick was at his
+side, as were Lieutenants Shinnick and Craib, second and third officers
+respectively. Captain Templeton gave a command. The cable was slipped from
+the mooring buoy. Ports were darkened and the Plymouth slipped out. A bit
+inside the protection of the submarine nets, but just outside the
+channel, she lay to, breasting the flood tide. There she lay for almost an
+hour.
+
+"Coffee for the men," said Captain Templeton.
+
+The morning coffee was served on deck in the darkness.
+
+Lights appeared in the distance, and presently another destroyer joined
+the Plymouth. Running lights of two more appeared as the clock struck 4
+a.m.
+
+Captain Templeton signalled the engine room for two-thirds speed ahead.
+Running lights were blanketed on the four destroyers, and the ships fell
+into column.
+
+Lieutenant Chadwick felt a drop on his face. He held out a hand.
+
+"Rain," he said briefly.
+
+Jack--Captain Templeton--nodded.
+
+"So much the better, Frank," he replied.
+
+The four destroyers cleared the channel light and spread out like a fan
+into line formation.
+
+"Full speed ahead!" came Jack's next command.
+
+The Plymouth leaped ahead, as did her sister ships on either side.
+
+"We're off," said Frank.
+
+Away they sped in the darkness, a division of four Yankee destroyers,
+tearing through the Irish sea on a rainy morning; Frank knew there were
+four ships in line, but all he could see was his guide, a black smudge in
+the darkness, a few ship lengths away on his port bow. Directly she was
+blotted from sight by a rain squall.
+
+"Running lights!" shouted Frank.
+
+The lights flashed. Frank kept an eye forward. Directly he got a return
+flash from the ship ahead, and then picked up her shape again.
+
+Morning dawned and still the fleet sped on. Toward noon the weather
+cleared. Officer and men kept their watches by regular turn during the
+day. At sundown the four destroyers slowed down and circled around in a
+slow column. The eyes of every officer watched the clock. They were
+watching for something. Directly it came--a line of other ships,
+transports filled with wounded soldiers returning to America. These must
+be safely convoyed to a certain point beyond the submarine zone by the
+Plymouth and her sister ships.
+
+On came the transports camouflaged like zebras. The Plymouth and the other
+destroyers fell into line on either side of the transports.
+
+"Full speed ahead," was Captain Templeton's signal to the engine room.
+
+"Take a look below, Frank," said Jack to his first officer.
+
+"Aye, aye, sir."
+
+Frank descended a manhole in the deck. He closed the cover and secured it
+behind him. At the foot of the ladder was a locked door. As it opened,
+came a pressure on Frank's ear drums like the air-lock of a caisson.
+Frank threaded his way amid pumps and feed water heaters and descended
+still further to the furnace level.
+
+Twenty-five knots--twenty-eight land miles an hour--was the speed of the
+Plymouth at that moment. It was good going.
+
+Below, instead of dust, heat, the clatter of shovels, grimy, sweating
+fireman, such as the thought of the furnace room of a ship of war calls to
+the mind of the landsman, a watertender stood calmly watching the glow of
+oil jets feeding the furnace fire. Now and then he cast an eye to the
+gauge glasses. The vibration of the hull and the hum of the blower were
+the only sounds below.
+
+For the motive power of the Plymouth was not furnished by coal. Rather, it
+was oil--crude petroleum--that drove the vessel along. And though oil has
+its advantage over coal, it has its disadvantages as well. It was Frank's
+first experience aboard an oil-burner, and he had not become used to it
+yet. He smelled oil in the smoke from the funnels, he breathed it from the
+oil range in the galley. His clothes gathered it from stanchions and
+rails.
+
+The water tanks were flavored with the seepage from neighboring
+compartments. Frank drank petroleum in the water and tasted it in the
+soup. The butter, he thought, tasted like some queer vaseline. But Frank
+knew that eventually he would get used to it.
+
+"How's she heading?" Frank asked of the chief engineer.
+
+"All right, sir," was the reply. "Everything perfectly trim. I can get
+more speed if necessary."
+
+Frank smiled.
+
+"Let's hope it won't be necessary, chief," he replied.
+
+He inspected the room closely for some moments, then returned to the
+bridge and reported to Captain Templeton.
+
+The sea was rough, but nevertheless the speed of the flotilla was not
+slackened. It was the desire of Captain Petlow, in charge of the destroyer
+fleet, to convoy the transports beyond the danger point at the earliest
+possible moment.
+
+The Plymouth lurched up on top of a crest, then dived head-first into the
+trough. On the bridge the heave and pitch of the vessel was felt
+subconsciously, but the eyes and minds of the officers were busied with
+other things. At every touch of the helm the vessel vibrated heavily.
+
+Eight bells struck.
+
+"Twelve o'clock," said Frank. "Time to eat."
+
+The bridge was turned over to the second officer, and Frank and Jack went
+below.
+
+"Eat is right, Frank," said Jack as they sat down. "We can't dine in this
+weather."
+
+It was true. The rolling boards, well enough for easy weather, proved a
+mockery in a sea like the one that raged now. Butter balls, meat and
+vegetables shot from plates and went sailing about. It was necessary to
+drink soup from teacups and such solid foods as Jack and Frank put into
+their stomachs was only what they succeeded in grabbing as they leaped
+about on the table.
+
+The two returned on deck.
+
+The day passed quietly. No submarines were sighted, and at last the
+flotilla reached the point where the destroyers were to leave the homeward
+bound transports to pursue their voyage alone. The transports soon grew
+indistinguishable, almost, in the semi-darkness. The senior naval officer
+aboard the Plymouth hoisted signal flags.
+
+"Bon Voyage," they read.
+
+Through a glass Jack read the reply.
+
+"Thank you for your good work. Best of luck."
+
+From the S.N.O. (senior naval officer) came another message. Frank picked
+it up.
+
+"Set course 188 degrees. Keep lookout for inbound transports to be
+convoyed. Ten ships."
+
+Again the destroyer swung into line. It was almost seven o'clock--after
+dark--when the lookout aboard the Plymouth reported:
+
+"Smoke ahead!"
+
+Instantly all was activity aboard the destroyers. Directly, through his
+glass, Jack sighted nine rusty, English tramp steamers, of perhaps eight
+thousand tons, and a big liner auxiliary flying the Royal Navy ensign.
+
+Under the protection of the destroyers, the ships made for an English
+port. The night passed quietly. With the coming of morning, the flotilla
+was divided. The Plymouth stood by to protect the big liner, while the
+other three destroyers and the tramp steamers moved away toward the east.
+
+"This destroyer game is no better than driving a taxi," Frank protested to
+Jack on the bridge that afternoon. You never see anything. I'd like to get
+ashore for a change. I've steamed sixty thousand miles since last May and
+what have I seen? Three ports, besides six days' leave in London."
+
+"You had plenty of time ashore before that," replied Jack.
+
+"Maybe I did. But I'd like to have some more. Besides, this isn't very
+exciting business."
+
+Night fell again, and still nothing had happened to break the quiet
+monotony of the trip. Lights of trawlers flashed up ahead. Interest on the
+bridge picked up.
+
+"Object off the port bow," called the lookout.
+
+"Looks like a periscope," reported the quartermaster.
+
+Frank snapped his binoculars on a bobbing black spar.
+
+"Buoy and fishnet," he decided after a quick scrutiny.
+
+Frank kept the late watch that night. At 4 a.m. he turned in. At five he
+climbed hastily from his bunk at the jingle of general alarm, and reached
+the bridge on the run in time to see the exchange of recognition signals
+with a British man-o'-war, which vessel had run into a submarine while the
+latter was on the surface in a fog. The warship had just rammed the
+U-boat.
+
+"Can we help you?" Frank called across the water.
+
+"Thanks. Drop a few depth charges," was the reply.
+
+This was done, but nothing came of it Frank returned to his bunk.
+
+"Pretty slow life, this, if you ask me," he told himself.
+
+He went back to sleep.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+THE BOY CAPTAIN AND HIS LIEUTENANT
+
+
+The U.S.S. Plymouth was Jack Templeton's first command. He had been
+elevated to the rank of captain only a few weeks before. Naturally he was
+not a little proud of his vessel. When Jack was given his ship, it was
+only natural, too, that Frank Chadwick, who had been his associate and
+chum through all the days of the great war, should become Jack's first
+officer.
+
+In spite of the fact that Jack's rating as captain was in the British
+navy, he was at this moment in command of an American vessel. This came
+about through a queer combination of circumstances.
+
+The American commander of the Plymouth had been taken suddenly ill. At
+almost the same time the Plymouth had been ordered to proceed from Dover
+to Liverpool to join other American vessels. Almost on the eve of
+departure, the first officer also was taken ill. It was to him the command
+naturally would have fallen in the captain's absence. The second officer
+was on leave of absence. Thus, without a skipper, the Plymouth could not
+have sailed.
+
+Jack and Frank had recently returned with a British convoy from America.
+They were in Dover at the time. From his sick bed in a hospital, the
+captain of the Plymouth had appealed to the British naval authorities. In
+spite of the fact that he was in no condition to leave when he received
+his orders, he did not wish to deny his crew the privilege of seeing
+active service, which the call to Liverpool, he knew, meant.
+
+The captain's appeal had been turned over to Lord Hastings, now connected
+prominently with the British admiralty. Lord Hastings, in the early days
+of the war, had been the commander under whom Jack and Frank had served.
+In fact, the lads were visiting the temporary quarters of Lord Hastings in
+Dover when the appeal was received from the commander of the Plymouth.
+
+"How would you like to tackle this job, Jack?" Lord Hastings asked.
+
+"I'd like it," the lad replied, "if you think I can do it, sir."
+
+"Of course you can do it," was Lord Hastings' prompt reply. "I haven't
+sailed with you almost four years for nothing."
+
+"You mean, sir," replied Jack with a smile, "that I haven't sailed with
+you that long for nothing."
+
+"That's more like it, Jack," put in Frank laughingly. "I've learned a few
+things from Lord Hastings myself."
+
+"It is hardly probable," continued Lord Hastings, "that your promotion has
+been unearned, Jack. No, I believe you can fill the bill."
+
+"In that case, I shall be glad to take command of the Plymouth
+temporarily, sir."
+
+"And how about me?" Frank wanted to know. "Where do I come in, sir?"
+
+"Why," said Lord Hastings, "I have no doubt it can be arranged so you can
+go along as first officer. I understand the first officer of the Plymouth
+is also under the weather."
+
+"But isn't all this a bit irregular, sir?" Jack asked.
+
+"Very much so," was Lord Hastings' reply. "At the same time, many
+precedents are being broken every day, and I can see no reason why two
+British officers cannot lend their services to an ally if they are asked
+to do so."
+
+"It is a little different with me, sir," said Frank. I'm an American."
+
+"All the same," said Lord Hastings, "you're a British naval officer, no
+matter what your nativity."
+
+"That's true, too, sir," Frank agreed. "I haven't thought of it in just
+that way."
+
+"Well," said Lord Hastings, "I shall report then that Captain Templeton
+and First Lieutenant Chadwick will go aboard the Plymouth this evening."
+
+"Very well, sir," said Jack.
+
+This is the reason then that Jack and Frank found themselves aboard an
+American destroyer in the Irish sea.
+
+Frank Chadwick, as we have seen, was an American. He had been in Italy
+with his father when the great war began. He had been shanghaied in Naples
+soon after Germany's declaration of war on France. When he came to his
+senses he found that his captors were a band of mutinous sailors. Aboard
+the vessel he found a second prisoner, who turned out to be a member of
+the British secret service.
+
+Frank met Jack Templeton, a British youth, aboard the schooner. Jack came
+aboard in a peculiar way.
+
+The schooner, in control of the mutineers, had put into a north African
+port for provisions. Now it chanced that the store where the mutineers
+sought to buy provisions was conducted by Jack. The lad was absent when
+the supplies were purchased and returned a few moments later to find that
+the mutineers had departed without making payment.
+
+Jack's anger bubbled over. He put off for the schooner in a small boat.
+Aboard, the chief of the mutineers refused the demand for payment. A fight
+ensued. Jack, facing heavy odds, sought refuge in the hold of the vessel,
+where he was made a prisoner.
+
+During the night Jack was able to force his way from the hold into the
+cabin where Frank and the British secret service agent were held captives.
+He released them, and joining forces, the three were able to overcome the
+mutineers and make themselves masters of the ship.
+
+Now Jack Templeton was an experienced seaman and knew more than the
+rudiments of navigation. Under his direction the schooner returned to the
+little African port that he called home. There the three erstwhile
+prisoners left the ship to the mutineers.
+
+Later, through the good offices of the British secret service, Frank and
+Jack made the acquaintance of Lord Hastings, also in the diplomatic
+service. They were able to render some service to the latter and later
+accompanied him to his home in London. There, at their request, Lord
+Hastings, who in the meantime had been given command of a ship of war, had
+them attached to his ship with the rank of midshipmen.
+
+Both Jack and Frank had risen swiftly in the British service. They had
+seen active service in all quarters of the globe and had fought under many
+flags.
+
+Under Lord Hastings' command they had been with the British fleet in the
+North Sea when it struck the first decisive blow against the Germans just
+off Helgoland. Later they were found under the Tricolor of France and with
+the Italians in the Adriatic. With the British fleet again when it sallied
+forth to clear the seven seas of enemy vessels, they had traversed the
+Atlantic, the Pacific and the Indian oceans. It had been their fortune,
+too, to see considerable land fighting. They had been with the
+Anglo-Japanese forces in the east and had conducted raiding parties in
+some of the German colonial possessions.
+
+Several times they had successfully run the blockade in the Kiel canal,
+passing through the narrow straits in submarines just out of reach of the
+foe. In Russia, they had, early in the war, lent invaluable assistance to
+the Czar; and more lately, they had been in the eastern monarchy when Czar
+Nicholas had been forced to renounce his throne.
+
+Once since the war began they had been to America. This was shortly after
+the United States entered the war. They were ordered to the North Atlantic
+in order to help the American authorities snare a German commerce raider
+which, in some unaccountable manner, had run the British blockade in the
+North sea, and was wreaking havoc with allied shipping. Later they went to
+New York, and then returned to Europe with a combined British-American
+convoy for the first expeditionary force to cross the seas.
+
+In temperament and disposition Jack and Frank were as unlike as one could
+conceive. Jack, big for his age, broad-shouldered and strong, was always
+cool and collected. Frank, on the other hand, was of a more fiery nature,
+easily angered and often rash and reckless. Jack's steadying influence had
+often kept the two out of trouble, or brought them through safely when
+they were in difficulties.
+
+Both lads spoke French and German fluently and each had a smattering of
+Italian. Also, as the result of several trips to Russia, they had a few
+words of the Russian tongue at their command.
+
+In physical strength, Jack excelled Frank by far, although the latter was
+by no means a weakling. On the other hand again, Frank was a crack shot
+with either rifle or revolver; in fact, he was such an excellent marksman
+as to cause his chum no little degree of envy. Then, too, both lads were
+proficient in the art of self defense and both had learned to hold their
+own with the sword.
+
+Up to the time this story opens the combined allied fleets had succeeded
+in keeping the Germans bottled up in the strong fortress of Helgoland.
+True, the enemy several times had sallied forth in few numbers, apparently
+seeking to run the blockade in an effort to prey upon allied merchant
+ships. But every time they had offered battle they had received the worst
+of it. They had been staggered with a terrible defeat at Jutland almost a
+year before this story opens, and since that time had not ventured forth.
+
+But even now, in the security of their hiding places, the Germans were
+meditating a bold stroke. Submarines were being coaled and victualed in
+preparation for a dash across the Atlantic. Already, one enemy
+submarine--a merchantman--had passed the allied ships blocking the English
+channel and had crossed to America and returned. Some months later, a
+U-Boat of the war type had followed suit. A cordon of ally ships had been
+thrown around American ports to snare this venturesome submarine on its
+return, but it had eluded them and returned safely to its home port.
+
+But soon--very soon, indeed--German undersea craft were to strike a more
+severe blow at allied shipping, carrying, for the moment, the war in all
+its horrors to the very door of America. While the United States was
+arming and equipping its millions to send across the sea to destroy the
+kaiser and German militarism, these enemy undersea craft were crossing the
+Atlantic determined to reap a rich harvest upon American, allied and
+neutral shipping off the American coast.
+
+And the blow was to be delivered without warning--almost.
+
+When the U.S.S. Plymouth, under Jack's command, returned to Liverpool, the
+captain of the vessel, having somewhat recovered, came aboard and relieved
+Jack of command.
+
+"I'm obliged for your services, Captain," he said, "but I'll take charge
+of the old scow again myself, with your leave."
+
+Jack and Frank went ashore, where, at their hotel, they received a brief
+telegram from Lord Hastings. It read as follows:
+
+    "Return to Dover at once. Important."
+
+"Now I wonder what is up," said Frank after reading the message.
+
+"The simplest way to find out," replied Jack, "is to go and see."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+OFF FOR AMERICA
+
+
+"Then everything went first rate your first trip, Captain?" questioned
+Lord Hastings.
+
+"First rate, sir," Jack replied.
+
+The lads were back in Dover where, the first thing after their arrival,
+they sought an audience with their former commander.
+
+"Yes, sir," Frank agreed, "Jack makes an A-1 captain."
+
+"I'm glad to hear it," was Lord Hastings' comment. "I've other work in
+hand and I wouldn't want to trust it to a man who is nervous under fire."
+
+"But we were not under fire this time, sir," said Jack.
+
+"You mustn't always take me literally, Jack," smiled Lord Hastings. "It
+was your first venture in your present rank and you acquitted yourself
+creditably. That is what I meant."
+
+"And what is the other venture, sir?" Frank asked eagerly.
+
+"There you go again, Frank," said Lord Hastings. "How many times have I
+told you that you must restrain your impatience."
+
+Frank was abashed.
+
+"Your warnings don't seem to do much good, I'll admit, sir. Nevertheless,
+I'll try to do better."
+
+"See that you do," returned Lord Hastings gravely. "Nothing was ever
+gained by too great impatience. Remember that."
+
+"I'll try, sir."
+
+"Very well. Then I shall acquaint you with the nature of the work in
+hand."
+
+The boys listened intently to Lord Hastings' next words.
+
+"As you know," His Lordship began, "the seas have virtually been cleared
+of all enemy ships. All German merchant vessels have been captured or
+sunk. What few raiders that preyed on our commerce for a time have been
+put out of business."
+
+"Yes, sir," said Jack. "Our merchant vessels no longer have anything to
+fear from the foe."
+
+"They shouldn't, that's true enough," replied Lord Hastings.
+
+"You mean they have, sir?" asked Jack, incredulously.
+
+Lord Hastings nodded.
+
+"I do," he admitted gravely. "Particularly shipping on the other side of
+the Atlantic."
+
+"America, sir?"
+
+"Exactly."
+
+"But surely," Frank put in, "surely our blockade is tight enough to
+prevent the enemy from breaking through."
+
+"We have not yet found means," replied Lord Hastings, "of effectually
+blockading the submarine."
+
+"Oh, I see," said Frank. "You mean that the Germans plan to open a
+submarine campaign upon allied shipping in American waters."
+
+"Such is my information," declared Lord Hastings.
+
+"And," said Jack, "you wish us to cross the Atlantic and take a hand in
+the game of taming the U-Boats, sir."
+
+"Such is my idea," Lord Hastings admitted. "Let me explain. My information
+is not authentic, but nevertheless, knowing the Germans as I do, I am
+tempted to credit it."
+
+"Then why not warn the United States, sir?" asked Frank. "There are enough
+American ships of war off the coast to deal effectually with all the
+submarines the Germans can get across."
+
+"So I would," was Lord Hastings' reply, "but for the fact that some
+officials of the admiralty are opposed to it."
+
+"Opposed?" exclaimed Jack. "And why, sir?"
+
+"Because they labor under the delusion that such a warning would throw the
+people of the United States into a panic and would prevent the sending of
+additional troops to France."
+
+"What a fool idea! By George!" exclaimed Frank, "what do they think the
+American people are made of?"
+
+"You'll have to ask them," was Lord Hastings' answer to this question.
+"For my own part, I feel that it is hardly fair to keep this information
+from the American authorities."
+
+"I should say it isn't fair," declared Frank.
+
+"I agree with you," said Jack. "But just where do Frank and I come in,
+sir?"
+
+"I'll make that plain to you very quickly," replied Lord Hastings.
+
+He drew a paper from his pocket and passed it to Jack.
+
+"Here," he said, "is your commission as captain of H.M.S. Brigadier." He
+passed a second paper to Frank. "This," he continued, "is your commission
+as first officer of the same vessel. Now, through channels known only to
+myself, I have induced the admiralty to send you to America with certain
+papers for Secretary Daniels of the navy department. At the same time, I
+have other personal papers which I shall have you deliver to the secretary
+of the navy for me. These will acquaint him with the facts I have just
+laid before you."
+
+"I see, sir," said Jack. "But, if you will pardon my asking, what will
+happen to you sir should it be found out you have acted contrary to the
+wishes of the admiralty majority?"
+
+Lord Hastings shrugged his shoulders disdainfully.
+
+"What's the difference?" he wanted to know. "Our allies must be warned."
+
+"I agree with you, sir," declared Jack.
+
+"And I, sir," said Frank.
+
+"It is possible," said Lord Hastings, "that should I take the matter up
+with the King or with the war ministry I might get action; but that would
+take time, and I want this message delivered at the earliest possible
+moment. Should I entrust it to the cables, under the circumstances, there
+is nothing certain of its arrival."
+
+"I see, sir," said Jack. "Then you may be sure that I shall deliver the
+message personally to Secretary Daniels."
+
+"It is well," said Lord Hastings. "I knew I could depend upon you boys."
+
+"Always, sir," replied Jack simply.
+
+"Then be off with you," said Lord Hastings, rising. "You can go aboard
+your ship to-night. Here is the message I wish delivered to the American
+secretary of the navy," and he passed a second paper to Jack. "The
+admiralty message you are to take will probably reach you some time in the
+morning, together with your sailing orders."
+
+Lord Hastings extended his hand.
+
+"Good-bye and good luck," he said.
+
+Jack and Frank shook hands with him and took their departure.
+
+"I'll be glad to get back to America if only for a short time," said
+Frank, as they walked toward the water front.
+
+"I won't mind another look at the United States myself," Jack declared.
+"It looks like a pretty good country to me, from what I saw of it last
+trip. Almost as good as England, I guess."
+
+"Almost?" repeated Frank. "Say, let me tell you something. The United
+States is the greatest country under the sun and don't you forget it. You
+Johnny Bulls seem to think that England is the only spot on the map."
+
+"Well," returned Jack with a smile, "it strikes me that you boast
+considerably about your own land."
+
+Frank's face reddened a trifle.
+
+"Maybe I do," he admitted, "but it's worth it."
+
+"So is England," said Jack quietly.
+
+"By George! So it is, Jack," said Frank. "Maybe it is a fact that I talk
+too much sometimes."
+
+"No 'maybes' about it," declared Jack. "It's just a plain fact."
+
+"Look here," said Frank, somewhat nettled, "you may be my boss aboard
+ship, but right now, with no witnesses present to hear what I say, I'll
+say what I like."
+
+"Come, come, now," said Jack with a smile, "don't get all out of humor
+just because I joke you a little bit."
+
+Frank grinned.
+
+"Well, then don't always thinks I'm angry just because I make a hot
+reply," he said.
+
+Jack let it go at that.
+
+"Well, here we are at the water front," he said a few moments later, "and
+if I'm not mistaken that's the Brigadier about a hundred yards off shore
+there."
+
+"That's the Brigadier, all right," said Frank, "I can see her name
+forward even at this distance. By George! but the camouflage artists have
+certainly done a good job on her."
+
+"So they have," Jack agreed. "But we may as well go aboard."
+
+They commandeered a small boat and rowed rapidly to the Brigadier. Jack
+swung himself up on deck and Frank climbed up behind him.
+
+A young lieutenant greeted Jack respectfully after a quick glance at the
+latter's bars.
+
+"What can I do for you, sir?" he asked.
+
+"You may go below and tell the engineer to get steam up immediately,"
+replied Jack. "We may not sail before morning, but I may desire to leave
+before."
+
+"Very well, sir," replied the young officer, "but may I ask who you are,
+sir?"
+
+"Certainly," replied Jack, "I'm the commander of this ship, Captain
+Templeton. This is Mr. Chadwick, my first officer. What is your name,
+sir?"
+
+"Hetherton, sir, second officer of the Brigadier."
+
+"Very good, Lieutenant. You shall stay on here as second officer until
+further notice. Now below with you."
+
+Lieutenant Hetherton disappeared.
+
+"I guess he won't ask many more questions," said Frank grimly.
+
+"Perhaps not," said Jack. "Now, Mr. Chadwick, will you be so kind as to
+take the deck while I go to my cabin."
+
+Frank seemed about to remark upon Jack's sudden change in manner. Then he
+thought better of it and walked off, grumbling to himself.
+
+"Wonder what he's in such an all-fired rush about? He's not wasting any
+time, that's sure."
+
+He took the deck. Ten minutes later Lieutenant Hetherton reported to him,
+saluting at the same time.
+
+"Engineer says he'll have steam up in two hours, sir."
+
+"Very well," replied Frank, returning the salute. "Will you kindly take
+the deck, Lieutenant Hetherton? I'm going below."
+
+Lieutenant Hetherton took the deck, and thus relieved, Frank went below
+and sought out Jack's cabin.
+
+"Now," he said, "I'll find out what all this rush is about."
+
+Without the formality of a knock, he went in.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+THE START
+
+
+Inside Jack's cabin, Frank found his commander and chum engaged in
+conversation with the engineer officer, who had sought his new commander
+immediately after giving instructions below. He saluted Frank as the lad
+entered.
+
+"My first officer, Lieutenant Chadwick, Mr. Winslow," Jack introduced
+them. "I am sure you will get along together."
+
+"So am I, sir," agreed the engineer. "And when shall we be moving, sir?"
+
+"I can't say, exactly," replied Jack. "Probably not before morning, but I
+wish to be ready to leave on a moment's notice."
+
+"Very well, sir," said the engineer, "As I said before, I'll have steam up
+in two hours."
+
+"Do so, sir."
+
+The engineer saluted and left Jack's cabin.
+
+Jack turned to Frank.
+
+"Now," he said, "what are you doing here? I thought I left you to take the
+deck?"
+
+"I turned the deck over to Hetherton," replied Frank with a grin. "I
+wanted to find out what all this rush is about?"
+
+"Don't you know it's bad form to ask questions of your commander?" Jack
+said severely.
+
+"Maybe it is," Frank agreed, "but I just wanted to find out."
+
+"Well, I wouldn't do it in front of any of the other officers or the men,"
+said Jack. "It's bad for the ship's discipline. However, I'll tell you, I
+just wanted to have things ready, that's all. Come, we'll go on deck."
+
+They ascended to the bridge. Jack addressed Lieutenant Hetherton.
+
+"Pipe all hands on deck for inspection, Lieutenant," he ordered.
+
+Lieutenant Hetherton passed the word. A moment later men came tumbling up
+the companion way and fell into line aft. Jack and Frank walked forward to
+look them over. Jack addressed a few words to the men.
+
+"I've just taken over command of the Brigadier," he said. "To-morrow
+morning, or sooner, we shall sail, our destination temporarily to be known
+only to myself. I believe that I may safely promise you some action before
+many days have passed."
+
+A hearty British cheer swept the ship.
+
+"Hurrah!" cried the men.
+
+A few moments later Jack dismissed them. Then the officers returned to the
+bridge, where Jack told off the watches.
+
+"Now," he said, "I'll have to look over the ship."
+
+Frank accompanied him on his tour of inspection. They found everything
+absolutely clean and ship-shape. The muzzles of the big guns were shining
+brightly beneath their coat of polish. After the inspection, Jack and
+Frank went below for a look at the ship's papers.
+
+The Brigadier was a small destroyer, not more than 200 feet long. It had a
+complement of 250 men, officers and crew; carried two batteries of 9-inch
+guns in turrets forward and aft and was equipped with three 2-inch torpedo
+tubes. It was not one of the latest of British destroyers, but still it
+was modern in many respects.
+
+"A good ship," said Jack, after a careful examination of the papers. "As
+to speed, we should get twenty-three knots on a pinch. Her fighting
+equipment is excellent, everything is spick and span, and I was impressed
+with the officers and crew. Yes, she is a good ship."
+
+"And you're the boss of the whole ranch, Jack," said Frank. "Think of it.
+Less than four years ago you knew nothing at all of naval tactics, and now
+you're in command of a British destroyer. By George! I wouldn't mind
+having your job myself."
+
+Jack smiled.
+
+"Never mind," he said. "You'll get yours some day. I've just been more
+fortunate, that's all. Besides, I knew something of navigation before you
+did, and while you have mastered it now, I had a long start."
+
+"That's true enough," Frank admitted, "but at the same time you are
+considerably more fit for the job than I am. Another thing. I don't know
+that I would trade my berth here for a command of a ship."
+
+Jack looked his surprise.
+
+"Why?" he asked.
+
+"Because it would separate us," was Frank's reply. "We've been together
+now since the war began, almost. I hope that we may see it through
+together."
+
+"Here, too," declared the commander of the Brigadier, "but at the same
+time you should not let a matter of friendship stand between you and what
+may be your big opportunity."
+
+"Oh, I'd probably take the job if it were offered me," said Frank. "I'm
+just hoping the offer will not be made; that's all."
+
+The lads conversed for some moments longer. Then Frank looked at his
+watch.
+
+"My watch," he said quietly. "I'll be going on deck."
+
+"Right," said Jack. "Call me if anything happens."
+
+"Yes, sir," said Frank, saluting his commander gravely.
+
+Jack grinned.
+
+"By Jove! It seems funny to have you talk like that to me," he said. "At
+the same time I suppose it must be done for the sake of discipline.
+However, it is not necessary in private."
+
+"Nevertheless," said Frank, "I had better stick to it or I'm liable to
+forget in public some time."
+
+"Well, maybe you're right," said Jack.
+
+Frank turned on his heel and went on deck, where he relieved Lieutenant
+Hetherton, who had been on watch.
+
+"Nothing to report, sir," said Lieutenant Hetherton, saluting.
+
+"Very well, sir," was Frank's reply, as he, too, saluted.
+
+It was after midnight, and Frank's watch was nearing its end when the
+lookout on the port side called:
+
+"Boat off the port bow, sir."
+
+Frank advanced to the rail. A moment later there was a hail from the
+water.
+
+"What ship is that?'
+
+"His Majesty's Ship Brigadier," Frank called back.
+
+"I'm coming aboard you," said the voice from the darkness. "Lower a
+ladder."
+
+Frank gave the necessary command. A few moments later a man attired in the
+uniform of a British captain came over the side. He approached Frank, who
+was barely visible in the darkness.
+
+"Captain Templeton?" he asked.
+
+"No, sir. I'm Lieutenant Chadwick. A moment, sir, and I'll call the
+captain."
+
+"If you please," said the visitor.
+
+Frank passed the word for the quartermaster, who arrived within a few
+moments.
+
+"Call Captain Templeton," Frank directed.
+
+Jack arrived on deck a few moments later and exchanged greetings with his
+visitor. The latter produced a packet of papers.
+
+"From the admiralty," he said. "You will know what to do with them."
+
+Jack took the papers and stowed them in his pocket.
+
+"Yes, sir," he said.
+
+"That is all, then," said the visitor. "I shall be going."
+
+He stepped to the side of the vessel and disappeared.
+
+"This means," said Jack, after the other had gone, "that we can sail any
+time now."
+
+"Then why not at once?" asked Frank.
+
+"You anticipated me," replied Jack. "Will you kindly pipe all hands on
+deck, Mr. Chadwick?"
+
+Frank passed the word.
+
+Sleepy men came tumbling from their bunks below. All became bustle and
+hurry aboard the Brigadier. Jack himself took the bridge. Frank stood
+beside him. Other officers took their places.
+
+"Man the guns!" came Jack's order.
+
+It was the lad's intention to overlook nothing that would protect the ship
+should it encounter an enemy submarine en route, and, as the lad knew, it
+was just as possible they would encounter one in the English Channel as
+elsewhere.
+
+For, despite all precautions taken by British naval authorities, enemy
+submarines more than once had crept through the channel, once penetrating
+Dover harbor itself, where they had wreaked considerable damage before
+being driven away by British destroyers and submarine chasers.
+
+A few moments later Jack signaled the engine room.
+
+"Half speed ahead."
+
+Slowly the Brigadier slipped from her anchorage and moved through the
+still waters of the harbor. Directly she pushed her nose into the channel,
+then headed east.
+
+"Full speed ahead!" Jack signaled the engine room.
+
+The Brigadier leaped forward.
+
+"Better turn in, Jack," said Frank. "It's Thompson's watch."
+
+"No, I'll stick until we reach the Atlantic," returned Jack.
+
+"Then I'll stick along," said Frank.
+
+This they did.
+
+It was hours later when the Brigadier ran clear of the channel and
+breasted the heavy swell of the Atlantic. Jack spoke to Thompson, the
+third officer.
+
+"I'm going to turn in," he said. "If anything happens, call me at once."
+
+"Very well, sir," was the third officer's reply.
+
+He saluted briefly. Jack and Frank went below.
+
+"Come in a moment before you turn in, if you wish," Jack said to Frank.
+
+"May as well," replied the latter. "I don't feel like turning in for an
+hour yet."
+
+"Well, you can't keep me out of bed that long," declared Jack. "I've got
+to be stirring before you go on watch again. But I thought we might talk a
+few moments."
+
+Nevertheless, it was an hour later that Frank went to his own cabin. He
+turned in at once and was soon fast asleep.
+
+On the other hand, sleep did not come to Jack so soon. For an hour or more
+he lay in his bunk, reviewing the events of the past and his
+responsibilities of the present.
+
+"It's a big job I have now," he told himself. "I hope I can carry it
+through successfully."
+
+But he didn't have the slightest doubt that he could. Jack's one best
+characteristic was absolute confidence in himself.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+A RESCUE
+
+
+H.M.S. Brigadier was steaming steadily along at a speed of twenty knots.
+Jack himself held the bridge. Frank and Lieutenant Hetherton, who stood
+nearby, were discussing the sinking several days before of a large allied
+transport by a German submarine in the Irish sea.
+
+"She was sunk without warning, the same as usual," said Hetherton.
+
+"The Germans never give warning any more," replied Frank, "Of course, the
+reason is obvious enough. To give warning it would be necessary for the
+submarine to come to the surface, in which case the merchant ship might be
+able to place a shell aboard the U-Boat before she could submerge again.
+So to take time to give warning would be a disadvantage to the submarine."
+
+"At the same time," said Hetherton, "it's an act of barbarism to sink a
+big ship without giving passengers and crew a word of warning."
+
+"Oh, I'm not defending the German system," declared Frank. "I am just
+giving you what I believe is the German viewpoint."
+
+"Nevertheless," said Hetherton, "it's about time such activities were
+stopped."
+
+"It certainly is. But it seems that the U-Boats are growing bolder each
+day."
+
+"It wouldn't surprise me," declared Lieutenant Hetherton, "to hear almost
+any day that U-Boats had crossed the Atlantic to prey on shipping in
+American waters."
+
+Frank looked at the second officer sharply. He was sure that Jack had not
+divulged the real reason for their present voyage, and he had said nothing
+about the matter himself.
+
+"Just a chance remark, I guess," Frank told himself. Aloud he said: "I
+hardly think it will come to that."
+
+"I hope not," replied Hetherton, "but you never can tell, you know."
+
+"That's true enough, too," Frank agreed, "but at the same--"
+
+He broke off suddenly as he caught the sharp hail of the forward lookout.
+
+"Ship in distress off the port bow, sir," came the cry.
+
+Jack was at once called to the deck.
+
+Instantly Frank and Lieutenant Hetherton sprang to Jack's side. At almost
+the same moment the radio operator emerged from below on the run.
+
+"Message, sir," he exclaimed, and thrust a piece of paper in Jack's hand.
+Jack read it quickly. It ran like this:
+
+"Merchant steamer Hazelton, eight thousand tons, New York to Liverpool
+with munitions and supplies, torpedoed by submarine. Sinking. Help."
+
+"Did you get her position?" demanded Jack of the wireless operator.
+
+"No, sir. The wireless failed before he could give it."
+
+"Don't you think it may be the vessel ahead, sir?" asked Lieutenant
+Hetherton.
+
+"Can't tell," was Jack's reply. "It may be, in which case there are
+probably more submarines about. Clear ship for action, Mr. Chadwick."
+
+No sooner said than done.
+
+Frank and others of the ship's officers darted hither and yon, making sure
+that everything was in readiness. At the guns, the gunners grinned
+cheerfully. Frank approached the battery in the forward turret.
+
+"All right?" he asked.
+
+"O.K., sir," replied the officer in command of the gun crew. "Show us a
+submarine, that's all we ask."
+
+"There are probably a dozen or so about here some place," returned Frank.
+"Keep your eyes peeled and don't wait an order to fire if you see anything
+that looks like one."
+
+"Right, sir."
+
+The officer turned to his men with a sharp command.
+
+Frank continued his inspection of the ship as the Brigadier dashed toward
+the vessel in distress, probably ten miles ahead.
+
+Every man aboard the Brigadier was on the alert as the destroyer plowed
+swiftly through the water. It was possible, of course, that the submarines
+had made off after attacking the vessel, but there was always the
+possibility that some were still lurking in the neighborhood.
+
+"Can't be too careful," Jack told himself.
+
+Fifteen minutes later, the lookout was able to make out more clearly the
+ship ahead of them.
+
+"Steamer Hazelton," he called to the quartermaster, who reported to Jack.
+
+"Same vessel that sent the wireless, Frank," was Jack's comment. "We will
+have to look sharp. It's more than an even bet that some of those undersea
+sharks are watching for a ship to come to the rescue so they can have a
+shot at her also."
+
+"We're ready for 'em," said Frank significantly.
+
+"All right," said Jack. "In the meantime we'll stand by the Hazelton and
+see if we can lend a hand."
+
+As the Brigadier drew closer those on deck could see signs of confusion
+aboard the Hazelton. Then there arose a large cloud of smoke that for a
+moment hid the Hazelton from view. This was followed by a loud explosion.
+
+When the smoke cleared away, the water nearby was filled with struggling
+figures.
+
+"Lower the boats," shouted Jack.
+
+Instantly men sprang to obey the command, while others of the British tars
+still stood quietly behind their guns, their eyes scanning the sea.
+
+Aboard the Hazelton, the crew, or what remained of the crew, were
+attempting to lower lifeboats. Directly one was lowered safely, and loaded
+to the guards with human freight. A second and a third were lowered
+safely, and put off toward the Brigadier.
+
+In the meantime, lifeboats from the destroyer had darted in among the
+struggling figures and willing hands were lifting the victims to safety.
+Then these, in turn, started back to the destroyer.
+
+"I guess they're all off," said Frank to Jack.
+
+"I hope so," was Jack's reply. "If I am not mistaken, there are women
+among the survivors."
+
+"By George! I thought I saw some myself," was Frank's answer.
+
+Suddenly there was a crash as the forward turret guns aboard the Brigadier
+burst into action. Looking ahead, Jack gave a startled cry, and no wonder.
+
+For, from beneath the water, appeared a periscope and then the long low
+outline of a German submarine came into view.
+
+Again the Brigadier's guns crashed, but the shells did not strike home.
+
+Before the destroyer could fire again, a gun appeared as if by magic on
+the submarine's deck, and a hail of bullets was poured into the first of
+the nearby lifeboats. At the same time the U-Boat launched a torpedo at
+the Brigadier.
+
+Jack gave a cry of horror at the predicament of those in the small boats.
+But he did not lose his head, and at the same time maneuvered his ship out
+of the path of the torpedo.
+
+Came a hail from the lookout aft.
+
+"Submarine off the stern, sir!"
+
+At the same moment the battery in the Brigadier's turret aft burst into
+action.
+
+"Forward with you, Mr. Chadwick," cried Jack, "and see if you can't get
+better results there. The men seem to have lost their nerve."
+
+Frank sprang forward. Jack's words were true. It appeared that the crew in
+the forward turret were so anxious to sink the first submarine that they
+had not taken time to find the range.
+
+"Cease firing!" shouted Frank as he sprang into the turret.
+
+The order was obeyed, but there came a grumble from the men at what they
+deemed such a strange command under the circumstances.
+
+"I thought you fellows were gunners," said Frank angrily. "Smith, get the
+range."
+
+Smith did so, and announced it a moment later.
+
+"Now," said Frank, "get your aim, men."
+
+No longer was there confusion in the forward turret. The guns were trained
+carefully.
+
+"Ready," cried Frank. "Fire!"
+
+"Crash!"
+
+A moment and there was a loud cheer from the crew. The German submarine
+seemed to leap high from the water, and then fell back in a dozen pieces.
+
+Frank wasted no further time on the first submarine. Leaving the forward
+turret, he dashed aft to where other guns were firing on the second
+submarine. Meantime Jack, perfectly cool on the bridge, had maneuvered his
+vessel out of the way of several torpedoes from the second U-Boat. But,
+as he very well knew, this combat must be brought to a quick end or one
+of the torpedoes was likely to find its mark.
+
+From the deck of the second submarine, a hail of fire from a machine gun
+was still being poured into the helpless lifeboats. What execution had
+been done Jack had no means of telling at the moment, but he knew there
+must have been some casualties.
+
+"The brutes!" he muttered.
+
+The duel between the submarine and the destroyer still raged. It appeared
+that the commander of the submarine was a capable officer, for he had
+succeeded in keeping his vessel from being struck by a shell from the
+Brigadier.
+
+In the aft turret of the Brigadier the British tars were sweating and
+muttering imprecations at their inability to put a shell aboard the enemy.
+
+"Here," said Frank, "let me get at that gun."
+
+The crew stepped aside and the lad sighted the weapon himself. Then he
+fired.
+
+Again a cheer arose aboard the Brigadier. Frank's shot had been
+successful. The shell struck the submersible squarely amidships, and
+carried away the periscope.
+
+"Fire!" cried Frank, and the other guns broke into action.
+
+Again there was a wild cheer.
+
+The submarine began to settle a few moments later. Men emerged from below
+and sprang into the sea.
+
+"Lower a boat!" cried Jack. "I want a few of those fellows."
+
+A boat was lowered instantly and strong hands pulled it toward the Germans
+floundering in the water.
+
+By this time the lifeboats that had escaped the German fire came alongside
+the Brigadier and the occupants climbed aboard the destroyer. These were
+quickly fitted out with dry clothing. It developed that there had been
+three women passengers aboard the Hazelton and all of these had been
+saved. A dozen members of the crew, however, had been killed by the enemy
+in the lifeboats.
+
+Jack assigned quarters to the victims as quickly as he was able, and then
+calling his officers about him, awaited the return of the boat which had
+gone after the Germans who had leaped into the sea.
+
+"If the act I have just seen is a sample of the German heart," Jack said,
+"I never want another German within sight of me so long as I live."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI
+
+CHANGED ORDERS
+
+
+As the Germans came aboard--ten of them--they were herded before Jack.
+They stood there sullenly, their eyes on the deck. One of them wore a
+heavily braided and imposing uniform. Jack addressed him.
+
+"You are the commander of that submarine?" he questioned.
+
+"I was," answered the German.
+
+"You were, what?" asked Jack sharply.
+
+"I was the commander."
+
+"You don't seem to catch my meaning," said Jack, taking a step forward.
+"When you speak to me say 'sir.'"
+
+"Then you shall say 'sir' to me," said the German.
+
+"Oh, no I won't," Jack declared. "I never say sir to a murderer."
+
+The German's eyes lighted angrily.
+
+"It would be well to be more careful of your words," he said.
+
+"Nevertheless," said Jack, "I repeat them. You, are a murderer, and as
+such should be hanged at once. I'm not sure it is in my province to string
+you up, but I'm strongly tempted to do so and take the consequences."
+
+"But I guess you won't," sneered the German.
+
+"Then don't try me too far," said Jack quietly. "To my mind, men like you
+and your cowardly followers should be put out of the way the same as a mad
+dog; and certainly there is no law against killing a dog."
+
+"I warn you," said the German, taking a step nearer the lad, "to be more
+choice in your words."
+
+"Silence!" Jack thundered, "and don't you dare step toward me unless I
+tell you to do so." He turned to Frank. "Take those men below and put them
+in irons," he ordered.
+
+Frank stepped forward to obey, and again the German commander protested.
+
+"You can't do that," he said. "My men are prisoners of war and as such are
+entitled to all the usual courtesies."
+
+"They are, eh?" asked Jack. "Then I'll modify that order a bit,
+temporarily, Mr. Chadwick, will you kindly bring irons for this man here,"
+and he indicated the German officer. "I want his men and all our
+passengers to see how he looks in shackles, which he should have been made
+to wear long ago."
+
+Frank hurried away. The German commander, after taking one step back at
+Jack's words, stepped quickly forward again. His hand went to his side and
+he produced a long knife. Then he sprang.
+
+Jack smiled slightly, stepped quickly to one side and with his left hand
+caught the German's knife arm. He twisted sharply, and the knife dropped
+to the deck.
+
+Jack released his hold and the German staggered back. Deliberately Jack
+cuffed the man across the face with his right hand, then with his left.
+Twice more he did this, following the German as he retreated across the
+deck.
+
+"Let that teach you," he said, "that attempting to stab a British naval
+officer is very bad business. But here comes something that will teach
+you more," and he pointed to Frank, who reappeared at that moment followed
+by two sailors bearing heavy chains. "These irons," Jack continued, "will
+show you just what is in store for you when you are landed in England.
+Hold out your hands."
+
+The German did so. Quickly handcuffs were snapped on.
+
+"Shackle his legs," said Jack.
+
+The sailors needed no urging. Quickly the German's legs were shackled with
+the heavy iron. Jack took a couple of steps back and surveyed his
+prisoner.
+
+"If you had been dressed up in those several years ago," he said, "I've no
+doubt lots of innocent women and children now at the bottom of the sea
+would be alive still."
+
+The German commander scowled, but he said nothing.
+
+"Now, Frank," said Jack, "you will take the other prisoners below and put
+them in irons. I guess our friend here will no longer object."
+
+The German sailors were led below, where they were soon safely chained and
+Frank returned to the bridge.
+
+"Kindly pass the word for all the passengers and the crew to come on deck,
+Mr. Hetherton," ordered Jack.
+
+The second officer obeyed and soon the deck was crowded. The German
+commander became the center of an angry group.
+
+"I've just called you all here," said Jack, "that you may cast your eyes
+upon one of the kaiser's paid murderers. It is men like this who have made
+an outcast of Germany. Not satisfied with killing in battle, they fire on
+helpless lifeboats, sending women and children as well as unarmed
+noncombatants to the bottom of the sea. In fact, it is men like this, or a
+man like this, who so recently took a heavy toll in lives from the crew of
+the Hazelton, after the vessel had been put out of commission."
+
+There was an angry murmur among the crowd on deck.
+
+"Hang him," said a voice.
+
+The German officer's face turned a chalky white.
+
+"I'd be pleased to do so," said Jack, "were it not for the fact that I
+must retain him as a prisoner of war and turn him over to the proper
+authorities. However, it wouldn't surprise me a bit if he were tried for
+murder and hanged, and I'm not sure that even such a fate isn't too good
+for him."
+
+"Hang him!" came a voice from the crowd again.
+
+"No," said Jack quietly, "it can't be done. Take him away."
+
+These last words were addressed to Lieutenant Hetherton, who stepped
+forward and took the German commander by the arm.
+
+"Come on," he said somewhat roughly.
+
+The German commander was led below, where he was made secure.
+
+The passengers and crew rescued from the Hazelton dispersed and Jack held
+a consultation with his officers.
+
+"If we were not so far from land," he said, "I would land those we have
+rescued. As it stands, I am under rush orders, so I am afraid I shall have
+to take them to America."
+
+"That cannot be helped, sir," said Lieutenant Hetherton. "I am sure they
+will understand that, sir."
+
+"I think so, too," agreed Frank.
+
+"At all events," said Jack, "there seems nothing else to do under the
+circumstances. Ring for full speed ahead, Mr. Chadwick."
+
+Frank did so.
+
+At that moment the radio operator again emerged from below and hurried to
+Jack.
+
+"Admiralty orders, sir," he said, passing a slip of paper to the commander
+of the Brigadier.
+
+Jack read the paper quickly, then turned to Frank with a sharp command.
+
+"Slow to half speed," he said. "Then come about and head for Dover."
+
+Frank asked no questions. He knew that Jack would explain the reason for
+the change soon enough. Besides, the matter was none of his business. He
+gave the necessary orders. Jack turned to the second officer.
+
+"Will you take the bridge, Mr. Hetherton? Mr. Chadwick, please come to my
+cabin."
+
+The lads went below together.
+
+"Now," said Frank, after he had taken a seat, "what's it all about?"
+
+"Well," was Jack's reply, "the admiralty wants the Brigadier back in
+Dover. That's all I know about it. I'm instructed to report to Lord
+Hastings immediately on my return."
+
+"No other explanation?"
+
+"No."
+
+"Funny," commented Frank. "Must be something up, though."
+
+"So it would seem. However, I guess we'll learn soon enough. Hope they are
+not going to deprive me of my command."
+
+"No fear, I guess," declared Frank.
+
+The return trip was made in record time and without incident. Jack saw the
+victims of the Hazelton landed safely and then, turning the ship over to
+Lieutenant Hetherton, went ashore with Frank to report to Lord Hastings.
+
+The latter greeted them with a wry smile.
+
+"It seems that my warning to America is not to be delivered after all," he
+said.
+
+"And why, sir?" asked Jack. "Are you not still convinced that the warning
+is necessary?"
+
+"I am," declared Lord Hastings, "but, as I told you, I was sending the
+warning without knowledge of the Admiralty. Naturally, then, when it was
+announced that the Brigadier was to be recalled to take part in other
+operations, I could not announce that you carried secret dispatches from
+me."
+
+"I see," said Jack. "And what is the nature of the other operation?"
+
+"It is a desperate undertaking," said Lord Hastings slowly, "and one that,
+at first, I was tempted to advise against. And still, if successful it
+will do much toward insuring an allied victory."
+
+"Since when have you become so cautious, sir?" asked Frank with a smile.
+
+"It's not a matter of caution, Frank," replied Lord Hastings. "It's simply
+a matter of prudence. In a word, the Admiralty is determined to block the
+harbors of Ostend and Zeebrugge."
+
+Frank was on his feet and clapping his hands.
+
+"Fine!" he exclaimed. "I don't see why it hasn't been done sooner. I
+remember what Hobson did to the Spanish fleet at Santiago in the
+Spanish-American war."
+
+"It's an exploit of the same nature," Lord Hastings admitted, "though it
+will be attended with even greater danger. If successful, as I say, it
+will do inestimable good. The admiralty has been training specially for
+this move for months, but the matter has now come to a head."
+
+"And how does it happen that we shall be fortunate enough to lend a hand?"
+asked Jack.
+
+"My fault, I suppose," returned Lord Hastings. "Admiral Keyes, the day
+after your departure, was bemoaning the fact that one ship had been taken
+away from him at the last moment. I said that if Captain Templeton and the
+Brigadier were here, you could easily replace the other vessel. The
+admiral was of the opinion that you had not had the necessary training. I
+said you didn't need it. Apparently he was convinced, for the next I heard
+you had been recalled to Dover. Thus, through talking too much, I balked
+my own plans."
+
+"Perhaps," said Frank, "it won't be too late for the other when the
+harbors of Ostend and Zeebrugge have been sealed."
+
+"But perhaps you won't come back," said Lord Hastings.
+
+"Oh, we'll be back, never fear," grinned Jack. "But what are we to do
+now?"
+
+"You will report to Admiral Keyes aboard the Warwick at once. If you
+return safely, report to me. Good-bye and good luck."
+
+The lads shook hands with Lord Hastings and left him.
+
+"Here," said Frank, "is what I call a piece of luck."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII
+
+A BIT OF EXPLANATION
+
+
+It is probable that the sealing of the harbors of Ostend and Zeebrugge,
+two of the most important German submarine bases, was one of the greatest
+feats of the whole European war. The attempt was extremely hazardous and
+could never have been successful except for the gallantry and heroism of
+the British crews.
+
+Not the least of the bravest among them were Jack and Frank and the other
+officers and crew of the destroyer Brigadier. It is true that the
+operation has been planned primarily with the idea of having the destroyer
+Daffodil in line, but it was the withdrawal of this vessel that permitted
+Jack and Frank to have a hand in the operation.
+
+In order that all parts of the naval service might share in the
+expedition, representative bodies of men had been drawn from the Grand
+Fleet, the three home depots, the Royal marine artillery and light
+infantry. The ships and torpedo craft were furnished by the Dover patrol,
+which was reinforced by vessels from the Harwich force and the French and
+American navies. The Royal Australian navy and the admiralty experimental
+station at Stratford and Dover were also represented.
+
+A force thus composed and armed, obviously needed collective training and
+special preparation to adapt both the men and their weapons to their
+purpose. With these objects, the blocking ships and the storming forces
+were assembled toward the end of February, and from the fourth of April on
+in the West Swim Anchorage--where training especially adapted to the plan
+of operation was given--and the organization of the expedition was carried
+on.
+
+The material as it was prepared was used to make the training practical
+and was itself tested thereby. Moreover, valuable practice was afforded by
+endeavors to carry out the project on two previous occasions, on which the
+conditions of wind and weather compelled its postponement, and much was
+learned from these temporary failures.
+
+The Hindustan, at first at Chatham and later at the Swim, was the parent
+ship and training depot. After the second attempt, when it became apparent
+that there would be a long delay, the Dominion joined the Hindustan and
+the pressure upon the available accommodation was relieved by the transfer
+of about 350 seamen and marines to her.
+
+Two special craft, Liverpool ferry steamers, Iris and Gloucester, were
+selected after a long search by Captain Herbert Grant. They were selected
+because of their shallow draft, with a view in the first place to their
+pushing the Vindictive, which was to bear the brunt of the work, alongside
+Zeebrugge Mole; to the possibility, should the Vindictive be sunk, of
+their bringing away all her crew and the landing parties; and to their
+ability to maneuver in shallow water or clear of mine fields or torpedoes.
+The blocking ships and the Vindictive were especially prepared for their
+work long before the start.
+
+Vice-Admiral Sir Roger Keyes devoted personal attention and time to
+working out the plan of operations and the preparation of the personnel
+and material. Rear Admiral Cecil F. Dampier, second in command of the
+Dover flotilla, and Commodore Algernon Boyle, chief of staff, gave
+considerable assistance.
+
+When, as vice-admiral of the Dover patrol, Admiral Keyes first began to
+prepare for the operation, it became apparent that without an effective
+system of smoke screening such an attack could hardly hope to succeed. The
+system of making smoke previously employed in the Dover patrol was
+unsuitable for a night operation, as this production generated a fierce
+flame, and no other means of making an effective smoke screen was
+available. Nevertheless Wing Commander Brock, at last devised the way.
+
+The commander-in-chief of the Grand Fleet, Admiral Beatty, sent to Admiral
+Keyes a picked body of officers and men. Support also was received from
+the neighboring commands at Portsmouth and the Nore, the adjutant general,
+Royal Marines, and the depot at Chatham. The rear-admiral commanding the
+Harwich force sent a flotilla leader and six destroyers, besides
+protecting the northern flank of the area in which operations were to be
+conducted.
+
+To afford protection at a certain point in the route and to maintain the
+aids to navigation during the approach and retirement of the expedition, a
+force consisting of the flotilla leaders Scott and the destroyers
+Ulleswater, Teazer and Stork, and the light cruiser Attentive, flying the
+pennant of Commodore Boyle, was organized. This force, as it developed,
+was instrumental in patroling and directing the movements of detached
+craft in both directions, and relieved Admiral Keyes of all anxiety on
+that score.
+
+At the moment of departing the forces were disposed as follows:
+
+In the Swim--For the attack on the Zeebrugge Mole: Vindictive, Iris,
+Gloucester. To block the Bruges canal: Thetis, Interprid and Iphigenia. To
+block the entrance to Ostend: Sirius and Brilliant.
+
+At Dover--Warwick, flagship of Vice-Admiral Keyes; Phoebe, North Star,
+Brigadier, Trident, Mansfield, Whirlwind, Myngs, Velox, Morris, Moorsom,
+Melpomene, Tempest and Tetrarch.
+
+To damage Zeebrugge--Submarines C-1 and C-3.
+
+A special picket boat to rescue crews of C-1 and C-3.
+
+Minesweeper Lingfield to take off surplus steaming parties of block
+ships, which had 100 miles to steam.
+
+Eighteen coastal motorboats.
+
+Thirty-three motor launches.
+
+To bombard vicinity of Zeebrugge--Monitors Erebus and Terror.
+
+To attend monitors--Termagant, Truculent, and Manly.
+
+Outer patrol off Zeebrugge--Attentive, Scot, Ulleswater, Teazer and Stork.
+
+At Dunkirk--Monitors for bombarding Ostend: Marshal Soult, Lord Clive,
+Prince Eugene, General Sraufurd, M-24 and M-26.
+
+For operating off Ostend--Swift, Faulknor, Matchless, Mastiff and Afridi.
+
+The British destroyers Mentor, Lightfoot, Zubian and French torpedo boats
+Lestin, Capitaine Mehl, Francis Garnier, Roux and Boucier to accompany the
+monitors.
+
+There were in addition to these, three American destroyers--the Taylor,
+the Alert and the Cyprus.
+
+Eighteen British motor launches for smoke screening duty inshore and
+rescue work, and six for attending big monitors.
+
+Four French motor launches attending M-24 and M-26 and five coastal motor
+boats.
+
+Navigational aids having been established on the routes, the forces from
+the Swim and Dover were directed to join Admiral Keyes off the Goodwin
+Sands and to proceed in company to a rendezvous, and thereafter as
+requisite to their respective stations.
+
+Those from Dunkirk were given their orders by the commodore.
+
+An operation time table was issued to govern the movements of all the
+forces. Wireless signals were prohibited, visual signals of every sort
+were reduced to a minimum and maneuvering prearranged as far as foresight
+could provide.
+
+With few and slight delays the program for the passage was carried out as
+laid down, the special aids to navigation being found of great assistance.
+
+The Harwich force, under Rear-Admiral Tyrwhitt, was posted to cover the
+operations and prevent interference from the north.
+
+Jack and Frank, having reported to Admiral Keyes upon leaving Lord
+Hastings, had received necessary instructions as to their part in the
+raid. They had passed the word to the other officers of the Brigadier, who
+in turn had informed members of the crew what was about to happen.
+
+There was wild cheering among the British tars on the Brigadier when they
+learned they were to have a hand in one of the greatest and most dangerous
+enterprises attempted in the whole war. Needless to say, Jack and Frank
+also were immensely pleased.
+
+"Tell you what, Jack," said Frank, after they had returned aboard the
+Brigadier, "it seems to me as though your work had come to the ears of the
+Admiralty with a vengeance."
+
+"Oh, I guess that isn't it," Jack laughed. "They just happened to need
+another ship and picked on me. That's all."
+
+"Perhaps," Frank admitted. "But just the same it seems that we are always
+in the midst of things. I wouldn't call it all luck, if I were you."
+
+"Well, it's not good judgment, that much is certain," said Jack. "For good
+judgment would tell me to keep in a safe place as long as possible."
+
+"If you want to know what I think about it," said Frank, "this raid is
+going to be one of the greatest blows struck at the enemy."
+
+"It certainly will do the enemy a lot of harm if it's successful," Jack
+confessed.
+
+"It'll be successful all right. I can feel that."
+
+"A hunch, eh?" laughed Jack.
+
+"Call it what you like. Nevertheless, I am absolutely certain Admiral
+Keyes will not fail. And what are the Germans going to do for submarine
+bases if Ostend and Zeebrugge are bottled up?"
+
+"Maybe we'll catch most of them in there," said Jack hopefully.
+
+"They won't be able to get out again if we do," declared Frank.
+
+"Right," Jack agreed, "and the ones that are outside won't be able to get
+back in again."
+
+"So you see," Frank continued, "we have them coming and going, as we say
+in America."
+
+"I see," said Jack.
+
+"And what time are we to start?" asked Frank. "You must remember you were
+in private conference with Admiral Keyes. You're a captain now, and the
+big fellows talk to you. I'm still only a lieutenant."
+
+"The passage will most likely be made by daylight," said Jack. "That has
+been decided in order that we may do our work there under the cover of
+darkness so far as possible. Of course, this may be changed, but that's
+the way the plan lies now."
+
+"Strikes me we are taking a pretty big force along, from what you say."
+
+"Necessary, I guess," said Jack. "It seems that the admiral has overlooked
+nothing that will go toward making the attack a success."
+
+"Well, we can't start any too soon to suit me," declared Frank. "When do
+you expect to get orders to move?"
+
+"I'm not certain, but I wouldn't be surprised to receive them early in the
+morning."
+
+As it developed Jack was a good prophet.
+
+Bright and early next morning, a small boat approached the Brigadier. A
+few moments later an officer came aboard and presented Jack with a
+document. Then he departed.
+
+Jack read the paper, then leaped to the bridge.
+
+"To your post, Mr. Chadwick," he called to Frank, who had been standing
+near by. "Pipe all men to quarters and signal for half speed ahead."
+
+The passage was about to begin.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+
+THE ATTACK BEGINS
+
+
+The main force was divided into three columns. The center column was led
+by the Vindictive, with the Brigadier second and the Iris in tow, followed
+by the five blocking ships and the paddle mine-sweeper Lingfield,
+escorting five motor launches for taking off the surplus steaming parties
+of the blocking ships. The starboard column was led by the Warwick, flying
+the flag of Admiral Keyes, followed by the Phoebe and North Star, which
+three ships were to cover the Vindictive from torpedo attack while the
+storming operations were in progress.
+
+The submarines were towed by the Trident and Mansfield. The Tempest
+escorted the two Ostend block ships.
+
+The port column was led by the Whirlwind, followed by Myngs and Moorsom,
+which ships were to patrol to the northward of Zeebrugge; and the
+Tetrarch, also to escort the Ostend block ships. Every craft was towing
+one or more coastal motor boats, and between the columns were motor
+launches.
+
+The greater part of the passage, as Jack had explained, had to be carried
+out in broad daylight, with the consequent likelihood of discovery by
+enemy aircraft or submarines. This risk was largely countered by the
+escort of all the scouting escort under Admiral Keyes' command.
+
+On arrival at a certain position, it being then apparent that the
+conditions were favorable and that there was every prospect of carrying
+through the enterprise on schedule, a short prearranged wireless signal
+was made to the detached forces that the program would be adhered to.
+
+On arrival at a position a mile and a half short of where Commodore
+Boyle's force was stationed, the whole force stopped for fifteen minutes
+to enable the surplus steaming parties of the block ships to be
+disembarked and the coastal motor boats slipped. These and the motor
+launches then proceeded in execution of previous orders. On resuming the
+course, the Warwick and Whirlwind, followed by the destroyers, drew ahead
+on either bow to clear the passage of enemy outpost vessels.
+
+When the Vindictive arrived at a position where it was necessary to alter
+her course for the Mole, the Warwick, Phoebe and North Star swung to
+starboard and cruised in the vicinity of the Mole until after the final
+withdrawal of all the attacking forces. During the movement and through
+the subsequent operations, the Warwick was maneuvered to place smoke
+screens wherever they seemed to be most required, and when the wind
+shifted from northeast to southwest, her services in this respect were
+particularly valuable.
+
+The monitors Erebus and Terror, with the destroyers Termagant, Truculent
+and Manly, were stationed at a position suitable for the long range
+bombardment of Zeebrugge in co-operation with the attack.
+
+Similarly, the monitors Marshal Soult, General Sraufurd, Prince Eugene and
+Lord Clive, and the small monitors M-21, M-24 and M-26 were stationed in
+suitable positions to bombard specified batteries. These craft were
+attended by the British destroyers Mentor, Lightfoot and Zubian, and the
+French Capitaine Mehl, Francis Garnier, Roux and Bouclier. The bombardment
+that ensued was undoubtedly useful in keeping down the fire of the shore
+batteries.
+
+The attack on the Mole was primarily intended to distract the enemy's
+attention from the ships engaged in blocking the Bruges canal. Its
+immediate objectives were, first, the capture of the four 1-inch batteries
+at the sea end of the Mole, which were a serious menace to the passage of
+the block ships, and, second, the doing of as much damage to the material
+on the Mole as time would permit, for it was not the intention of Admiral
+Keyes to remain on the Mole after the primary object of the expedition
+had been accomplished.
+
+The attack was to consist of two parts: The landing of storming and
+demolition parties and the destruction of the iron viaduct between the
+shore and the stone Mole.
+
+The units detailed for the attack were:
+
+H.M.S. Vindictive, Captain Alfred F.B. Carpenter; the Brigadier, Captain
+Jack Templeton; special steamers Iris, Commander Valentine Gibbs;
+Gloucester, Lieutenant H.G. Campbell, the latter detailed to push the
+Vindictive alongside the Mole and keep her there as long as might be
+necessary.
+
+Submarines C-3 and C-1, commanded by Lieutenants Richard Sanford and
+Aubrey Newbold, respectively, attended by picket boat under Lieutenant
+Commander Francis H. Sanford.
+
+Besides these, a flotilla of twenty-four motor launches and eight coastal
+motorboats were told off for rescue work and to make smoke screens or lay
+smoke floats, and nine more coastal motorboats to attack the Mole and
+enemy vessels inside it.
+
+At 11.40 p.m. on April 22, 1918, the coastal motorboats detailed to lay
+the first smoke screen ran in to very close range and proceeded to lay
+smoke floats and by other methods make the necessary "fog." These craft
+immediately were under fire, and only their small size and great speed
+saved them from destruction.
+
+At this moment the Blankenberghe light buoy was abeam of the Vindictive
+and the enemy had presumably seen or heard the approaching forces. Star
+shells lighted the heavens. But still no enemy patrol craft were sighted.
+At this time the wind had been from the northeast, and therefore favorable
+to the success of the smoke screens. It now died away and began to blow
+from a southerly direction.
+
+Many of the smoke floats laid just off the Mole extension were sunk by the
+fire of the enemy, which now began to grow in volume. This, in conjunction
+with the wind, lessened the effectiveness of the smoke screen.
+
+At 11.56 the Vindictive, the Brigadier close behind, having just passed
+through a smoke screen, sighted the Mole in the semi-darkness about three
+hundred yards off on the port bow. Speed was increased to full and the
+course of both vessels altered so that, allowing for cross tide, the
+Vindictive would make good a closing course of forty-five degrees to the
+Mole. The Vindictive purposely withheld her fire to avoid being
+discovered, but almost at the moment of her emerging from the smoke the
+enemy opened fire.
+
+So promptly, under the orders of the commander, was this replied to by the
+port 6-inch battery, the upper deck pompoms and the gun in the foretop
+that the firing on both sides appeared to be almost simultaneous.
+
+The Brigadier, under Jack's command, opened fire at almost the same
+moment. Heavy shells flew screaming into the enemy lines. German
+projectiles began to kick up the water close to the Vindictive and the
+Brigadier. But in the first few volleys, none of the enemy shells found
+their marks. Jack was conning the ship from the port forward, the
+flame-thrower hut. Frank, with directions as to handling of the ship
+should Jack be disabled, was in the conning tower, from which the
+Brigadier was being steered.
+
+At one minute after midnight on April 23, the program time for attack
+being midnight, the Vindictive was put alongside the Mole and the
+starboard anchor was let go.
+
+At this time the noise of cannonading was terrific. During the previous
+few minutes, the ship had been hit by a large number of shells, which had
+resulted in heavy casualties.
+
+As there was some doubt as to the starboard anchor having gone clear, the
+port anchor was dropped close to the foot of the Mole and the cable
+bowsed-to, with less than a shackle out. A three-knot tide was running
+past the Mole, and the scene alongside, created by the slight swell,
+caused the ship to roll. There was an interval of three or four minutes
+before the Brigadier or the Gloucester could arrive and commence to push
+the Vindictive bodily alongside.
+
+During the interval the Vindictive could not be got close enough for the
+special Mole anchors to hook and it was a very trying period. Many of the
+brows had been broken by shell fire and the heavy roll had broken the
+foremost Mole anchor as it was being placed. The two foremost brows,
+however, reached the wall and enabled storming parties, led by
+Lieutenant-Commander Bryan F. Adams, to land and run out alongside them,
+closely followed by the Royal marines.
+
+It was at this juncture that a slight change was made in the original
+program. It developed, as the first storming party moved out, that
+Commander Adams' men were not in sufficient strength for the work ahead.
+Captain Carpenter of the Vindictive called for support from the Brigadier.
+Jack acted promptly.
+
+"Lieutenant Chadwick!" he called.
+
+Frank stepped forward and saluted.
+
+"You will take one hundred men and join the storming party," said Jack.
+
+At this moment the Brigadier was rubbing close to the Vindictive. This was
+fortunate at the moment, for there was then no other means by which a
+party from the Brigadier could reach the Mole.
+
+Hurriedly Frank gathered the men, and then leaped from his own vessel to
+the deck of the Vindictive. A moment later they joined Commander Adams and
+his party.
+
+Owing to the rolling of the ship, a most disconcerting motion was
+imparted to the brows, the outer ends of which were "sawing" considerably
+on the Mole parapet. Officers and men were equipped with Lewis guns,
+bombs, ammunition, etc., and were under heavy machine-gun fire at close
+range; add to this a drop of thirty feet between the ship and the Mole,
+and some idea of the conditions which had to be faced may be realized.
+
+Yet the storming of the Mole was carried out without the slightest delay
+and without any apparent consideration of self preservation. Some of the
+first men on the Mole dropped in their tracks under the German fire, but
+the others pushed on, with the object of hauling one of the large Mole
+anchors across the parapet.
+
+The Brigadier arrived alongside the Mole three minutes after Frank and his
+men had leaped to the deck of the other ship, followed by the little Iris.
+Both suffered less in their approach, the Vindictive occupying all the
+enemy's attention. The Gloucester also came up now to push the Vindictive
+bodily on to the Mole to enable her to be secured, after doing which the
+Gloucester landed her parties over that ship. Her men disembarked from her
+bows on to the Vindictive, as it was found essential to continue to push
+the Vindictive on to the Mole throughout the entire action.
+
+This duty was magnificently carried out. Without the assistance of the
+Gloucester very few of the storming parties from the Vindictive could
+have landed, or could have re-embarked.
+
+The landing from the Iris was made under even more trying circumstances.
+She rolled heavily in the sea, which rendered the use of the scaling
+ladders very difficult. But at this time, according to calculations,
+enough men had been landed to complete the work.
+
+The fighting on the Mole became hand-to-hand.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX
+
+THE BATTLE CONTINUES
+
+
+A shell suddenly exploded among the Vindictive's foremost 7.5-inch
+howitzer's marine crew. Many were killed or wounded. A naval crew from a
+6-inch gun took their places and were almost annihilated.
+
+At this time the Vindictive was being hit every few seconds, chiefly in
+the upper works, from which the splinters caused many casualties. It was
+difficult for the British to locate the guns which were doing the most
+damage, but Jack, from the Brigadier, with men posted in the fortop of the
+vessel, kept up a continuous fire with pompoms and Lewis machine-guns,
+changing rapidly from one target to another in an attempt to destroy the
+guns that were raking the Vindictive fore and aft.
+
+Two heavy shells struck the foretop of the Brigadier almost
+simultaneously. Half a dozen men were killed. A score of others were
+wounded.
+
+To return for a moment to Frank and his men.
+
+The attack on the Mole had been designed to be carried out by a storming
+force to prepare the way for, and afterward to cover and protect, the
+operations of a second force, which was to carry out the actual work of
+destruction. The storming force, which had embarked in the Vindictive, was
+now reinforced by a hundred British tars from the Brigadier, headed by
+Frank, and additional sailors from the Iris and Gloucester.
+
+For the first time it was now ascertained that the Vindictive, in
+anchoring off the Mole, had over-run her station and was berthed some four
+hundred yards farther to the westward than had been intended.
+
+It had been realized beforehand that the Vindictive might not exactly
+reach the exact position mapped out, but the fact that the landing was
+carried out in an unexpected place, combined with the heavy losses already
+sustained by the vessel, seriously disorganized the attacking force. The
+intention had been to land the storming parties right on top of the 4
+1-inch guns in position on the seaward end of the Mole, the silencing of
+which was of the first importance, as they menaced the approach of the
+block ships.
+
+The leading block ship had been timed to pass the lighthouse twenty-five
+minutes after the Vindictive came alongside. This period of time proved
+insufficient to organize and carry through an attack against the enemy on
+the seaward end of the Mole, the enemy, it developed, being able to bring
+heavy machine-gun fire to bear on the attacking forces. As a result the
+block ships, when they approached, came under an unexpected fire from the
+light guns on the Mole extension, though the 4.1-inch batteries on the
+Mole had remained silent.
+
+Commander Adams, followed by Frank and his men, were the first to land. At
+that moment no enemy was seen on the Mole. They found themselves on a
+pathway on the Mole parapet about eight feet wide, with a wall four feet
+high on the seaward side, and an iron railing on the Mole side. From this
+pathway, there was a drop of fifteen feet on the Mole proper.
+
+Followed by his men and Frank and the latter's command, Commander Adams
+went alongside the parapet to the left, where he found a lookout station
+or control, with a range finder behind and above it.
+
+"Blow it up!" he shouted to Frank, who was close to him at that moment.
+
+Frank gave a command to one of his men. A moment later there was an
+explosion and the station disappeared as though by magic.
+
+Near the lookout station aft iron ladder led down to the Mole and three of
+Frank's men descended it. Frank went with them. Below they encountered
+half a dozen of the enemy.
+
+It was no time to hesitate and Frank knew it.
+
+"Bombs, men," he said simply.
+
+Three hands drew back, then were brought forward. Three hand grenades
+dropped among the foes. There were three short blasts, and when the smoke
+cleared away, there were no Germans to be seen at that point. Then Frank
+and his men rejoined the others.
+
+The situation now was that Commander Adams, Frank, their few men and a few
+Lewis guns, were beyond the lookout station protected from machine-gun
+fire from the direction of the Mole head, but exposed to fire from their
+own destroyers, alongside the Mole.
+
+Commander Adams called Frank to him.
+
+"We're in a ticklish position here, lieutenant," he said. "We're in danger
+of being shot down by our own guns. At the same time, if we move from
+behind this station, we are not in sufficient strength to drive the enemy
+away."
+
+"Why not risk our own, fire, sir," said Frank, "and ask for
+reinforcements."
+
+"That's a request that will have to be made in person," said Commander
+Adams, "and it will be rather risky."
+
+"I'll be glad to try it sir," said Frank.
+
+Commander Adams shrugged.
+
+"It'd about as broad as it is long," he said. "If you're shot on the way I
+guess it will be no worse than dying here. Go ahead, if you wish."
+
+Now to gain the needed reinforcements, Frank knew that it would be
+necessary to return to the side of the Vindictive. To reach that vessel it
+would be necessary to pass through places exposed to enemy machine-gun
+fire. However, at the moment, the German guns covering those particular
+spots were silent, so Frank decided to take the risk.
+
+He set out at a run. At first his appearance was apparently unnoticed, but
+soon a rain of bullets poured after him. Two or three times the lad threw
+himself to the ground just in time. He was on his feet again a moment
+later, however, and at last reached his destination safely.
+
+As the lad reached the side of the Vindictive he saw a second storming
+party coming over the side, equipped with Lewis machine-guns and rifles
+and hand bombs. Frank approached the commander of the party,
+Lieutenant-Commander Hastings, and outlined the plight of those he had
+left behind.
+
+"Come with us," said Commander Hastings, "we'll soon clear those fellows
+out back there."
+
+Machine-guns were wheeled into position and the British raked the German
+line wherever heads appeared. In this method they relieved the
+hard-pressed party under Commander Adams.
+
+The first objective of the storming party ashore was a fortified zone
+situated about a hundred and fifty yards from the seaward end of the Mole
+proper. Its capture was of the first importance, as an enemy holding it
+could bring a heavy fire to bear on the parties still to land from the
+Vindictive.
+
+Commander Adams ordered an advance.
+
+Frank was placed in command of the left wing of the little army, Commander
+Hastings of the right wing. Commander Adams led the center himself. The
+British spread out.
+
+"Charge!" cried Commander Adams.
+
+"Charge!" repeated Frank and Commander Hastings a moment later.
+
+The British seamen went forward on the double, bayonets fixed.
+
+From out of their fortified positions the Germans sprang forth to meet
+them, machine-guns from behind covering their advance. At the same moment
+Frank ordered his own machine-guns wheeled into position, and swept the
+advancing enemy with a hail of bullets.
+
+But neither side paid much attention to this rain of lead, and directly
+the fighting became too close for either side to utilize its machine-guns.
+Steel clashed on steel. Revolvers in the hands of the officers cracked.
+Men fell to the right and to the left.
+
+For a moment it appeared that the attacking force must be hurled back by
+the very weight of the numbers against them. But they rallied after one
+brief moment in which it seemed that they must yield, and hurled
+themselves forward again. This time there was no stopping them.
+
+Directly the thin German line wavered. Then it broke, and the enemy dashed
+for the protection of their fortified position at top speed. But the
+British sailors kept close on their heels, and they reached the coveted
+spot at almost the same time. There the fighting was resumed, but after a
+short resistance the enemy again retreated, leaving the position in the
+hands of the British.
+
+Immediately Commander Adams ordered the machine-guns which had been
+abandoned by the foe in his flight turned on them and the Germans were
+mowed down in great numbers.
+
+Having gained his objective, Commander Adams ordered his men to proceed
+down the Mole and hold a position there so as to cover the operations of
+the party of destruction, which was now hard at work. To expel these
+British, German troops were now advancing from the landward end of the
+Mole.
+
+The destruction of the viaduct by the submarine C-3 had been designed to
+aid the efforts of the landing party by preventing reinforcements reaching
+the Mole from the shore. Owing to the Vindictive coming alongside to
+landward of this zone, Commander Adams' men were now faced with a double
+duty of preventing an enemy attack from the shore and of themselves
+attacking a second fortified zone ahead of them. The casualties already
+sustained were so great that the Iris could not remain alongside the
+Vindictive to land her company of Royal Marines. This left insufficient
+men in the early stages of the landing to carry out both operations.
+
+The situation was a difficult one, for to attack the fortified zone first
+might enable the enemy to advance up the Mole and seize positions abreast
+of the Vindictive, with the most serious consequences to the whole landing
+force, whereas, by not attacking the fortified positions, the guns at the
+Mole head could not be prevented from firing at the block ships.
+
+Therefore, Commander Adams instructed Frank to secure the landward side,
+at the same time instructing Commander Hastings to attack the fortified
+zone. Commander Adams knew that he was taking a long chance by thus
+dividing his forces, but in no other manner, it seemed to him, could the
+success of the expedition be assured.
+
+Frank led his men forward promptly. Apparently the Germans had not
+realized the full strength of the British attack on the Mole, for no
+effort had been made to get reinforcements to the men there from shore.
+Consequently, Frank's work was not so hard as that set for Commander
+Hastings.
+
+The few Germans who were guarding the landward side of the Mole fired one
+volley at Frank's party, then turned and took to their heels.
+
+"By George! Pretty soft!" said Frank.
+
+He led his men to the positions recently vacated by the enemy, and then
+sat down to await further instructions from Commander Adams.
+
+Commander Hastings, on the other hand, had hard work in taking the
+fortified positions from the foe. Nevertheless he succeeded, due to the
+heroic efforts of his men. Commander Adams surveyed the field carefully.
+
+"Well," he told himself, "I guess we've done the best we can. We'll stick
+here till we get the signal to withdraw."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X
+
+THE RAID SUCCESSFUL
+
+
+The platoon which was commanded by Commander Adams was officially
+designated as No. 1; that commanded by Frank as No. 2 and that commanded
+by Commander Hastings as No. 3.
+
+Units were now landing rapidly and No. 7 platoon succeeded in placing
+heavy scaling ladders in positions, and then formed up to support Nos. 9
+and 10 platoons. Numbers 11 and 12 platoons were dispatched along the
+parapet, and reached the lookout station, where they were checked.
+Commander Adams and his men, who had again united with the parties
+commanded by Frank and Commander Hastings, were some forty to fifty yards
+ahead of them, and both parties could make no headway along the exposed
+parapet. Meanwhile No. 5 platoon, which had been recalled from its
+advanced position, with Nos. 7 and 8 platoons were forming up on the Mole
+for an assault on the fortified zone and the 4.1-inch battery at the Mole
+head. This attack was launched, but before it could be developed the
+general recall was sounded.
+
+There was a cheer from the men. They knew by the sounding of the recall at
+this moment meant that the expedition had been a success. Otherwise the
+fighting on the Mole would have continued.
+
+The units fell back in good order, taking their wounded with them. The
+passing of the men from the Mole on to the parapet by means of the scaling
+ladders was rendered hazardous by the enemy opening fire at that portion
+of the Mole. Several ladders were destroyed.
+
+The men were sent across in small batches from the comparative shelter
+afforded by long distance fire from the battleships. Such rushes were made
+as far as possible in the intervals between the bursts of German fire.
+
+The landing parties re-embarked in the manner which they had left their
+ships--climbing to the deck of the Vindictive and then proceeding to their
+deck of the Vindictive and then proceeding to their various ships by small
+boats.
+
+This undertaking was hazardous, too, for enemy shells were falling all
+about. Nevertheless, the most of the men reached their ship in safety, and
+from the flagship came the signal to retreat.
+
+Upon returning to the Brigadier, Frank surveyed his own men. There had
+been few casualties among them. Less than a dozen men had been killed and
+left behind. Of wounded Frank counted fifteen. Immediately he ascended to
+the bridge to report to Jack.
+
+Jack greeted his chum with a smile. Although the Brigadier had been in the
+midst of the battle, and many German shells had found their marks aboard
+her, Jack was as cool and unruffled as before the battle started.
+
+"What luck, Frank?" he asked.
+
+"Good," Frank replied. "We held the Mole until ordered back. And you?"
+
+"The best of luck. I've stuck tight to the Vindictive through the heat of
+the battle, and I believe our guns have done some damage."
+
+"And the block ships?" asked Frank.
+
+"They have been sunk at the mouths of both harbors, I am informed. The
+raid has been a complete success."
+
+At that moment came the recall signal from the flagship.
+
+"See," said Jack, "there's proof of it. If we had not been successful, the
+recall would not have been sounded yet. There is still plenty of time if
+we needed it, and our damage has not been great enough to leave the job
+unfinished."
+
+Jack was right. The harbors of Ostend and Zeebrugge had been effectually
+sealed. No longer would enemy U-Boats make nightly raids into the North
+Sea, only to scurry back to their bases when it grew light. As a submarine
+base, Zeebrugge was extinct. So, for that matter, was Ostend.
+
+That the success of the British expedition had been a severe blow to the
+Germans goes without saying. No other single feat since the beginning of
+the war had done so much to dishearten them; and there is little doubt
+that the sealing of their submarine bases did much toward hastening the
+end of the war.
+
+British losses in the raid had been severe. The Vindictive, which had led
+the attack, had literally been shot to pieces and it was a miracle how she
+remained afloat. The Brigadier, also, had suffered severely, but her
+condition was not so bad that a few months in drydock would not be
+sufficient to make her whole again.
+
+A dozen or more of the little motorboats and coastal patrol vessels had
+been sunk, and the loss of life had been heavy. Several others of the
+destroyers had been badly damaged, but there was not one of the larger
+vessels sunk or crippled so badly that she could not return to her home
+port.
+
+It still lacked an hour of daylight when the allied fleet drew off, its
+work accomplished; and behind in the ports now sealed, the anger of the
+Germans flared forth anew.
+
+The damaged British ships were immediately put into drydock in British
+ports, and Jack and Frank at once returned to Dover to report to Lord
+Hastings. The latter greeted the lads with outstretched hands.
+
+"It was a gallant exploit," he exclaimed, "and I am sure both you boys had
+important roles to play."
+
+"I guess we did, sir," Frank admitted. "At the same time, I'm glad to be
+safely back here again."
+
+"I suppose, sir," said Jack, "now that the enemy submarines caught outside
+are without bases, there is little fear of their attempting the
+trans-Atlantic trip?"
+
+"On the contrary," said Lord Hastings, "they are more likely than ever to
+do so."
+
+"But they must have a base, sir," protested Frank.
+
+"Not necessarily," smiled Lord Hastings.
+
+"Then how will they replenish their supplies of food and fuel?"
+
+"Well," said Lord Hastings, "if they can snare a victim every three or
+four days it should be enough. From a merchant ship they can get all the
+food and fuel they need before sinking her."
+
+"That's so, by George!" Frank exclaimed.
+
+"It stands to reason," said Lord Hastings, "that those submarines which
+were not bottled up in the harbors have been warned not to return. Now,
+it wouldn't surprise me a bit if they headed directly for America."
+
+Jack grew thoughtful.
+
+"It's too bad," he said at last, "that the Brigadier was so crippled that
+we cannot resume our interrupted voyage."
+
+Lord Hastings smiled.
+
+"I understand she is in pretty bad shape," he said. "So you don't think
+you can go now, eh?"
+
+"I'm afraid not, sir. A fellow can't cross the ocean except in a ship."
+
+"True enough. But why are you in Dover now?"
+
+"Why, sir?" Jack exclaimed. "Because we were instructed to report to you."
+
+"Exactly," said Lord Hastings; "and in your pocket, I presume, you have
+the same packet of papers the admiralty wishes turned over to Secretary
+Daniels of the American navy department?"
+
+Jack clapped a hand to his coat pocket.
+
+"By George! I had forgotten all about them," he said.
+
+"So I imagined. But it is my guess that the navy department still wishes
+those papers delivered."
+
+"You're right, sir. Here, I'll turn them over to you, sir."
+
+Lord Hastings waved the packet away.
+
+"Keep them," he said quietly.
+
+"But--" Jack began.
+
+"Great Scott," Frank put in at this juncture, "you must be getting denser
+every day, Jack."
+
+Jack wheeled on his chum.
+
+"What do you mean?" he asked.
+
+"Why, can't you see that you are still expected to deliver the papers?"
+
+Jack sank suddenly into a chair.
+
+"Now why didn't I think of that?" he muttered.
+
+"And I suppose, sir," said Frank to Lord Hastings, "that another ship is
+to be put at Jack's disposal?"
+
+Lord Hastings nodded.
+
+"Exactly," he replied.
+
+Jack was on his feet again immediately.
+
+"What ship, sir?" he asked eagerly.
+
+"The Essex, a sister ship of the Brigadier."
+
+"By George! That's fine, isn't it?" exclaimed Jack.
+
+"And do I go along, sir?" Frank wanted to know.
+
+Again Lord Hastings nodded.
+
+"You do," he replied, "together with the officers and crew of the
+Brigadier who survived the recent engagement. Your compliment will be
+filled from other vessels damaged in the raid."
+
+"And where is the Essex now, sir?" asked Jack.
+
+"Here," replied Lord Hastings, "in Dover. You are to go aboard this
+evening."
+
+"I can't get there too quickly to suit me," declared Jack.
+
+"Same here," Frank agreed.
+
+"Now, remember," enjoined Lord Hastings, "that I still am desirous of your
+delivering to Secretary Daniels the document I gave you."
+
+"Is the Admiralty still unconvinced of the likelihood of submarines
+reaching American waters, sir?" asked Frank.
+
+"It is, but you know my opinion has not changed."
+
+"I begin to agree with you, sir," said Jack. "At first I'll admit I was
+skeptical, but the way you explain the matter it sounds reasonable."
+
+"Well," said Frank, "I hope we get there in time to spoil their plans."
+
+"Amen to that, my boy," said Lord Hastings. "But, I'll detain you no
+longer. You both probably are anxious to get a look at your new vessel."
+
+"But we have no sailing orders, sir," said Jack.
+
+"You will have before morning," was Lord Hastings reply. "I don't like to
+hurry you off, but the truth is I'm busy and will have to get down to
+work."
+
+"Sorry we have detained you so long," said Jack. "Goodbye, sir."
+
+They shook hands all around, and the lads wended their way to the harbor,
+where they soon were put on board their new ship.
+
+"And now," said Frank, "while we had a good time and all that, I hope
+this voyage won't be interrupted."
+
+"My sentiments exactly," Jack agreed. "I want to have another look at
+America."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI
+
+THE WARNING GIVEN
+
+
+"Land Ho!"
+
+The cry came from the forward lookout, posted aloft.
+
+Jack clapped his binoculars to his eyes and gazed earnestly ahead.
+
+"Where do you make our position, sir?" asked Lieutenant Hetherton.
+
+"Off the Virginia Capes," was Jack's reply. "We should pick up Fort Monroe
+before noon."
+
+Jack was a good prophet. It still lacked half an hour of midday when the
+outlines of the historic fortress at Old Point became distinguishable in
+the distance.
+
+The Essex slipped quietly through the smooth waters of Hampton Roads and
+dropped anchor some distance off shore. At Jack's command the launch was
+made ready, and leaving Lieutenant Hetherton in command, Jack motioned
+Frank to follow him into the launch.
+
+A moment later they were gliding shoreward through the water.
+
+"We'll have to pay our respects to the commandant," said Jack. "It would
+be a breach of etiquette if we didn't. Also, I want to ascertain the best
+place to anchor for the next week or so."
+
+"Surely you're not figuring on staying here," protested Frank.
+
+"Not at all, but you know these papers I have been entrusted with must be
+delivered, and I can't deliver them here. I'll have to go to Washington."
+
+"Right," Frank agreed. "I had forgotten. And are you going to take me
+along?"
+
+Jack smiled.
+
+"Well, I might, if you are real good," he said.
+
+"I'll be good," Frank promised.
+
+"Hello," said Jack at this point, "if I'm not mistaken, here comes a guard
+of honor to escort us to the commandant."
+
+Toward the point where the launch now moved, half a dozen American
+officers approached. They extended helping hands as Jack and Frank
+scrambled ashore. Jack addressed the senior officer, a major.
+
+"I am Captain Templeton of H.M.S. Essex," he said. "Will you please escort
+me into the presence of the commandant?"
+
+"With pleasure, sir," replied the major. "Come with me."
+
+He led the way, Frank and the other American officers following. Jack was
+received immediately by the commandant. Their conference was brief, and
+soon Jack returned to the place where he had left Frank.
+
+"Well, what did he say?" demanded Frank, as they made their way back
+toward the launch.
+
+"Said it would be well to continue to Newport News," said Jack. "Docking
+facilities are better there right now. We can tie up alongside one of the
+piers there, or anchor off shore, as we choose. Said he would send word of
+our coming."
+
+"Good," said Frank. "Then I suppose we shall continue without delay?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"But if memory serves," said Frank, "Newport News is on the James River,
+and not Hampton Roads."
+
+"Correct," replied Jack.
+
+"Well, I didn't know the river was navigable by a vessel of our draught."
+
+"It is, nevertheless," replied Jack.
+
+They stepped into the launch, and were soon back aboard the Essex. Jack
+immediately gave the necessary commands and the vessel moved forward.
+
+Two hours later the Essex anchored in the James River half a mile off
+shore. Frank took in the scene about him, and expressed his wonder.
+
+Shipping of all the allied and many of the neutral nations was to be seen
+on every hand. Almost over night, it seemed, Newport News had grown from
+a port of little importance to one of the greatest shipping centers in the
+United States. There, half a mile away, Frank saw one of the great German
+merchantmen, which had been interned soon after the outbreak of the war,
+but which was later to be converted into a United States auxiliary
+cruiser.
+
+"Well," said Jack, "there is no use delaying here. The commandant at the
+fort informed me that about the quickest way to get to Washington now is
+to take a boat up the Potomac."
+
+"And where do we get the boat?" asked Frank.
+
+"Norfolk. But what's the matter with you, Frank? Where's your geography?
+Seems to me that if I were born and lived most of my life in the United
+States I would know something about it."
+
+"I do know something about it," declared Frank; "but how do you expect me
+to know all these details? This is the first time I've ever been in
+Newport News, and I've never been to Norfolk. How do we get there from
+here?"
+
+"Either in the Essex's launch, or by ferry."
+
+"Which way do you choose?"
+
+"Ferry, I guess. It will save trouble all around."
+
+"Any way suits me," said Frank.
+
+"You talk like you were dead certain of going along," remarked Jack with a
+grin.
+
+"Of course I do. I know you could not be hard-hearted enough to leave me
+behind."
+
+"Nevertheless," Jack declared, "I'm not sure I shouldn't leave you in
+command here."
+
+"By George! That's no way to talk," declared Frank. "Hetherton can stick
+on the job here."
+
+"Well, I guess it will be all right," said Jack. "We may as well pack what
+belongings we shall need. We shouldn't be gone more than a day or two."
+
+"I hope so, and I feel sure we shall. There has been no sign yet of enemy
+activities in this water."
+
+"And there won't be any sign in advance. When the Germans strike it will
+be suddenly."
+
+The lads threw what belongings they believed they would need into their
+handbags and were rowed ashore. They proceeded at once to the pier of the
+Chesapeake and Ohio ferry and soon were moving along toward Norfolk.
+
+It was a short ride to Norfolk. Arrived in the city an hour later, they
+inquired the way to the offices of the Washington and Norfolk Steamboat
+company, where they were fortunate enough to be able to secure a stateroom
+that night.
+
+It was still early, so the lads spent the afternoon looking about the
+city, called by the natives the "New York of the South." They went aboard
+the steamer Northland at 5.30 o'clock, and at 6 the boat left its pier.
+Jack and Frank remained on deck until after the Northland had put in at
+Old Point and taken on additional passengers. Then they went below to
+dinner.
+
+"You know this isn't a bad boat," Frank declared after a walk around,
+following their dinner.
+
+"Indeed it isn't," Jack agreed. "It has all the comforts of home. It's
+rather small, but outside of that I can't see anything wrong with it."
+
+"I guess it's big enough for us to-night," grinned Frank.
+
+There were a score or more of American army and navy officers aboard and
+with some of these the lads struck up an acquaintance. In fact, so
+interested were some of the Americans in the lads' experiences that they
+sat up late regaling their newly found friends with accounts of warfare in
+European waters.
+
+Nevertheless, Jack and Frank were up early the following morning and had a
+substantial breakfast before the boat docked at the foot of Seventh street
+in the nation's capital. There they took a taxi and were driven to the
+Raleigh hotel.
+
+"Now," said Jack, "the first thing to do is to get in touch with the
+British ambassador and have him arrange an audience with the secretary of
+the navy at the earliest possible moment."
+
+Jack got the embassy on the telephone, told who he was and announced that
+he would be on hand to see the ambassador within the hour. Then the lads
+were driven to the embassy. Here Jack presented his credentials and
+expressed his desire to see the secretary of the navy at once.
+
+"You return to your hotel," said the ambassador. "I'll arrange the
+audience and call for you in my automobile."
+
+The lads followed these instructions.
+
+At 2 o'clock in the afternoon the ambassador called for them. They were
+driven at once to the War and Navy department building on Pennsylvania
+avenue and were ushered almost immediately to the offices of Secretary
+Daniels. After a wait of perhaps five minutes, Mr. Daniels' private
+secretary announced.
+
+"Mr. Daniels will see you now."
+
+The three passed into the secretary's private office, where the British
+ambassador introduced the lads. Secretary Daniels expressed his pleasure
+at the meeting, then said:
+
+"And now what can I do for you, gentlemen?"
+
+For answer Jack passed over the papers entrusted him by the Admiralty.
+Secretary Daniels scanned them briefly.
+
+"These matters shall be attended to, gentlemen," he said. "Now, is there
+anything else?"
+
+"There is, sir," said Jack, "and a matter probably of much greater
+importance."
+
+He drew from his pocket the documents given him by Lord Hastings, and
+these he also passed to Secretary Daniels. The latter read them
+carefully, his face drawn into a scowl.
+
+"Hm-m-m," he said at last. "Hm-m-m."
+
+He grew silent, apparently lost in thought. At last he spoke.
+
+"I have had some such fears myself," he said at last, "but it seems they
+are not shared by other officials of the department. I dislike to take
+matters altogether into my hands, and yet I suppose I can do it. First,
+however, I shall make an effort to convince my associates through these
+documents."
+
+"I am instructed to say, sir," said Jack, "that it would be well if you
+gave the matter prompt attention."
+
+"Oh," said Secretary Daniels, "I anticipate no immediate trouble; and
+still this is a matter that should not be overlooked. I thank you,
+gentlemen, for bringing the matter to my attention."
+
+He rose from his chair, signifying that the interview was ended.
+
+Jack and Frank left the Navy department, and the ambassador dropped them
+at their hotel.
+
+"I don't know what to think of the Secretary of the Navy," said Jack when
+they were alone. "He didn't seem greatly interested."
+
+"He is the man, you know," said Frank, "who wanted to change the technical
+terms of port and starboard to right and left."
+
+"That's so," said Jack, "but I'll venture to say he can rise to an
+emergency."
+
+"There is no doubt about that," Frank agreed, and added quietly:
+"Americans always have."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII
+
+THE U-BOATS APPEAR
+
+
+Three weeks passed and Jack and Frank were still in Washington.
+Immediately after delivering his messages to Secretary Daniels, Jack got
+in touch with the British Admiralty wireless and asked for instructions.
+When the reply came it was signed Lord Hastings and said merely:
+
+"Stay where you are pending further orders."
+
+And after three weeks no word had come.
+
+Several times during the three weeks Jack and Frank, or one of the lads at
+a time, had returned to Newport News to look to the needs of the Essex,
+which still lay quietly in the James river. Steam was kept up in the
+destroyer every moment of the day, and she was ready to put to sea on an
+instant's notice.
+
+"Chances are when we need her it will be in a hurry," said Jack.
+
+Therefore nothing was overlooked that would enable the destroyer to go
+into action on a moment's notice. Provisions were added to the stores from
+time to time, and the crew were put through their drills daily.
+
+Meanwhile, from what Jack and Frank learned from the British ambassador,
+no steps had been taken to prepare for a possible German attack on
+shipping in American waters. True, the coast defenses had been
+strengthened, but that was merely a matter of routine for a country at
+war.
+
+Off the coast, warships were on patrol. But there were comparatively few
+of these, for the bulk of the American fleet had been sent abroad to
+reinforce the British grand fleet patroling the North Sea.
+
+Jack and Frank discussed these matters frequently.
+
+"It would be a great time for the Germans to strike," said Jack one
+evening, as the lads sat in their rooms at the hotel. "The American people
+don't seem to realize the possibilities of the submarine."
+
+"That's true," said Frank, "but at the same time such an attack might
+prove a boomerang to the Germans."
+
+"What do you mean?"
+
+"Why," said Frank, "you haven't forgotten, have you, that it took a number
+of air raids on England to fully arouse the British people to the fact
+that the Germans must be licked?"
+
+"That's true enough," agreed Jack. "The Germans, of course, figured that
+they would frighten England and scare her out of the war."
+
+"Exactly, and the result was altogether different from what they had
+anticipated. That's why I say submarine activities off the American coast
+will prove a boomerang to the foe."
+
+"I see," commented Jack. "You mean it would arouse the American people to
+the necessity of prompt action."
+
+"Exactly."
+
+"Well," said Jack, "it begins to look as though Lord Hastings were wrong.
+We've been here three weeks now and nothing has transpired to indicate
+that the Germans are meditating a submarine raid in American waters."
+
+"You don't expect them to tip the Washington government off in advance, do
+you?" asked Frank with a laugh.
+
+"Hardly; but it would seem that if such a campaign had been planned it
+would have been started before this."
+
+"It wouldn't surprise me," said Frank, "to get a flash any day that a ship
+had been submarined off the American coast."
+
+Came a rap at the door.
+
+"Come in," Frank called.
+
+A bell boy entered. He held a tray in his hand and on the tray was a
+cablegram.
+
+"From Lord Hastings, I suppose," said Frank, taking the message and
+passing it to Jack.
+
+Jack broke the seal, spread out the paper. The message, in code, was this:
+
+    "Authentic information flotilla submarines headed for America.
+    Warn Navy Department at once."
+
+Jack sprang to the telephone and got the British embassy on the wire.
+
+"The ambassador, quick!" he said to the voice that answered his call.
+
+There was a short pause, and then Jack recognized the ambassador's voice.
+
+"I've just had a wireless from Lord Hastings relative to the matter which
+we discussed with Secretary Daniels several weeks ago," he explained. "Can
+you arrange another interview immediately?"
+
+"I'll see," said the ambassador and rang off.
+
+The telephone in the lads' room jangled sharply ten minutes later. Jack
+sprang to the wire.
+
+"Yes," he said in response to a query. "Ten o'clock? You'll call for us?
+Very well."
+
+He replaced the receiver and turned to Frank.
+
+"We will see Secretary Daniels in his office at ten," he said. He looked
+at his watch. "Hurry and dress. It's after nine now. The ambassador should
+be here in fifteen minutes."
+
+The lads jumped into their clothes, then went downstairs, where they
+awaited the arrival of the ambassador. The latter arrived ten minutes
+before ten o'clock, and the three were driven to the War and Navy
+building. Secretary Daniels received them at once.
+
+"I understand that you come on a very important matter," he said. "Pray,
+what is it, gentlemen?"
+
+For answer Jack laid before the American naval secretary the decoded
+message from Lord Hastings. The secretary read it, then looked up.
+
+"Well?" he asked.
+
+"Why, sir," said Jack, "Lord Hastings simply wishes you to take all
+precautions to prevent sinking of vessels by submarines in American
+waters."
+
+Secretary Daniels smiled.
+
+"I don't know what we can do that has not already been done," he replied.
+"The off-coast waters are mined, and American warships are patroling the
+regular channels of navigation."
+
+"All that may be true, sir," said Jack, "but these submarines are slippery
+customers, as I have reason to know. It would be well to take even further
+precautions."
+
+"And what would you suggest?" asked Secretary Daniels.
+
+"Why, sir," said Jack, "I'd suggest cancelling sailing orders of all
+transports temporarily, at least until such time as I felt sure they could
+go in safety. Then I'd flash a warning broadcast to all vessels within
+reach of the wireless to be on the lookout for enemy submarines. I'd rush
+every available submarine chaser in the Atlantic ports beyond the mine
+fields and I would order a destroyer as protection for every vessel known
+to be inward bound."
+
+Secretary Daniels smiled.
+
+"You wouldn't overlook anything, would you, Captain?"
+
+"I certainly would not," said Jack firmly.
+
+"Very well, then," said Secretary Daniels. "I'll set your mind at rest.
+Your suggestions shall be followed out. I'll give the necessary directions
+the first thing in the morning."
+
+"In the morning, sir?" repeated Jack. "The morning may be too late."
+
+"Oh, I guess not," Secretary Daniels smiled. "It has been three weeks or
+more since your first warning and nothing has happened. I guess we can
+safely depend upon being let alone a few hours after the second warning."
+
+Jack was about to protest, thought better of it and said simply:
+
+"Very well, sir."
+
+A moment later the lads took their departure with the ambassador. In the
+seclusion of the latter's automobile, Jack said:
+
+"I can't see how the secretary dares let time slip by like that."
+
+"Never mind," said the ambassador, "you'll find in a day or two that
+Secretary Daniels knows what he's doing. Don't make any mistake about him.
+He's a capable man."
+
+"I have no doubt of that, sir," replied Jack. "But if he had seen three
+years of war, as we have, he would never delay. Besides, he doesn't know
+these German submarines as well as I do. Neither do any of the Americans."
+
+"Oh, yes they do," declared Frank.
+
+"They do, eh?" exclaimed Jack. "Well, I'd like to know the name of one of
+them."
+
+"His name," said Frank, "is Lieutenant Chadwick, and I think he knows just
+about as much about the U-Boats as you do; and he agrees with your ideas
+perfectly."
+
+Jack smiled.
+
+"That's right," he said. "I had forgotten you were a native of this land.
+Well, here's hoping nothing happens before Secretary Daniels takes all
+necessary precautions."
+
+The British ambassador left the lads at their hotel, and they returned at
+once to their rooms, where for several hours they discussed the situation.
+
+"There is no use talking about it," said Frank at last. "Let's go to bed."
+
+They undressed.
+
+Just before extinguishing the light, as was his custom, Frank raised the
+window. As he looked out he saw below a crowd of excited men and women
+moving about the street.
+
+"Hey, Jack!" he called. "Come here."
+
+Jack joined him at the window.
+
+"Now what's up, do you suppose?" asked Frank.
+
+"Too deep for me," declared Jack, "but something surely. Let's go down and
+find out."
+
+Hurriedly they slipped back into their clothes, and went down stairs. They
+stepped out of the hotel and mingled with the people on the streets, quite
+a crowd for Washington at that hour of the night.
+
+The stream of people led toward Eleventh and Pennsylvania avenue, where a
+larger crowd was gathered in front of a bulletin board in the window of a
+newspaper office.
+
+"Big news of some kind," said Jack as they hurried along.
+
+"And not good news, either," Frank declared. "There'd be some cheering if
+it were."
+
+"You're right," said Jack.
+
+By main force they wormed their way through the crowd, until they were
+close enough to read the bulletin board. Then Jack uttered an exclamation
+of alarm.
+
+"I knew it!" he cried.
+
+For what he read was this:
+
+"Navy Department announces sinking of two freight vessels off New Jersey
+coast by German submarines."
+
+"I knew it!" Jack said again.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII
+
+THE SUBMARINES GROW BOLDER
+
+
+The boys returned to their rooms.
+
+"Now what?" asked Frank.
+
+"I don't know," was Jack's reply. "I hate to sit here quietly when the
+whole American navy, or what part of it is still here, is in chase of the
+Germans, but what are we going to do about it?"
+
+"Search me," replied Frank.
+
+"Our instructions," Jack continued, "are to stay here pending further
+orders."
+
+"Maybe we'll get them soon," said Frank.
+
+"Yes; and maybe we won't."
+
+"Then we'll just have to sit tight."
+
+"That's what worries me."
+
+There was a knock at the door.
+
+"Come in," Frank called.
+
+A bell boy entered with a second cablegram.
+
+Jack tore it open hastily.
+
+"Hurray!" he cried.
+
+"What's up?" demanded Frank.
+
+He arose and peered over his chum's shoulder. What he read was this:
+
+"Offer your services and the services of the Essex to the U.S. Navy
+Department at once."
+
+"Fine!" cried Frank. "Let's get busy."
+
+It was the work of half an hour, however, to get Secretary Daniels on the
+telephone. He had been aroused at the first news of the sinkings off the
+coast and had been kept on the jump ever since. But he took time to talk
+to Jack.
+
+"I am authorized by the British Admiralty, sir," said Jack over the
+'phone, "to offer the services of my ship to the American government."
+
+"Accepted with thanks," snapped Secretary Daniels. "You will proceed
+immediately to your vessel in Newport News, after which you will join the
+American vessels on patrol duty off the coast of Virginia. I shall inform
+Admiral Sellings that you will report to him for instructions."
+
+Without awaiting a reply, Secretary Daniels hung up.
+
+"By George!" said Jack. "He's a man of action when he gets to moving."
+
+"What did he say?" demanded Frank.
+
+"Hurry and pack your things," was Jack's reply. "I'll explain as we work."
+
+It was the work of only a few minutes for the lads to gather their
+belongings and dump them in their handbags. Then they hurried downstairs,
+where they paid their bill and learned that they could catch a train to
+Richmond within the hour.
+
+"Going after the submarines?" asked the night clerk.
+
+"Yes," replied Jack shortly.
+
+"Good! I hope you get 'em. Here's your taxi."
+
+The lads jumped into the taxi and were driven to the station, where they
+caught their train with time to spare.
+
+It lacked two hours of daylight when they arrived in Richmond. They took a
+taxi across town to the Chesapeake and Ohio station, where they caught a
+train for Newport News an hour later. At eight o'clock they were in
+Newport News, and fifteen minutes later stepped aboard the Essex.
+
+"Glad to see you back, sir," said Lieutenant Hetherton, who held the deck.
+"I suppose you've heard----"
+
+"Pipe all hands to quarters, Mr. Hetherton," Jack interrupted sharply,
+"and clear ship for action. We sail within the hour."
+
+Lieutenant Hetherton hurried away.
+
+"Frank," said Jack, "go below and have a look at the engine room. Then
+find the quartermaster and see about provisions and fuel."
+
+Frank also hurried away.
+
+Sailing preparations aboard the Essex were made hurriedly and within less
+than an hour all was ready for departure. Meanwhile, crowds had collected
+ashore, upon learning that the Essex was about to set out in pursuit of
+the German undersea raiders.
+
+Loud cheers split the air. Men and women waved their handkerchiefs. From a
+group of soldiers on the shore came expressions of good luck. In response
+to Jack's request, a pilot had been hurried aboard and now took the wheel.
+
+"Half speed ahead," Jack ordered.
+
+The water churned up ahead of the Essex, and she moved majestically toward
+the center of the stream.
+
+Gradually the cheering died away in the distance, and the city of Newport
+News was lost to sight. In Hampton Roads again, the pilot was dropped in a
+small boat and rowed shoreward.
+
+Frank took his place behind the helmsman and Jack rang for full speed
+ahead. At last the Essex was off in pursuit of the German submarines.
+
+Meanwhile, an account of the activity of the enemy off the coats is in
+order. Besides the sinking of the first two freight vessels, which had
+been reported to the Navy Department by survivors who had reached shore in
+small boats, other vessels had been sent to the bottom. Most of these were
+freighters or small trading ships, including two sailing vessels. Some had
+been sunk off the New Jersey coast, others off the coasts of Delaware and
+Virginia.
+
+In some cases the vessels attacked had attempted to flee, but they were
+quickly overhauled by the submarines, which, besides firing torpedoes into
+their hulls, shelled them with rapid fire guns and later attacked the
+small boats in which the crews sought to make the shore.
+
+Casualties had been heavy aboard the ships sunk by the raiders. One or two
+of the enemy submarines had been fired on by armed ships, but to no avail;
+and as a result of those efforts, the death lists aboard such vessels had
+been increased, for the Germans, angered, had swept the survivors in small
+boats with rapid fire guns.
+
+How many submarines were operating in American waters, the Navy department
+did not know. From the fact that ships were attacked in at least three
+places, within a short space of time, however, it was believed that there
+were at least three or four of the raiders.
+
+From all ports along the coast, destroyers, submarine chasers, motor boats
+armed with single guns, had put to sea in an effort to run down the
+raiders. But off the New Jersey coast, almost in the midst of these
+vessels, a sailing ship was sunk by a submarine. Before any of the
+patroling vessels could reach the scene, however, the U-Boat had submerged
+and fled.
+
+Depth bombs were dropped by ships of war wherever it was thought a
+submarine might be lurking beneath the water. But these efforts met with
+no success. Reports of sinkings in other parts of the water reached the
+Navy department.
+
+The first sinking was reported on May 10. In the week that followed,
+eighteen other vessels were sent to the bottom by German submarines off
+the American coast. At the end of that time, however, the waters were
+being so well patrolled that it would have been suicide for a submarine to
+have showed itself.
+
+Reports of sinkings ceased. But, from time to time, word was received that
+submarines had been sighted farther south, first off the coast of the
+Carolinas and then off Florida. No attacks were made in these waters,
+however, and the next that was heard of the submarines they were off the
+coast of South America.
+
+During the activities of the enemy raiders, one submarine was sunk, and
+one was captured, both through the efforts of Jack and the crew and
+officers of the Essex.
+
+After leaving Hampton Roads, the Essex steamed out beyond the Virginia
+Capes. Immediately Jack sought to get into communication with Admiral
+Sellings by wireless. And at last he raised the admiral's flagship, the
+Dakota.
+
+"What do you want?" came the query from the Dakota, after Jack's flash had
+been picked up.
+
+"British destroyer Essex, Captain Templeton, reporting to Admiral Sellings
+for orders at the request of Secretary Daniels," was the message Jack sent
+back.
+
+"One moment," was the reply.
+
+Jack waited in the radio room aboard the Essex.
+
+"Essex! Essex!" came the call five minutes later.
+
+"Answer," Jack directed the operator.
+
+"Essex replying," the operator flashed.
+
+"Admiral Sellings orders Essex to proceed north and stand out to sea to
+protect inbound vessels. Understand one submarine sighted five miles out
+five hours ago. Repeat."
+
+The operator repeated the message to show that he had caught in correctly.
+
+Jack went on deck and gave instructions necessary to putting the Essex out
+at sea. Then, "Full speed ahead!" he signalled.
+
+The British destroyer Essex stood out to sea magnificently. Aboard, her
+crew stood to their posts, ready for action. Jack, surrounded by his
+officers, held the bridge.
+
+"We've got to keep a sharp eye out," said Jack.
+
+"Right," Frank agreed. "We're likely to come upon one of the enemy any
+moment, and we can't afford to let him see us first."
+
+"Very true, sir," Lieutenant Hetherton agreed. "Fortunately all our
+lookouts have sharp eyes. I'll venture to say a submarine won't come to
+the surface very close to us without being seen."
+
+"That's the way to talk, Mr. Hetherton," said Jack. "It shows the proper
+spirit."
+
+"And the men are imbued with the same spirit," declared Frank, "and yet
+see how cool they are."
+
+It was perfectly true. There was no confusion aboard the Essex in spite of
+the fact that each member of the crew knew he was bent on a dangerous
+mission. One shot from the submarine, they knew, if truly aimed and Jack
+was unable to maneuver the vessel out of harm's way, would be the end.
+However, like all British tars, they had absolute confidence in their
+commander; for, according to their line of reasoning, if he were not a
+capable officer and to be depended upon he would not be in command of the
+ship.
+
+Suddenly the radio operator appeared on deck and hurried toward the
+bridge. Jack stepped forward to meet him. The lad took the message the
+operator passed him and read:
+
+    "S.O.S. Pursued by submarine eighteen miles off Cape May light.
+    Am running south by west, but foe is gaining. Capt. Griswold,
+    Ventura."
+
+"This," said Jack quietly, "means that there is still another U-Boat to be
+reckoned with, but I had no idea they were operating so far out. We'll
+have to get busy."
+
+Jack looked at his officers with a slight smile on his face, then ordered:
+"Shape your course due east, Frank. Full speed ahead."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV
+
+THE U-87
+
+
+As the Essex sped forward the radio operator from time to time picked up
+other messages from the Ventura.
+
+"She's headed directly toward us," Jack explained to Frank. "We should
+sight her within the hour."
+
+The Ventura was sighted in less, but under peculiar conditions.
+
+"Ship on the starboard bow, sir," sang the lookout forward.
+
+A moment later the officers on the bridge sighted the vessel through their
+glasses.
+
+"By George! She seems to be standing still," said Frank.
+
+"So she does," Lieutenant Hetherton agreed, "Wonder what's the matter?"
+
+"We'll find out fast enough," returned Jack quietly.
+
+"Take the bridge, Mr. Chadwick," said Jack. "I'm going below to the radio
+room."
+
+"See if you can raise the Ventura," he instructed the radio operator, a
+few moments later.
+
+"Ventura! Ventura!" went the call through the air.
+
+There was no response.
+
+"Try it again," said Jack.
+
+The operator obeyed. Still there was no reply from the Ventura.
+
+"Something wrong," Jack muttered under his breath, "and still I saw no
+sign of a submarine. Try 'em again, Wilkins."
+
+Again the radio operator sent the call flashing through the air:
+
+"Ventura! Ventura! Ventura!"
+
+The instrument at Wilkins' side began to click.
+
+"Ventura replying, sir," Wilkins reported.
+
+"I hear him," said Jack briefly. "Let me get at that key, Wilkins."
+
+The operator sprang up and Jack took his place and strapped the receiver
+over his head.
+
+"What's the trouble, Ventura?" he clicked.
+
+"Held up by submarine," was the reply. "U-Boat due east of us. You can't
+see her. We sighted you just after we were boarded."
+
+"Then how does it come you are at the key?" Jack clicked.
+
+"Broke away from captors on deck. They are pounding at the door now."
+
+"Have they sighted us?"
+
+"They hadn't. There goes the door, Good-bye."
+
+The flashes from the Ventura ceased. Jack sprang up and turned the
+receiver over to the operator.
+
+"Keep calling," he said. "If you pick the Ventura up again, let me know.
+I'll send a man so you can report to me through him."
+
+Jack hurried on deck.
+
+In the distance the Ventura was plainly visible now. Jack changed the
+course of the ship slightly, and after the vessel had gone half a mile he
+made out the form of a submarine lying close astern of the Ventura.
+
+"By George! They must see us," he muttered. "If the lookout on the U-Boat
+hasn't espied us, surely some of the Germans on the deck of the Ventura
+must have done so. Wonder why the submarine captain doesn't sink the
+steamer and submerge. Surely he is not going to risk an encounter with
+me."
+
+Nevertheless, it seemed that such must be the submarine commander's
+intention, for the submarine showed no sign of submerging as the Essex
+bore down on her.
+
+Through his binoculars Frank was now able to ascertain the fact that a
+struggle was in progress on the deck of the Ventura. A dozen or more
+figures, closely interlocked, were scuffling to and fro across the bridge.
+Frank gave an exclamation.
+
+"I know what's wrong," he ejaculated.
+
+"Well, what?" demanded Jack, turning to him.
+
+"Why, the crew, or some of the crew, has jumped the commander of the
+submarine and his escort. That's why the officer left on the U-Boat
+doesn't dare sink the vessel. And the crew of the steamer is keeping the
+German and his friends so busy aboard that they haven't had a chance to
+jump overboard."
+
+"By George! I guess you're right," declared Jack. "Now if they can hold
+them fifteen minutes longer we'll get in the game ourselves."
+
+Again Jack altered the course of the Essex and approached the submarine at
+an angle from the Ventura.
+
+"Forward turret guns there!" he roared.
+
+It was the signal the men had been eagerly awaiting. Quickly the signal
+"ready" was flashed in the forward turret. The men were already at their
+posts.
+
+"Range finders!" ordered Jack.
+
+"Aye, aye, sir," came the reply of the officer in charge of this work, and
+he calculated the range swiftly and passed the word to the captain of the
+gun crew in the forward turret.
+
+"Fire!"
+
+A heavy shell flew screaming across the water.
+
+But the range had not been correct and the shell flew past the submarine.
+Again the range was calculated, taking into consideration the first error.
+Again the command to fire was given.
+
+This time the range had been gauged perfectly and the shell must have gone
+home had it not been for one thing.
+
+A moment before the command to fire was given, a torpedo was launched by
+the submarine. Jack saw the torpedo come dashing through the water, and he
+was forced to order the helm over promptly to escape the deadly messenger.
+This maneuver was made at the precise moment that the Essex fired for the
+second time, and consequently the shell again went wide.
+
+Almost at the same instant Frank, who had kept his eyes glued to the deck
+of the Ventura where the struggle on the bridge had continued fiercely,
+uttered an exclamation of alarm.
+
+"They've broken away," he cried.
+
+It was true, The submarine commander and his followers had succeeded in
+eluding the crew of the Ventura and dashed to the rail. There they poised
+themselves a brief moment, and then flung themselves headlong into the
+sea. Directly, dripping, they appeared on the deck of the submarine and
+dashed for the conning tower.
+
+"Quick!" roared Jack. "Forward turret guns again there!"
+
+Once more the range was calculated and an explosion shook the Essex. But
+as before the range had not been true. The shell barely skimmed the top of
+the U-Boat and went screaming half a mile past, where it struck the water
+with a hiss.
+
+Slowly the submarine began to submerge.
+
+"Again!" cried Jack.
+
+But the next shot had no better success.
+
+The submarine disappeared from sight.
+
+Jack stamped his foot.
+
+"What's the matter with those fellows forward?" he demanded. "Can't they
+shoot? Didn't they ever see a gun before?"
+
+There was no reply from the other officers and gradually Jack cooled down.
+
+"Pretty tough," said Frank then. "We should have had that fellow."
+
+Jack nodded gloomily.
+
+"So we should," he cried, "but we didn't get him. Well, better luck next
+time. All the same, I'm inclined to believe that Ensign Carruthers needs a
+talking to. He didn't take the time to calculate the range correctly."
+
+"I'll speak to him," said Frank.
+
+"Do," said Jack. "In the meantime we'll run close to the Ventura and I'll
+go aboard for a word with her captain."
+
+The Ventura's wireless was working again now, and Jack himself took the
+key.
+
+"Lay to," he ordered. "I'm coming aboard you."
+
+"Very well," was the reply.
+
+The two vessels drew close together. Jack had the destroyer's launch
+lowered, climbed in and crossed to the Ventura, where a ladder was lowered
+for him. On deck he was greeted by a grizzled old sailor, who introduced
+himself as Captain Griswold.
+
+"Come to my cabin, sir," he said to Jack. "We can talk there without being
+interrupted."
+
+Jack followed the captain of the Ventura below, and took a seat the latter
+motioned him to. The captain set out liquor and cigars, but Jack waved
+them away.
+
+"I neither smoke nor drink, thanks," he said.
+
+Captain Griswold shrugged his shoulders and put a match to a cigar.
+
+"Well, what can I do for you, Captain?" he asked.
+
+"First," said Jack, "did you get the number of the submarine?"
+
+"I did. The U-87, Commander Frederich, the captain styled himself; and if
+there ever was a murderer unhung, he's the man."
+
+"Why?" asked Jack curiously.
+
+"Because he proposed setting my passengers and crew adrift in small boats,
+without water or provisions, before sinking my ship. And when I told him
+that I had him figured correctly--that he intended to shell the
+lifeboats--the cold-blooded scoundrel admitted it! That's why we had the
+nerve to jump him on deck. I figured we might as well die on the Ventura
+as in the lifeboats--and we had a chance of taking him to Davy Jones'
+locker along with us."
+
+"I see," said Jack. "Not a bad idea."
+
+"It was offered by the wireless operator," continued Captain Griswold,
+"although he offered it unconsciously."
+
+"Explain," Jack requested.
+
+"Well, Harrington thought he heard his instrument clicking. He figured it
+was you, whom we had just sighted. He broke through the Germans on deck
+and dashed below. He locked himself in his room and began talking to you.
+Three of the enemy went after him and broke in the door, but I guess he
+had told you enough by that time."
+
+"I'd like a word with this Harrington," said Jack. "He is a brave man.
+Where is he?"
+
+"Dead," said Captain Griswold quietly.
+
+Jack jumped to his feet
+
+"Dead?" he repeated.
+
+"Yes. After the Germans broke in the door, they overpowered him, tied him
+and then brought back on deck. Said the German commander: 'I'll show you
+how we treat men who defy us.' He stepped back several paces, drew his
+revolver and fired. Then three of the enemy threw the body into the sea.
+That's when we jumped them, for it was more than we could stand."
+
+"Then who answered the wireless when I called a moment ago?"
+
+"I did."
+
+"I guess that is enough, Captain," said Jack. He returned to the Essex.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV
+
+JACK GIVES CHASE
+
+
+"Any sight of the submarine, Frank?" asked Jack, when he stepped on deck
+again.
+
+"None," was the reply. "In accordance with instructions you gave before
+you went overside we dropped depth bombs in the spot where the U-Boat
+disappeared, but without result."
+
+"I guess he's gone, then," said Jack. "But I'd like to get my hands on
+that fellow," and he related to Frank the manner in which the German
+commander had shot down the wireless operator aboard the Ventura.
+
+"By Jove! What a murderous scoundrel!" muttered Frank.
+
+Jack nodded.
+
+"No worse than the rest of them, I'll wager," he said. "But, hello! The
+Ventura's moving again."
+
+As soon as Jack had left the deck of the steamer, Captain Griswold had
+ordered the engines started and prepared for a quick dash to shore.
+
+"There are likely to be more of those pesky submarines about here," he
+muttered, "and the sooner I reach port the better."
+
+Accordingly he ordered full speed ahead.
+
+"Do you know," said Frank, "I've a hunch that the U-87 is not through with
+the Ventura. You know how the German is. He doesn't like to admit he's
+been licked, so I figure the submarine commander is likely to have gone
+ahead and will be awaiting the approach of the Ventura."
+
+"Now by George! I wouldn't be a bit surprised," Jack agreed. "Well, we'll
+be ready for him."
+
+"What are you going to do, Jack?"
+
+"I'll show you. Come."
+
+Jack dashed to the radio room, Frank at his heels.
+
+"Get the Ventura for me," Jack instructed the operator.
+
+It was perhaps five minutes later that the Ventura answered the call. Jack
+took the key.
+
+"Captain Griswold?" he asked.
+
+"Yes. Who are you?"
+
+"Captain Templeton, destroyer Essex."
+
+"Well, what do you want this time?"
+
+"Slow down. I'm coming aboard again."
+
+"What for?"
+
+"I'll explain when I get there."
+
+"All right, but I'll tell you I don't like this business."
+
+The instrument became silent.
+
+"Now tell me what you're going to do, Jack," said Frank, as he followed
+his chum and commander on deck.
+
+"It's very simple," said Jack. "As you have said, I believe that the
+submarine commander will intercept the Ventura again farther along toward
+the shore. Now, I'm going to turn the Essex over to you temporarily and
+go aboard the Ventura. You know the Germans as well as I do. This man will
+no more think of sinking the Ventura without doing a bit of bragging to
+the captain, who fooled him once, than he will of flying."
+
+"That's true enough," Frank admitted.
+
+"All right. Now I'll be aboard when he gets there. If he comes aboard,
+I'll grab him there. If he doesn't I'll jump to the deck of the submarine
+after him and tumble him overboard. I'll trust to you to keep the
+submarine occupied and to get a boat to me."
+
+"It's a desperate venture, Jack," Frank protested.
+
+"So it is," was Jack's reply, "but I've a longing to capture this fellow.
+If we just sink the submarine, I can't do it of course. Another thing, it
+may be that I am not doing just right in leaving my ship, but it will only
+be for a couple of hours and I know you can handle it as well as I can."
+
+"Oh, I won't sink her," grinned Frank. "But why not let me be the one to
+go?"
+
+"Because I'm not sure you can handle the German commander."
+
+"But you're sure you can, eh?"
+
+"He'll have to be something new in the line of a German if I can't."
+
+"All right," said Frank. "Have it your own way. You're boss here, you
+know."
+
+Meantime the Essex and the Ventura had been drawing closer together.
+Directly a boat put off from the destroyer and ran alongside of the
+steamer. Jack clambered over the side and the launch returned to the
+destroyer.
+
+Captain Griswold was waiting for Jack.
+
+"Now what's up?" he wanted to know.
+
+"Come to your cabin and I'll explain," said Jack.
+
+In the seclusion of the cabin he outlined the situation. When he had
+concluded a sketch of his plans, Captain Griswold demurred.
+
+"But I don't like to risk my passengers," he said.
+
+"You won't be risking them any more with me aboard than you will without
+me," Jack explained. "Besides, you will have the additional protection of
+the destroyer. In fact, it may be that the presence of the Essex will
+scare the submarine off, but I doubt it. The German commander, as all of
+his ilk, is angry at having been balked of his prey. He'll probably have
+one more try, destroyer or no destroyer."
+
+"Well," said Captain Griswold, "you're a British naval officer and should
+know something, whether you do or not. But I'll tell you right now I hope
+the submarine doesn't show up again."
+
+Nevertheless, Captain Griswold was doomed to disappointment, for the U-87
+did reappear.
+
+It was almost 6 o'clock in the evening when all on board were startled by
+a cry from the lookout.
+
+"Submarine on the port bow, sir."
+
+Instantly all became confusion on the big merchant ship. Passengers, of
+whom there were perhaps fifty, became greatly excited. Every man on board
+strapped on a life preserver, and waited for he knew not what.
+
+The fact that, directly astern, the Essex, British destroyer, was in plain
+sight and trailing them, did not allay their fears. Came a shot from a gun
+mounted forward on the submarine, a signal to heave to.
+
+"Obey it," said Jack, to Captain Griswold, on the bridge.
+
+Captain Griswold ordered his engines stopped.
+
+"I'll keep out of sight for a moment," said Jack. "The commander may come
+on board."
+
+He stooped down in the shelter of the pilot house.
+
+The submarine drew close to the Ventura, and a voice hailed Captain
+Griswold:
+
+"Thought you'd get away did you, you Yankee pig."
+
+It was the voice of the German commander.
+
+"Oh, we may get away yet," said Captain Griswold.
+
+"Don't depend on the destroyer this time," shouted the commander of the
+submarine. "I see her approaching, but she won't be soon enough. I'll sink
+you and submerge before she can fire a shot."
+
+"Well, you big cut throat," shouted Captain Griswold, losing his temper,
+"why don't you do it?"
+
+"You dare to talk to a German officer like that?" thundered the submarine
+commander. "You shall be sunk immediately. But first I wanted a word with
+you. I just wanted to tell you what fate I hold in store for you."
+
+"It's my opinion," said Captain Griswold, "that you're a big bluff, like
+all the rest of your stripe."
+
+Meantime, realizing that the German commander did not intend to board the
+Ventura a second time, Jack crept from the shelter of the pilot house
+unobserved and stole across the deck until he was beside the rail just
+above the U-Boat, whose sides almost scraped the Ventura, so close were
+the two vessels together.
+
+Jack removed his coat and his cap, which he dropped on deck. Then he stood
+up in full view of the German submarine commander. The latter gazed at him
+carelessly, for without his cap and coat Jack showed no sign of being a
+British naval officer.
+
+Jack took in the scene about him with a careful eye. The German commander
+stood close to the conning tower. There were perhaps half a dozen men
+beside him, presumably his officers. The commander was directly below the
+spot where Jack stood.
+
+One of the Germans, Jack noticed, kept a close eye on the approaching
+Essex and from time to time spoke to the commander in a low tone.
+
+"Oh, these English can't shoot," Jack heard the commander say at last.
+"However, I guess we have delayed long enough. Inside with you,
+gentlemen."
+
+Two of the Germans descended through the conning tower. This left four on
+the deck of the submarine besides the commander. These, too, moved toward
+the conning tower.
+
+"Guess it's time to get busy," Jack muttered.
+
+With a single movement he leaped to the rail of the Ventura, and with a
+second hurled himself to the deck of the submarine, landing in the midst
+of the startled Germans.
+
+At the same moment, Captain Griswold, on the Ventura, signalled his engine
+room for full speed ahead in accordance with Jack's instructions.
+
+The reason for this was obvious. First, it would take the steamer out of
+the way of the torpedoes already trained on her, which would not be
+launched without a command from one of the enemy officers, and, second, it
+would draw the Ventura away so as to present the submarine as a clear
+target for the guns of the approaching Essex.
+
+Jack, on the deck of the submarine, recovered himself before the German
+officers could get over their surprise. He sprang to his feet and waded
+into them, striking out right and left.
+
+Two men went staggering across the narrow deck and toppled into the sea.
+The others reached for their revolvers. Before they could fire, however,
+Jack sprang forward quickly and floored one of the enemy with a smashing
+blow. This left the commander and one other officer on deck.
+
+The commander fired at Jack, but in his haste the bullet went wild. Jack
+hurled himself forward, and the men gave ground. One, retreating, lost his
+balance and went staggering across the deck and fell overboard.
+
+Only the commander of the submarine now faced Jack, and he covered the lad
+with a revolver.
+
+"Hands up!" he said.
+
+For answer Jack smiled slightly, and took a quick step forward.
+
+"Crack!" the German's revolver spoke sharply, and Jack felt a hot pain in
+his left arm. But the German had no time to fire again, for Jack was upon
+him, pinning his revolver arm to his side.
+
+"Now," said the lad, "I've got you!"
+
+The two wrestled across the deck.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI
+
+THE FIGHT ON THE U-87
+
+
+In the meantime, members of the crew hearing the commotion on deck, rushed
+up to see what was going on. Seeing their commander struggling with an
+enemy, they hurried across the deck.
+
+Jack saw them coming out of the tail of his eye. It was not time to
+hesitate and the lad knew it.
+
+With his arms still wrapped about the German commander, Jack struggled to
+the rail and leaped into the sea. Down and down he went, never for a
+moment relaxing his hold on the German. Then they came to the surface.
+
+With a sudden jerk the German freed himself and aimed a heavy blow at
+Jack. This Jack dodged and sought to regain his hold on his foe. But the
+German wriggled away and struck out for the submarine.
+
+In the meantime, Captain Griswold of the Ventura had been watching the
+struggle as his vessel sped away from the scene. There was a strange light
+in his eyes and he muttered to himself. At last he muttered an
+imprecation.
+
+"He's a brave boy," he said. "I can't run away and leave him like that."
+
+He brought the head of the vessel around in spite of the protests of some
+of the passengers, and headed back for the submarine.
+
+"Man the forward gun there!" he cried.
+
+For the Ventura, like other allied ships plying in the seas in those days,
+carried small guns for defensive purposes. The gun crew sprang to obey
+this order and the gun was trained on the submarine.
+
+"Fire!" shouted Captain Griswold.
+
+"Crash!"
+
+The gun spoke and a geyser of water was kicked up just beyond the
+submarine.
+
+At this point the officer left in command of the submarine seemed to
+realize his own danger. He sprang to the conning tower, unmindful of the
+fact that his commander was struggling in the water.
+
+"Down, men!" he cried.
+
+But it appeared that the German sailors were made of sterner stuff than
+was the officer. They refused to go below until their commander had been
+brought safely aboard. In vain the officer pointed out their danger.
+
+Jack struck out after the German commander as the latter swam for the
+submarine. The lad was a powerful swimmer and he felt confident he could
+overtake the man before help could reach him.
+
+The destroyer Essex had now drawn close. Frank had been afraid to order a
+shot at the submarine for fear the shell might hit Jack in the water.
+
+"Take the bridge, Mr. Hetherton!" he cried. "Lower a boat, men!"
+
+The boat was lowered in a trice and Frank and a score of sailors sprang
+in. The launch darted toward Jack at full speed, Frank standing erect and
+with the quartermaster at the rudder.
+
+They were close enough to see the struggle between Jack and the German
+commander in the water. Frank saw the man break loose from Jack and strike
+out for the submarine. He saw Jack make after him, and he saw something
+more.
+
+Half a dozen German sailors leaped into the water and made for Jack, who
+apparently did not realize his own danger, so interested was he in the
+pursuit of the German commander.
+
+"Faster!" cried Frank, and drew his revolver.
+
+Now, for the first time, Jack realized his danger. But it was too late to
+draw back, and it is doubtful if he would have done so anyway.
+
+"I'm going to get that fellow," he gritted between his teeth, referring to
+the German commander.
+
+One of the German sailors struck at the lad with a knife. Jack caught the
+man's arm with his left hand and twisted sharply. There was a snap, and
+the knife dropped into the water. The sailor uttered a cry of pain and
+turning, struck out for the submarine with his good arm.
+
+Two sailors now beset Jack on either side, and the German commander turned
+to renew the struggle.
+
+"Kill him!" he cried angrily.
+
+One of the sailors raised himself high in the water, and a knife flashed
+above him.
+
+"Crack!"
+
+A revolver spoke sharply and the knife dropped from limp fingers.
+
+Frank, standing erect in the Essex's launch, had fired. Now, as has been
+said, Frank was a crack shot, and in spite of the pitching of the small
+boat, his aim had been true. The bullet had struck the German sailor's arm
+just below the elbow, shattering the nerve.
+
+Perceiving the approach of reinforcements, at an order from their
+commander, the Germans turned and swam rapidly toward the submarine. The
+sailors reached the vessel and climbed aboard. Their commander did
+likewise.
+
+Unmindful of the cries of his friends behind him, Jack also laid hold of
+the edge of the submarine and drew himself, dripping, aboard the vessel. A
+sailor near the conning tower raised his revolver in deliberate aim.
+
+"Crack! Crack!"
+
+Two revolvers spoke almost as one, the first Frank's, the second that of
+the sailor who aimed at Jack. But Frank's bullet went home, thus
+deflecting the aim of the man who covered Jack, and the German's bullet
+went wild.
+
+The commander of the submarine, at this juncture, losing his temper at
+being pursued to the very door of safety, turned and sprang for Jack with
+a wild cry. He was a big and powerful man, and as he wrapped his arms
+about Jack, the lad staggered back.
+
+But he recovered his balance in a moment and struck out with his right
+fist. Struck in the stomach, the German grunted and stepped back.
+
+Now the remainder of the German crew came pouring on deck. At the same
+time Frank's launch grated alongside and his men poured a volley of rifle
+bullets into the enemy. The latter turned and scampered for safety below
+decks.
+
+Jack, still struggling with the German commander, paused and looked around
+long enough to cry:
+
+"After them, Frank! Don't let them shut you out."
+
+Frank understood and led his men toward the conning tower at a run. Most
+of the enemy were already inside and descending, but Frank arrived in time
+to prevent the closing of the conning tower, which would have permitted
+the submarine to submerge, leaving the struggling figures in the water.
+With the conning tower open, it was, of course, impossible for the U-Boat
+to submerge, for she would have been flooded immediately.
+
+Frank's men made prisoners of the half a dozen Germans who had not time to
+get below, and then the lad ran over to help Jack.
+
+"Keep away, Frank," said Jack. "I've got this fellow, and I hope he
+doesn't give up too easily. We've heavy accounts to settle with him."
+
+The big German showed no symptoms of giving up. He lashed out with both
+arms and Jack was kept busy warding off the blows. But the German
+commander was a novice at this sort of fighting, while Jack, only a year
+or so before, had won the heavyweight boxing championship of the British
+navy. So there was no doubt in Frank's mind as to the outcome. He and his
+men formed a circle around the struggling figures, at the same time
+guarding the conning tower to prevent the enemy from closing it.
+
+"Shoot the first head you see down there," Frank enjoined the men he left
+on guard, and he knew they would be only too glad to obey this order.
+
+Jack, with a smile still on his face, permitted the German commander to
+waste his energy in ineffective blows. Then Jack stepped forward and
+delivered a heavy blow to the man's mouth. The German staggered back. Jack
+doubled him up with a left-handed punch to the pit of the stomach, then
+straightened him with a second hard right to the point of the chin.
+
+The German commander reeled backward. Jack followed up his advantage, and
+for the space of a minute played a tattoo on the man's face with both
+fists. Then he stepped back, and as the German came toward him, the lad
+muttered:
+
+"I guess this has gone far enough. Now for the finish."
+
+He started a blow almost from the deck, and putting his full force behind
+it, struck.
+
+"Crack!"
+
+The blow could be heard even aboard the Ventura, which had approached
+close by this time.
+
+The German commander seemed to stagger back all of ten paces, the British
+sailors scurrying back to keep out of his way. Then the man fell, his head
+striking the deck with a sickening thud.
+
+"There," said Jack, "I guess that will settle you. Tie him up, men."
+
+A wild cheer had burst from the sailors as Jack delivered the finishing
+touch. None of these men had ever seen Jack in action before, and it was
+only natural that they should be greatly impressed at this exhibition of
+their commander's prowess.
+
+"By glory! What a blow!" one of them exclaimed. "Did you see it, Tom?"
+
+"Did I?" exclaimed the man addressed as Tom; "did I? I'll say I did, and I
+thought I was pretty handy with my fists. But not against Captain Jack,
+not for me."
+
+As bidden by Jack, the sailors rolled the German commander over and bound
+him. Then they carried him to the Essex's launch and threw him in, none
+too gently, either, for there was no man there who had not a disgust for
+Germans, German tactics and everything German.
+
+"Now," said Frank to Jack, "I guess we may as well stand clear and let the
+Essex pour a few shells into the vessel, eh?"
+
+Jack shook his head.
+
+"No," he said, "we shall take possession of the vessel. Call down below
+and see if the Germans will surrender."
+
+Frank approached the conning tower and called down.
+
+"Hello!" he shouted.
+
+There was no response.
+
+"Hello below!" he shouted again in German.
+
+"What do you want?" came a sullen voice from below.
+
+"We're in possession of this vessel now," said Frank. "Come up here and
+surrender."
+
+"We'll stay where we are," came the reply after a brief pause.
+
+"But you can't man," exclaimed Frank. "Don't you know when you have been
+captured."
+
+"We'll stay here awhile," said the spokesman of the sailors.
+
+"But you can't stay there forever, and you can't submerge," said Frank.
+"Come up and surrender."
+
+To this the lad received no response. Frank reported to Jack.
+
+"So they won't surrender, eh?" said Jack. "Then we'll go down and get
+them."
+
+"Rather risky, Jack," Frank warned.
+
+"So it is," Jack agreed. "So's the whole war. But wait. We'll see."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII
+
+CAPTURE OF THE SUBMARINE
+
+
+Captain Griwsold aboard the Ventura had watched the struggle on the
+submarine with eager eyes. His fingers clenched and unclenched.
+
+"I'd like to get into that," he muttered. "I guess I'm not too old."
+
+Abruptly he turned to the first officer.
+
+"Lower a boat," he said. "I'm going aboard the submarine."
+
+The first officer protested.
+
+"But the passengers--" he began.
+
+"The passengers be hanged," said the captain of the Ventura. "Besides,
+we're safer here under the nose of this destroyer than we would be
+prowling off by ourselves."
+
+The first officer protested no longer. A boat was lowered and Captain
+Griswold and half a dozen sailors climbed in and put off for the
+submarine, where they arrived just in time to overhear Jack say that if
+the Germans in the submarine didn't surrender they would go after them.
+Captain Griswold laid a hand on Jack's shoulder.
+
+"You're some scrapper, youngster," he said.
+
+Jack was thus made aware for the first time that the Ventura had not
+rushed for her home port.
+
+"I thought you'd gone, Captain," he said.
+
+"I was on my way," said the captain of the Ventura, "until I saw you
+fighting these murderers single-handed. I came back to see if I could
+help."
+
+"Thanks," Jack laughed, "but I guess there are enough of us to attend to
+them without you, Captain."
+
+"I'm not sure about that," declared Captain Griswold. "I just heard you
+say you were going below after those fellows?"
+
+"Well?" questioned Jack.
+
+"Pretty risky," responded Captain Griswold, shaking his head. "How do you
+figure to get 'em?"
+
+"Rush 'em," said Jack briefly.
+
+Again the captain of the Ventura shook his head doubtfully.
+
+"Too risky altogether," he declared. "The first one of you that shows his
+head down there will be potted, sure as fate."
+
+"But we've got to do it, Captain," said Jack. "How else is it to be done?"
+
+"Well," said Captain Griswold, removing his cap and scratching his head,
+"I guess I can suggest a way."
+
+"I'm open to conviction, Captain," said Jack.
+
+"Aboard my ship," went on Captain Griswold, "I have a supply of a certain
+sort of gas which, if used properly, will do in minutes what it may take
+you hours to accomplish."
+
+"By George!" said Frank. "Kill 'em all at once, eh?"
+
+"Well, no, it won't do that," replied Captain Griswold, "but it'll put 'em
+to sleep long enough for you fellows to go down and tie 'em up."
+
+"Bring on the gas, Captain," said Jack quietly.
+
+Captain Griswold hustled back to his boat with the agility of a small
+school boy.
+
+"Back to the ship," he roared to the sailors who rowed him.
+
+He mounted the ladder swiftly and summoned his first officer.
+
+"Helgoson," he said, "those Britishers have gone and almost captured that
+submarine. It's up to us to help 'em complete the job."
+
+"How, sir?" asked the first officer.
+
+"Do you know where that gas tank is below?"
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"Fetch it here. It's small enough so you can carry it. Also get the hose
+and the pump."
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+The first officer hurried away. He was back in a few moments with the
+necessary articles, which Captain Griswold took charge of himself.
+
+"Helgoson," said Captain Griswold, "if you were a younger man I would
+invite you to take a hand in this party yourself. As it is, you'll have to
+stick behind with the passengers."
+
+"But I'm younger than you by almost twenty years, sir," protested the
+first officer.
+
+"Oh, no you're not," laughed the commander of the Ventura, "you just think
+you are. I've grown twenty years younger this day."
+
+He summoned a pair of sailors, whom he loaded down with the gas, hose and
+pump with instructions to place them carefully in the small boat.
+
+"And now for the submarine," he confided to his first officer.
+
+On deck, half a dozen passengers approached the captain with inquiries as
+to what was going on.
+
+"Why," he said with a grin, "we're just going to capture a submarine,
+that's all. Stick close to the side of the ship and you'll see how it's
+done. A lesson like this may come in handy some day."
+
+The passengers protested.
+
+"But the danger--" one began.
+
+"Danger be hanged," said the captain. "There is no danger. While there was
+danger we were scuttling for the safety of land and now we come back when
+it's all over. You should all be glad of this opportunity to render your
+country a service. What sort of citizens are you, anyhow?"
+
+Without further words he climbed down to the launch and was hustled back
+to the submarine, where Jack and the others were awaiting him eagerly.
+
+"Well," said Captain Griswold, motioning to the articles that the sailors
+laid on the deck, "here's the stuff. Get busy."
+
+"How do you work it, Captain?" asked Jack.
+
+"Don't you know?" demanded Captain Griswold. "Well, I'll tell you what.
+You just put me in command here for fifteen minutes and I'll do the job
+for you."
+
+"All right, sir," said Jack. "Your commands shall be obeyed."
+
+Captain Griswold turned to the nearest sailor.
+
+"Take that hose and attach it to the nozzle on the tank," he directed.
+The sailor did so.
+
+"Now the pump," said the captain, "you will find a place for it on the
+other side of the tank."
+
+This was adjusted to the captain's satisfaction.
+
+"Now," said the captain, "all you have to do is to stick this nozzle down
+the conning tower, turn it so as to give the gas full play and pump. Of
+course the gas would carry without the pump, but you save time this way."
+
+"One moment, Captain," said Jack. "How about ourselves? Won't the gas
+affect us as well as the Germans?"
+
+Captain Griswold clapped a hand to his side.
+
+"Now what do you think of that?" he demanded. "I must be getting old
+before my time. Here, Lands," he called one of his own men, who
+approached. "Go and tell Helgoson I want two dozen of those gas masks in
+the store room; and hustle."
+
+The sailor hurried away. He was back within fifteen minutes, and Captain
+Griswold distributed the gas masks. Then he took the nozzle of the hose,
+poked it down the conning tower and looked around.
+
+"Everybody ready?" he asked.
+
+Jack also glanced around. Every man on the deck of the submarine wore a
+gas mask.
+
+"All right, sir," said Jack.
+
+"Then you turn that screw there when I give the word. All right? Then
+shoot!"
+
+There was a hissing sound as Jack turned on the gas.
+
+For perhaps ten minutes Captain Griswold moved the hose to and fro. Then
+he pulled it forth and motioned Jack to turn the screw again. This the lad
+did. Captain Griswold then motioned the others to follow him, and led the
+way below.
+
+At the foot of the conning tower they stumbled across several figures,
+overcome by the fumes. These were quickly bound and passed up on deck to
+the men who remained behind.
+
+The search of the submarine took perhaps half an hour. Every nook and
+cranny was explored. The gas had done its work well. Apparently it had
+poured in so rapidly that the crew had had no time to open the portholes,
+for they were all closed. Captain Griswold opened them now.
+
+Then he led the way on deck, and closing the conning tower, removed his
+gas mask. The others followed his example.
+
+"Simple, wasn't it?" said the captain of the Ventura to Jack, grinning
+like a boy. "Lucky I happened to come back."
+
+"It is indeed," said Jack. "But won't this gas affect us, Captain?"
+
+"Not out here," was the reply. "It's not strong enough. You can barely
+smell it now. Now what are you going to do with the submarine?"
+
+Jack considered a moment.
+
+"I'll tell you Captain," he said, "it strikes me that this submarine is
+really the prize of the Ventura. At all events, I cannot be bothered with
+it, for there is still patrol work to do in these waters. Can't you tow
+her into port?"
+
+"Can't I?" shouted Captain Griswold. "You bet I can. You give the word and
+I'll tie her on behind right now."
+
+"All right, Captain," said Jack. "She's yours."
+
+Captain Griswold almost danced a jig there on the deck of the German
+submarine.
+
+"Won't New York sit up and take notice when old Captain Griswold comes
+into port towing a submarine?" he chortled. "Well, I guess. Here, Lands,
+go back to the ship and throw me a line. Then come back and help make it
+fast."
+
+This was accomplished with astonishing rapidity and amid the cheering of
+the crew and passengers of the Ventura and the wild hurrahs of the British
+tars of the Essex.
+
+"Well, she's all fixed," said Captain Griswold, "and to tell you the truth
+I'm rather sorry. Of course I'm old and all that, but just the same I'd
+like to go with you fellows."
+
+"You're doing your share, Captain," said Jack seriously. "All of us can't
+do the fighting, you know. But there's work just as important, and you are
+doing your part. But we must be moving now. We've wasted time enough."
+
+"So we have," declared Captain Griswold. "Shall you leave us here, sir?"
+
+"No," said Jack, "we'll follow and see you safely in harbor."
+
+"Very well. Then I shall return to the Ventura."
+
+"And I to the Essex, Captain. Good-bye and good luck to you."
+
+Captain Griswold shook hands heartily with Jack, and then insisted on
+shaking hands as well with Frank, and every officer and member of the
+British crew aboard the submarine. Then he put off for his ship.
+
+Jack and the others returned to the Essex. When the lad reached the
+bridge, the Ventura was already moving, the submarine trailing behind.
+
+"A fine man, Captain Griswold," said Frank.
+
+"Right," Jack agreed. "And the U-87 is his so far as I'm concerned. He
+might hang it on his parlor wall for a souvenir."
+
+"Or wear it as a watch charm," added Frank with a grin.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII
+
+ASHORE
+
+
+For two days the Essex had been cruising up and down the coast on patrol
+duty, looking for submarines. Several times the destroyer had been
+ordered farther out to sea to form an escort for an incoming steamer, but
+after her encounter with the U-87 she had sighted no more of the enemy.
+
+Following the report of two vessels sunk off the coast on May 10, the day
+on which the presence of German raiders off the coast was first reported,
+the number of sinkings increased the following day, and the next. After
+that they fell off, however, and upon the fifth day only one ship--a small
+schooner--was sent to the bottom off the coast of Delaware.
+
+The prisoners taken from the U-87 were stowed safely away below-decks on
+the Essex, after which Jack got in touch with Admiral Sellings, on the
+Dakota, by wireless. He reported the capture of the submarine and the fact
+that it was being towed into port by the Ventura. Admiral Sellings ordered
+Jack to continue his patrol of the coast until further notice.
+
+Nevertheless, the Essex escorted the Ventura almost to port, before
+putting about and resuming her patrol duty.
+
+All the remainder of that day and the two days that followed Jack kept his
+ship moving up and down the coast, but he caught no sight of an enemy
+vessel, nor were any of the sinkings reported in that time close enough to
+be considered within his territory.
+
+On the fourth day came a message from Admiral Sellings.
+
+"German submarine reported twenty miles north of Cape Charles," read the
+message. "Investigate."
+
+Jack acknowledged receipt of the order and addressed Frank, who stood
+beside him on the bridge.
+
+"Something definite to act on at last," he said, and read the admiral's
+message aloud, adding: "Shape your course accordingly, Mr. Chadwick."
+
+Frank gave the necessary directions. The big ship came about and headed
+south again.
+
+It was well along in the afternoon when the Essex reached the approximate
+point designated by Admiral Sellings. Jack ran the destroyer as close
+in-shore as he dared, and for several hours cruised about in the
+neighborhood. But he saw nothing to indicate the presence of a submarine.
+
+"If there's a U-Boat here, it's keeping pretty well under cover," said
+Frank.
+
+"So it is," replied Jack. "I don't know where the admiral got his
+information, but I've got my doubts of its authenticity."
+
+Frank's eyes were caught at that moment by the sight of a small row boat
+putting off from the shore. He watched it idly for a moment, and then
+noted that it was headed directly for the Essex.
+
+"Hello," he said, "here comes some one to visit us."
+
+Directly the little boat scraped alongside the now stationary destroyer
+and the figure in the boat indicated that he wanted to come aboard.
+
+"Don't know what he wants," muttered Jack, "but it'll be just as well to
+have him up and find out."
+
+A few moments later the occupant stood before Jack and his officers on the
+bridge.
+
+"My name," he said, "is Charles Cutlip, and I live back there." He waved a
+hand shoreward. "I suppose you are hunting for submarines, Captain?"
+
+Jack nodded.
+
+"That's what we're here for," he affirmed.
+
+"I thought so," said young Cutlip--he was a little more than a boy. "Well,
+Captain, maybe I can help you."
+
+Jack gave an exclamation of astonishment.
+
+"What do you mean?" he asked.
+
+"I don't know exactly," replied the boy. "Yesterday afternoon, while I was
+in the house alone, three strange men appeared at the door. They wore the
+costume of an ordinary seafaring man, but when they asked me for food they
+had a strange manner of speech. They weren't Americans, I'm sure of that."
+
+"And you think they were from a submarine, eh?" asked Jack.
+
+"I'm sure of it, Captain. There were no other ships near, and they could
+not have come overland, for it is a long ways to the nearest village and
+they had neither horses nor automobile."
+
+"And what did you say to them?" asked Frank.
+
+"I gave them what food there was in the house, but they said it wasn't
+enough. About this time my father came in unexpectedly. The strangers drew
+revolvers and covered him. They told him they would be back to-night and
+that they required him to have a certain amount of food on hand. They
+threatened to kill him if he gave the alarm--and they threatened to kill
+me too."
+
+"By George!" exclaimed Frank. "It looks as though we had come to the right
+spot, Jack."
+
+"It certainly does," agreed Jack. "Now tell us the rest of your tale,
+son."
+
+"That's about all," said the boy. "They devoured what food I gave them and
+then disappeared."
+
+"And your father sent you for help, I suppose," added Frank.
+
+"No," said the boy. "I came of my own accord. My father is badly
+frightened. He has gone to find the food for the strangers. I slipped away
+and ran toward the sea. Then I saw your ship, sir, and I hurried to tell
+you."
+
+"You have done well," said Jack, laying a hand on the lad's shoulder. "And
+now you will be willing to help us further, will you not?"
+
+"Of course I shall, sir."
+
+"Very good. Now you look around the ship to your heart's content, while I
+hold a conference with my officers."
+
+"Very well, sir."
+
+The boy walked away. Jack held a consultation with his officers on the
+bridge.
+
+"If the boy is telling the truth," he said, "and I have no doubt of it, we
+are in luck. It may be that we can capture this German crew ashore and
+then take possession of the submarine."
+
+"But, sir," protested Lieutenant Hetherton, "if the submarine were to come
+to the surface now and catch sight of the Essex it would never come back
+again."
+
+"I had thought of that," replied Jack, "and I have a plan that will offset
+it. You see that projecting reef there?" and Jack pointed to the north.
+The others signified that they did. "Well," Jack continued, "back of that
+is as cosy a little harbor as you would care to see. I noticed it as we
+came by. We'll take the Essex there, and she will be hidden well enough."
+
+"Unless the submarine should chance to come to the surface there," was
+Frank's objection.
+
+"We'll have to leave something to chance," declared Jack.
+
+"In which event your plan is as good as any I can conceive," said Frank.
+"But after we get the Essex there, then what?"
+
+"Why," said Jack, "I'll take a party of half a hundred men or so and
+surround the house of this Cutlip boy. When the Germans arrive we'll nab
+'em. After that we can find the submarine."
+
+"Hasn't it struck you, sir," Frank asked of Jack, "that maybe the men who
+accosted this boy and his father were merely bluffing? That they may not
+return to-night?"
+
+"It has," Jack replied, "but at the same time there is a chance that they
+will. Therefore, in lieu of any other clue as to the whereabouts of the
+submarine, I deem it well to act on what information, we have."
+
+"It won't hurt anything, that's sure, sir," was Lieutenant Hetherton's
+comment.
+
+In this the other officers agreed.
+
+"Very well then," said Jack. "It shall be as I suggested. Mr. Chadwick,
+will you shape your course for the point I have mentioned."
+
+"But the boy, sir?" said Frank. "Shall we not put him over the side
+first?"
+
+"No; we'll take him with us," Jack decided.
+
+As the destroyer began to forge ahead, the Cutlip boy grew alarmed and
+hurried to Jack's side.
+
+"You are not taking me away, are you, sir?" he asked fearfully.
+
+"No," replied Jack, and outlined the situation as fully as he deemed wise.
+
+Young Cutlip was plainly eager to help in the capture of the German
+submarine crew.
+
+"And you feel sure they will come back to-night?" Jack questioned.
+
+"Yes, sir. They must be very hungry. If you could have seen those three
+men devour what little food I gave them! They seemed to be half starved."
+
+"Strange, too," Jack muttered, "considering the number of ships they have
+sunk in these waters recently. They should have replenished their stores."
+
+"It may be that this was one of the less fortunate submarines," said
+Frank. "The sinkings may have been done by other U-Boats."
+
+"That's true, too," said Jack. "I hadn't thought of that. I guess that
+must be the answer."
+
+Less than an hour later, the Essex passed behind the shelter of the reef
+Jack had mentioned. There Jack ordered her stopped, and anchor dropped.
+
+"We should be out of sight here," he said, "unless, as you suggested,
+Frank, the enemy should come to the surface at this point. And we'll have
+to trust to luck that they don't."
+
+"And now what, sir?" asked Frank.
+
+"I'll let you select a hundred men of the crew for shore duty," said Jack.
+
+This task did not take long, and Frank had picked and armed his men within
+half an hour.
+
+"Now," said Jack, "I'm going to put you in command of the party, Frank.
+Lieutenant Hetherton shall go along as your immediate subordinate. Two
+officers are enough. The rest of us will wait here. But if you have not
+returned soon after daylight, we'll start a search for you."
+
+"I can see no reason why we should be longer," said Frank. "We'll do the
+best we can."
+
+"Then I would suggest that you go ashore at once," said Jack. "You must
+reach the Cutlip home while it is yet daylight in order to lay your
+plans."
+
+"Right, sir," said Frank, saluting. "We shall go ashore at once."
+
+They put off over the side in small boats and rowed toward the shore,
+where they landed less than an hour after the Essex dropped anchor. Jack
+waved a hand to his chum from the bridge.
+
+"Good luck!" he called.
+
+Frank waved back at him, then addressed his men.
+
+"By fours! Forward march!" he commanded.
+
+The party, with young Cutlip in their midst, moved inland.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX
+
+IN THE NIGHT
+
+
+It was not a long march to the Cutlip home, and the Essex party reached
+there some time before nightfall. Young Cutlip now whispered a word of
+caution to Frank.
+
+"My father will not like this," he said. "He is naturally a cautious man.
+If he thinks I have given the alarm--am responsible for your being
+here--it will go hard with me."
+
+"Then he must not know it," said Frank decidedly. "Do you think he will be
+home now?"
+
+"Yes, sir; most likely."
+
+Frank considered.
+
+"Then I'll call a halt here," he said. "You can return home and we will
+come later. In that way he will not know that you gave the alarm. But by
+the way, when he sees us is he not likely to try and warn the enemy?"
+
+"He might, sir. He is terribly afraid of submarines and men who control
+them. He appears to think they are something supernatural. He believes the
+crews of the submarines can whip anyone, sir. That is why he is likely to
+tarry and give an alarm."
+
+"In that case," said Frank, "we'll have to tie him up until the game is
+over."
+
+"He's my father, sir, and I don't want you to hurt him," said young
+Cutlip, "but that would be the best way, sir."
+
+"Very well," said Frank. "You run ahead, now; we'll wait here for an
+hour."
+
+He called a halt. Young Cutlip ran on ahead. Frank explained the reason
+for the halt to Lieutenant Hetherton, who agreed that the lad had acted
+wisely.
+
+"No use getting the boy in trouble if we can help, it, sir," he said.
+
+An hour later Frank ordered the march resumed. Young Cutlip had given
+necessary directions and the party from the Essex reached the Cutlip home
+without trouble. As they drew near, a man came to the door of the little
+cabin that nestled in among a group of trees. Beside him, Frank made out
+the figure of the boy who had given notice of the visit of some of the
+submarine crew.
+
+Frank motioned his men to halt some distance away, called Lieutenant
+Hetherton to follow him, and approached the cabin.
+
+"How do you do, sir?" he asked civilly of the big man in the doorway.
+
+"What do you want here?" was the growling response.
+
+"We're from a British destroyer out there," said Frank, waving a hand in
+the general direction of the Atlantic, "and we are hunting for submarines
+that have sunk a dozen or more ships off the coast."
+
+"You don't expect to find them here on land, do you?" demanded Cutlip.
+
+"Not exactly," said Frank. "But I have reason to believe that the crew of
+one of the vessels has come ashore. Have you seen anything of them, sir?"
+
+"I have not," replied Cutlip firmly.
+
+"No one resembling a German, even?" persisted Frank.
+
+"No."
+
+"You are quite sure?"
+
+"Quite sure."
+
+"Think again, my man," said Frank.
+
+"Look here," said Cutlip, "do you mean to insinuate that I'm lying?"
+
+"I don't insinuate anything. I know you are lying. Hold up there!"
+
+For Cutlip had taken a threatening step forward.
+
+"A party of three German sailors from a submarine nearby were seen to come
+this way," Frank went on. "You must have seen them. Now, if you are not
+trying to shield them, tell me where they are."
+
+"I don't know. I haven't seen them."
+
+"Call a couple of men, Lieutenant," said Frank to Hetherton.
+
+Hetherton raised a hand, and two sailors came forward.
+
+"Once more," said Frank to Cutlip, "will you tell me what you know of
+those men?"
+
+"I tell you I don't know anything," answered Cutlip doggedly.
+
+"Tie him up, men," said Frank briefly.
+
+The sailors sprang forward and laid rough hands on Cutlip. The latter
+protested vigorously with his mouth, but he offered only feeble
+resistance.
+
+"Now," said Frank to Hetherton, "we can't leave him around here for if the
+Germans saw him they might take alarm. We'll have to have him sent back to
+the ship. I guess those two men are big enough to get him there."
+
+"Plenty big enough, sir," said one of them with a grin.
+
+"Good. Take him back, then, and come back when you have turned him over
+to Captain Templeton. Tell the captain to hold him until we return."
+
+The man touched his cap.
+
+"Aye, aye, sir," he said. Then to Cutlip in a rough voice: "March, now."
+
+The three disappeared, Cutlip grumbling to himself and the sailors
+grinning.
+
+Frank turned to young Cutlip, who had watched these proceedings with some
+disfavor.
+
+"Now, my boy," he said, "we can get ready for business."
+
+"They won't hurt him, will they?" asked the boy, pointing after his
+father.
+
+"They will not," said Frank. "Only keep him safe until the trouble is
+over."
+
+"All right. Then, I'll help you the best I can, sir."
+
+"That's the way to talk, my boy. Now let me look around a bit."
+
+Lieutenant Hetherton and young Cutlip accompanied Frank on his tour of
+inspection. The lad found that the cabin was cuddled securely in a
+miniature forest, or rather at one end of it. On both sides and in the
+rear were a profusion of dense trees. Only the approach from the front was
+in the clear.
+
+"It's all right," Frank said. I'll throw my men around the house from
+three sides, and when the Germans have gone in we can surround it
+completely. If they come after dark, there is little doubt they will
+approach from the front."
+
+"And what shall I do, sir?" asked young Cutlip.
+
+Frank turned the matter over in his mind.
+
+"I am afraid I shall have to ask you to play rather a dangerous part," he
+said at last. "You must be inside to receive them. If there were no one
+there they might take alarm and run. Now, we'll go inside and see if your
+father has complied with the enemy's demand."
+
+The three entered the cabin. Inside, Frank made out several big sacks
+scattered about the floor. "Potatoes," he said, and looked further. There
+he also found an extraordinary amount of salt meats and a bountiful supply
+of vegetables.
+
+"Looks like your good father had been very busy," he said to young Cutlip
+with a smile. "That's what the Germans will have the whole world doing for
+them if we don't lick 'em."
+
+"You're right there, sir," agreed Lieutenant Hetherton.
+
+"Well," said Frank, "we'll leave these things as they are. It will help
+divert suspicion from young Cutlip here when the Germans find his father
+is not on hand. But I guess there is nothing more we can do now. Come,
+we'll go outside."
+
+Frank now saw to the disposition of his men. These, as he had decided, he
+stationed on three sides of the cabin. He himself took command of the men
+on the left, Lieutenant Hetherton commanding the right wing and a sailor
+named Hennessy the left. A short time later the sailors who had conducted
+Cutlip the elder to the Essex returned and took their places.
+
+"Did he go along peaceably?" asked Frank of one of the newcomers.
+
+"Well, he kicked once or twice," replied the man, "but he went along all
+the same, sir."
+
+Frank grinned.
+
+"Just so long as you got him there," he said.
+
+"Oh, he's there, all right," grinned the sailor, "but when I left he was
+threatening to have the whole American navy down on us and hoping that
+these German submarines shoot us to little pieces."
+
+"I think we'll do most of the shooting, if there is any to be done," said
+Frank dryly.
+
+There was silence in the ranks after this, for it was now growing dark and
+it was possible that the Germans might appear at any moment. Every man
+strained his eyes as he peered through the trees.
+
+Inside the cabin a faint light glowed. Young Cutlip was in there, playing
+a braver part than could his father, doing his best for his country as
+enemies threatened her existence. Frank smiled to himself.
+
+"A nervy kid," he muttered; "yet, I wish I didn't have to use him. I shall
+take especial care that no harm comes to him."
+
+He grew silent.
+
+In the distance came the sound of tramping feet--many of them. Gradually
+they drew nearer and directly Frank could hear voices. Heavy, guttural
+voices they were and the tongue they spoke was German.
+
+Up to that moment Frank had not been at all sure in his own mind that the
+Germans would return to the cabin, as they had told the Cutlips.
+Nevertheless, here they were, and the lad's heart leaped high.
+
+"They must be pretty close to starvation to take such chances," the lad
+muttered to himself. "Wonder why they don't try a raid on one of the
+nearby towns? Guess they don't want to stir up any more trouble than
+possible, though. Well, we'll get 'em."
+
+Frank peered from his hiding place. The Germans were in sight now, and
+approaching the house four abreast.
+
+"Four, eight, twelve, sixteen, twenty-four," Frank counted.
+
+"That's not so many. We can grab them easy enough."
+
+But a moment later additional footsteps were heard. Again Frank counted
+moving figures to himself.
+
+"Twenty more," he muttered. "Where on earth did they all come from? By
+George! They certainly are taking a long chance marching around like this.
+Well, the more we can get the better."
+
+At the door of the cabin the Germans halted. Three of their number stepped
+forward and went inside. This was not at all in line with Frank's plans,
+and he realized now that the situation of young Cutlip, inside, was
+dangerous in the extreme. Something must be done to protect him.
+
+As the Germans went inside the house, the others, meanwhile, standing
+guard, Frank gave the signal agreed upon, a soft whistle, like the call of
+a bird of the night. The British began to move from their hiding places
+and to draw closer to the Germans, standing there in the open.
+
+"Well," Frank muttered to himself at last, "I guess the sooner we get busy
+the better."
+
+He sprang to his feet and leaped forward.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XX
+
+THE BATTLE
+
+
+Meanwhile, inside the cabin young Cutlip was facing the Germans cooly
+enough. He rose to his feet as the door opened and the first German stuck
+his head inside. The latter surveyed the interior rapidly, and seeing a
+single figure there, advanced quickly, gun in hand.
+
+"Oho! It's the boy," he said in clumsy English. "And where is your
+father?"
+
+"I don't know," answered the boy. "He went away."
+
+"But did he get the food?"
+
+Cutlip motioned to the sacks of provisions on the floor.
+
+"Good!" said the German, rubbing his hands.
+
+He returned his revolver to his belt and motioned his two companions to
+enter. They closed the door behind them.
+
+"You have told no one of our presence here?" asked the first German, as he
+stooped over to examine the sacks.
+
+"No."
+
+"How about your father?"
+
+"He has told no one, either."
+
+"It is well. For if you had, we would kill you now."
+
+Young Cutlip said nothing, but he knew by the hard look in the man's eyes
+that he told the truth. In spite of the fact that the boy knew he was in
+grave peril, he was perfectly cool.
+
+He sat down again as the Germans passed from sack to sack, examining the
+contents. At last the first man stood up and faced the boy.
+
+"Your father, by chance, didn't say anything about pay for this food, did
+he?" he asked.
+
+"No," returned Cutlip.
+
+The German grinned.
+
+"Guess he knew it wouldn't do much good," he said. "Well, men, let's roll
+this stuff outside."
+
+Again the men bent over the sacks.
+
+At that moment there came a shot from without, followed by a volley. On
+the instant young Cutlip leaped to his feet, rushed to the door, threw it
+open and dashed outside.
+
+There he was right in the midst of the Germans. But the latter were too
+busy and too surprised to pay any attention to him at that moment. They
+had wheeled at the first volley from the woods, and had turned their own
+weapons against the trees on three sides of the cabin.
+
+Two or three of their number had gone down at the first fire, and they
+were almost demoralized, so sudden and unexpected was the attack.
+Consequently, young Cutlip had time almost to get clear of the enemy. In
+fact, by quick dodging, he did get beyond them.
+
+Out the door now rushed the three Germans in the cabin, apparently in
+command of the men without. One issued harsh orders, and the Germans
+dropped to the ground, thus making much smaller targets.
+
+Frank, as he sprang forward from among the trees, saw young Cutlip throw
+open the door and dash out. Frank ran toward him despite the fact that he
+was charging the enemy almost single-handed. But he knew that the boy was
+in danger through no fault of the lad's own, and that he must be
+protected.
+
+"Here, Cutlip!" he called.
+
+The boy ran toward him.
+
+Frank, a revolver in each hand, stopped and awaited the lad's approach.
+
+Two Germans raised their rifles to shoot Cutlip down. Frank's eye caught
+the glint of the steel in the darkness. His revolvers spoke sharply twice,
+and Cutlip came on unharmed.
+
+A bullet sang past Frank's right ear, another grazed his left. More
+bullets began to sing by him. Cutlip stumbled forward, and sheathing one
+revolver, Frank caught him by the hand.
+
+"Run!" he cried.
+
+Cutlip needed no further urging. Together he and Frank sped for the
+shelter of the woods, which they reached safely and threw themselves on
+the ground as a rain of bullets passed overhead.
+
+"Close shave, son," said Frank.
+
+Young Cutlip was trembling, but he was not afraid.
+
+"Give me a gun," he cried. "I can pick off a few of 'em."
+
+But Frank shook his head.
+
+"You've done your part," he said. "Now you get away from here until we
+clean these fellows up."
+
+Frank circled among the trees until he came into the midst of his own men
+again. These were still peppering away at the enemy from among the trees
+and the Germans, lying on the ground, were returning the fire.
+
+"We're wasting too much time here," Frank told himself.
+
+He looked across to where Lieutenant Hetherton and his men were also
+blazing away at the foe.
+
+"Forward men!" cried Frank suddenly. "Charge!"
+
+The British tars under Frank's command went forward with a wild yell.
+Seeing their companions dashing across the open, the forces commanded by
+Lieutenant Hetherton and the sailor Hennessy also broke from the trees and
+charged.
+
+The Germans poured several sharp volleys into the attackers, then threw
+down their arms.
+
+"Kamerad! Kamerad!" came the cry.
+
+"Cease firing!" Frank shouted.
+
+Silence reigned after the noise of the battle.
+
+"Take charge of those men, Mr. Hetherton," said Frank quietly, "but be
+careful how you approach. I don't trust 'em. I'll keep 'em covered."
+
+Lieutenant Hetherton ordered his men to make prisoners of the Germans.
+
+There came a sudden interruption.
+
+The three Germans who had been in the cabin, as though by a prearranged
+plan, suddenly dashed back into the little building and flung to the door
+before they could be stopped.
+
+"Never mind," said Frank, "remove the others, Mr. Hetherton. We'll attend
+to the men inside later."
+
+From the window of the cabin there came a sharp crack. A bullet zipped by
+Frank's ear, but the lad did not flinch. He moved his position and saw the
+German prisoners marched to the rear.
+
+"Now," he said, "we'll have to get those fellows inside. First, however,
+we'll give them a chance."
+
+He raised his voice in a shout.
+
+"What do you want?" came the response from the cabin.
+
+"You are outnumbered ten to one," said Frank. "Come out and surrender. We
+don't want to kill you."
+
+"Come and take us," was the sneering response.
+
+"Don't be fools," called Frank. "We're sure to get you."
+
+"Well, I'll get you first," came a sharp cry.
+
+Frank stepped back and none too quickly, for a bullet passed through the
+space where his head had been a moment before.
+
+"If you must have it, all right," the lad muttered. He turned to his men.
+"I want ten volunteers to go with me," he said quietly.
+
+Every man stepped forward.
+
+Frank smiled.
+
+"Sorry I can't use you all, men," he said. "But ten will be enough.
+Gregory, step forward."
+
+A sailor a short distance away did so.
+
+"Now, Gregory," said Frank, "you pick nine more men and bring them here."
+
+This was the work of only a moment, and the men surrounded Frank. For a
+moment the lad surveyed the cabin. They were now out of the line of fire
+from the window on that side and consequently safe. It would be possible,
+Frank knew, to tire the Germans out, but he had no mind for such slow
+methods. He addressed his men.
+
+"Two of you," he said, "break in the door with your rifle butts. We'll
+cover you from either side."
+
+Two men stepped forward and the others stationed themselves on either side
+of the stout door. Frank called to Lieutenant Hetherton.
+
+"Guard all the windows," he shouted. "Don't let them get away."
+
+The door began to tremble under the blows of the two sailors. Directly
+there was a crash as it fell inward.
+
+Now, although this had been no part of Frank's plans, the minute the door
+crashed in, the two sailors reversed their rifles and sprang over the
+threshold.
+
+"Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack!"
+
+The rifles of the three Germans within and the two British sailors spoke
+almost as one. One of the tars crumpled up in the doorway, while one of
+the Germans also threw up his hands and slid to the floor.
+
+With wild shouts of anger, the other sailors surged forward and poured
+through the door in spite of German bullets, which now flew so fast that
+accurate aim was impossible.
+
+Frank dashed forward with the others. Down went the second German, leaving
+but one alive. Frank found himself face to face with the latter.
+
+"Stand back, men," he called.
+
+The sailors obeyed.
+
+In one hand the German gripped a revolver, but Frank held this arm with
+his left hand and straightened it high above the German's head. Thus the
+German was unable to bring his revolver to bear on the lad.
+
+Nevertheless, his left arm was still free, and he struck Frank a heavy
+blow in the stomach with his fist. The pain was severe and Frank loosened
+his hold on the man's revolver arm. With a cry of triumph, the German
+deliberately lowered his revolver.
+
+Frank, having dropped one of his revolvers, was in a bad way. True, a
+second was in his belt, but it did not appear that he had time to draw and
+fire before the German's finger pressed the trigger.
+
+But now came an action on the lad's part that proved his right to be
+called an expert with the revolver--an action that often had bewildered
+Jack and aroused his envy.
+
+So quickly that the eye could not follow the movement, Frank dropped his
+hand to his belt, whipped out his revolver, and without taking aim, fired.
+
+A fraction of a second later there was a second report, as the German,
+with Frank's bullet already in his shoulder, pressed the trigger, almost
+involuntarily. But ere he fired, Frank had dropped to the floor and the
+bullet passed harmlessly overhead.
+
+Frank rose quietly.
+
+"Bind him men," he said simply. "He's not badly hurt. He'll probably live
+to face the gallows. Where is young Cutlip? Has anyone seen the boy?"
+
+"Here he is, sir," answered the boy himself, and came forward. "And will
+you release my father now, sir?"
+
+"As soon as we return to the ship," replied Frank. "Come, men."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXI
+
+THE END OF THE SUBMARINE
+
+
+Frank now took account of his casualties. Five men had been killed and
+twenty more or less seriously wounded. As many more nursed slight
+injuries.
+
+The enemy's casualties, proportionately, had been more severe. Half of the
+original number were stretched on the ground. Hardly a man of the others
+but had been wounded.
+
+Frank had his dead made ready for transportation back to the Essex, and
+litters were improvised for the wounded who were unable to walk. The
+grounded Germans also were carried--that is, those of them who were so
+severely hurt they could not walk. Those who could walk were surrounded by
+the British and marched on ahead.
+
+The return trip was made without incident. The wounded were hurried aboard
+the ship where their injuries could be attended to. The unwounded
+prisoners were promptly locked up below with the other captives. Then
+Frank and Jack, accompanied by young Cutlip, went to Jack's cabin. The
+third officer held the bridge.
+
+Frank gave an account of the events of the night as briefly as possible.
+When he had concluded, Cutlip again asked:
+
+"Will you release my father now, sir?"
+
+"Certainly," said Jack. "You have borne yourself right bravely, and we
+have much to thank you for, as has your country. It is too bad that your
+father is not of a different stripe."
+
+The boy's face flushed.
+
+"He's a good father in many ways, sir," he said, "but he seems to be
+scared to death of the Germans, especially of their submarine boats."
+
+"We'll have him up here before we let him go," said Jack. "Mr. Hetherton,
+pass the word to have; Cutlip brought to my cabin."
+
+Lieutenant Hetherton left the cabin. He returned a few moments later
+accompanied by two sailors, who walked on either side of the older Cutlip.
+The man was still bound.
+
+"Remove his bonds," Jack instructed.
+
+Cutlip's hands were released, and he rubbed them together as he eyed the
+group in the cabin. His eyes rested on his son.
+
+"So!" he exclaimed, "I had an idea you were at the bottom of this."
+
+"But, father--" began the boy.
+
+"I'll attend to you later," said the father, "not that I'll have need to,
+probably, for the Germans will attend to both of us. What ails you,
+anyhow? Don't you know that the Germans eventually will be masters of the
+world? If we stand in with them, it may help."
+
+"The Germans will never be masters of the world," said Jack. "You are
+laboring under a delusion, Cutlip. Your son is a brave boy. Not only did
+he warn us of the presence of a German submarine off the coast, but he
+rendered such other assistance that the entire crew has been either killed
+or captured."
+
+Cutlip showed his surprise.
+
+"You can't mean it!" he exclaimed. "Why, how could you overcome them. They
+are supermen. Ever since the war started I have been reading about them.
+They are wonderful fighters--marvelous."
+
+"Your trouble, Cutlip," said Frank, "is that you have read too much about
+them. I know that the country has been flooded with German propaganda, but
+I'd no idea it had affected anyone like that."
+
+"But--" Cutlip began.
+
+Jack silenced him with a gesture.
+
+"You'll have to change all your ideas now, Cutlip," he said. "You see that
+the German is not a superman. We have beaten them. Besides, your country
+is at war with Germany. Only a traitor, or a coward, would refuse to help
+his country."
+
+Cutlip seemed a bit startled.
+
+"I guess that's true," he said at last. "Yes, I guess you're right."
+
+"You and your son had better remain aboard until morning," Jack continued.
+"We'll put you both ashore then."
+
+"Jack," said Frank at this point, "don't you think we should make an
+effort to destroy the submarine before we go?"
+
+"By George! We certainly should," declared Jack. "That had slipped my mind
+for the moment. We'll have one of the captured officers up and see if he
+will reveal its hiding place."
+
+One of the Germans--a petty officer--entered the cabin a moment later in
+response to Jack's summons. Jack explained briefly what he wanted.
+
+"Tell you? Of course I won't tell you," said the young officer. "Why
+should I? Do you think I am a traitor to my country, or a coward?"
+
+Jack shrugged.
+
+"I was just offering the opportunity," he said.
+
+The officer was removed and one of the men brought in. Jack quizzed him
+with no better results. One after another the unwounded men were
+questioned, but none would reveal the location of the submarine.
+
+"Looks like we would have to find it ourselves," said Jack at length.
+"There is no use questioning any of the others. They won't tell."
+
+Assistance came from an unexpected source.
+
+"Maybe I can help out a bit," said the elder Cutlip quietly.
+
+Jack, Frank and Lieutenant Hetherton looked at him in surprise.
+
+"You mean that you know and will tell?" asked Frank.
+
+"I do. You have made my duty plain to me. No longer am I afraid of the
+Germans."
+
+"How do you come to know this hiding place?" asked Jack.
+
+"I discovered it to-day by accident. I was standing some distance back on
+shore when I saw the vessel lying on the water."
+
+"How far from here?"
+
+"Just the other side of the reef."
+
+Jack whistled.
+
+"By Jove! We came awfully close," he said.
+
+"You did indeed," said Cutlip. "But for the reef you must have been
+discovered. Fortunately, it is very high."
+
+"I suppose the U-Boat is on the surface at this moment," Frank
+interjected.
+
+"Most likely," Hetherton agreed. "A small crew has probably been left on
+board, and they more than likely are awaiting the return of their
+comrades."
+
+"Strange they didn't hear the firing," said Frank.
+
+"Not at all," said Jack. "I heard none of it here."
+
+"The wind was blowing the wrong way," Hetherton explained.
+
+"That must be the answer," Frank admitted. "Well, Jack, what do you say?
+Shall we make an effort to get the boat to-night?" Jack hesitated.
+
+"We may as well," he said at last. "Of course it will have to be taken
+from the land, for we can't work the destroyer around the reef in the
+darkness. Even if we got around safely, we should be discovered."
+
+"Right," said Frank. "Then let's be moving. I take it, however, we will
+need boats to reach the submarine."
+
+"Our prisoners probably have left all the boats we need," Jack returned.
+
+"That's so," said Frank. "Funny I didn't think of that. Will you be our
+guide, Cutlip?"
+
+"Glad to be," was the reply. "I want to redeem myself in some way."
+
+"Let's be moving, then," said Frank, starting for the door.
+
+"Hold on," said Jack "We've got to take a force with us, you know. Mr.
+Hetherton, I'm going to leave you in command of the ship this time. I
+shall command the shore party."
+
+Lieutenant Hetherton's face fell, but all he said was:
+
+"Very well, sir."
+
+"In the meantime," said Jack, "pick fifty men and set them ashore. We'll
+be there directly."
+
+Lieutenant Hetherton saluted and left the cabin.
+
+Half an hour later Jack led his men around the reef. There, a scant
+hundred yards from shore, lay the submarine. The little party moved
+silently to the edge of the water, and as silently embarked in the half a
+dozen small boats they found there.
+
+"Push off!" Jack commanded in a whisper.
+
+Now young Cutlip had been left behind, but the father had elected to go
+with the men in the boats. So earnest was his plea that Jack did not have
+the heart to refuse him.
+
+A dim light showed on the bow of the submarine as the little flotilla
+approached; and then so suddenly that the night appeared to be lighted up
+by magic, a flare of white made the boats approaching the submarine as
+plain as day.
+
+The submarine's searchlight had been turned on them.
+
+"Down men," cried Jack.
+
+The men, or those of them who were not needed at the oars, dropped to the
+bottom of the boats. But the distance was so close that those on board
+were able to make out the fact that the boats approaching were not filled
+with their own men.
+
+"Americans!" was the cry that carried across the water. "Man the forward
+gun there!"
+
+"Fire, men!" cried Jack in a loud voice. "Sweep the deck with your rifles.
+Don't let 'em bring that gun to bear."
+
+There was a crash of rifles as Jack's command was obeyed. Nevertheless the
+Germans succeeded in training their rapid-firer, and it crashed out a
+moment later. A veritable hail of bullets flew over Jack's men.
+
+At a quick command from the lads, the boats drew farther apart, thus
+making the task of the enemy more difficult. Then they closed in on the
+submarine from both sides.
+
+Harsh German cries and imprecations were wafted to the ears of the British
+as the boats drew closer.
+
+"Submerge!" shouted a voice.
+
+"Quick, or we shall be too late," Jack roared.
+
+The men at the oars exerted themselves to further efforts. Then Jack
+caught another cry from the submarine.
+
+"We can't submerge. The tanks are still broken."
+
+"Good!" said Jack to himself. "Now I see what the trouble is. Faster," he
+cried to his men.
+
+"Quick," came a voice from the submarine, "we cannot let the ship fall
+into the hands of the accursed Yankees. The fuse, man."
+
+Jack understood this well enough. He raised his voice in a shout:
+
+"Cease rowing!"
+
+Frank's voice repeated the command and the little flotilla advanced no
+more.
+
+"Put about and make for shore," shouted Jack. "Quick."
+
+The order was obeyed without question, and it was well that it was. Hardly
+had the boats reached the shore when there was a terrific explosion, and
+the water kicked up an angry geyser.
+
+"And that," said Jack calmly, "is the end of the submarine. They've blown
+her up--and themselves with her!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXII
+
+WASHINGTON AGAIN
+
+
+Early the following morning the Essex slipped from her little harbor and
+put to sea. Cutlip and his son, who had been put ashore shortly before the
+departure, stood at the edge of the water and waved farewell. Following
+the father's conversion, he and his son seemed to be closer than before,
+and they went away happily together.
+
+Jack descended to the radio room.
+
+"Get the Dakota for me," he instructed the operator.
+
+"Dakota! Dakota!" flashed the wireless.
+
+Ten minutes later the answer came.
+
+"Destroyer Essex," flashed the operator again, following Jack's direction.
+"Submarine reported to me yesterday destroyed. Crew either killed or
+captured."
+
+"Fine work, Templeton," was the reply flashed back a few moments later.
+
+"I'm awaiting instructions," Jack flashed.
+
+"Proceed to Newport News," came the answer, "and report in person to
+Secretary of the Navy."
+
+"O.K." flashed the operator.
+
+Jack went to the bridge, where Frank was on watch.
+
+"Well, old fellow," said Jack, "I guess our present cruise is ended."
+
+"How's that?" asked Frank.
+
+"We're ordered back to Newport News, and I must report to Secretary
+Daniels."
+
+"And after that, England again, I suppose?"
+
+"I suppose so."
+
+"Too bad," said Frank, "I would like to have had time to go to New York
+and Boston to see my father. He could have met me at either place."
+
+"You'll see him when the war's over, I guess," said Jack, "and to my mind
+that will be before long now."
+
+"Think so?" asked Frank. "Why?"
+
+"Well, take for example the submarine raid off the American coast. It
+looks to me like the dying gasp of a conquered foe. They must be nearing
+the end of their rope to tackle such a problem."
+
+"And still they have had some success," said Frank.
+
+"True. But not much after all. What is the total tonnage destroyed in
+comparison with the tonnage still sailing the seas unharmed?"
+
+"There's something in that," Frank agreed. "But I can't say that I'm of
+your opinion."
+
+"Personally," declared Jack, "I believe that the war will be over before
+Christmas."
+
+"I hope so. But I can't be as optimistic as you are."
+
+The run to Newport News was made without incident and the Essex dropped
+anchor close to the spot where she had been stationed before.
+
+She was greeted with wild cheers, for news of her success had preceded her
+to the little Virginia city. Jack and his officers and men were hailed
+with acclaim when they went ashore.
+
+"Want to go to Washington with me, Frank?" asked Jack.
+
+"That's a foolish question," was Frank's reply. "Of course I want to go."
+
+"All right. Then we'll catch the ten o'clock train this morning. That will
+put us in the capital some time before five."
+
+"Suits me," declared Frank.
+
+This program was carried out. Arrived again in the capital of the nation,
+the lads went straight to the Raleigh hotel, where they got in touch with
+the British ambassador.
+
+"I've been hearing good reports about you, Captain," said the ambassador's
+voice over the telephone.
+
+"We were a bit lucky, sir, that is all," replied Jack deprecatingly.
+
+"Nevertheless," said the ambassador, "Secretary Daniels wishes to thank
+you in person, as does the President. I shall call for you within the
+hour."
+
+"Very well, sir."
+
+Jack hung up the 'phone.
+
+The ambassador was as good as his word. He arrived less than an hour later
+and the lads accompanied him to the Navy Department, where they were
+ushered into the presence of the Secretary of the Navy at once.
+
+Secretary Daniels shook hands with both of the lads.
+
+"You deserve the thanks of the whole nation for your gallant work," he
+said. "I am instructed to take you to the President."
+
+Jack and Frank flushed with pleasure, but there was nothing either could
+say. From the Navy Department, the lads were escorted to the White House
+immediately across the street, where President Wilson was found in his
+office. The President was reached with little ceremony, and Secretary
+Daniels himself made the introduction.
+
+"So," said the President, "these are the young officers who commanded the
+British destroyer Essex, which accounted for two of the enemy's
+submarines? They look rather young for such important posts." He gazed
+closely at Frank. "Surely," he said finally, "surely you are an American."
+
+"Yes, sir," said Frank. "Born in Massachusetts, sir."
+
+"Chadwick," mused the President. "Not, by any chance, related to Dr.
+Chadwick, of Woburn."
+
+"He is my father, sir."
+
+The President seemed surprised.
+
+"But I didn't know my old friend Chadwick had a son of your age," he said.
+
+"Well, he has, sir," replied Frank with a smile.
+
+"But how do you happen to be in the British service?"
+
+Frank explained briefly.
+
+"You have certainly seen excitement," said the President. "I am glad to
+have seen you. Give my regards to your father when you see him. I am glad
+to have met you, too, Captain," and the President shook hands with Jack.
+"I hope to have the pleasure of meeting you both again some day."
+
+The lads understood by this that the interview was ended. They followed
+Secretary Daniels and the British ambassador back to the former's office,
+where the latter handed Jack a paper.
+
+"Cable from the British Admiral, I judge," he said.
+
+Jack read the message.
+
+"You are right, sir," he said. "We are ordered to home waters whenever you
+are through with us, sir."
+
+"I judged as much," said the Secretary, "which is the reason I had Admiral
+Sellings order you to report to me. You are at liberty to return whenever
+you please, sir. But first let me thank you for your services in the name
+of the American people."
+
+"Thank you, sir," said Jack, and saluted stiffly.
+
+The lads now took their leave. The ambassador insisted on their going home
+with him to dinner.
+
+"But we should get back to our ship at once, sir," Jack demurred.
+
+"Never mind," said the ambassador, "I'll take the responsibility of
+holding you over an extra day."
+
+So Jack and Frank dined with the ambassador, and took a late train to
+Richmond, where they changed early in the morning for Newport News. When
+they boarded the Essex later in the day they found in Jack's cabin the
+commandant of Fortress Monroe, who, having learned that the Essex would
+soon depart for home, had come to pay his respects while he yet had time.
+
+"I want to tell you," he said to Jack, "that the Essex has made quite a
+name for herself among my men."
+
+"I'm glad to hear that, sir," declared Jack.
+
+"The men are only sorry, and naturally," continued the commandant, "that
+she was not manned by an American crew."
+
+"Naturally, as you say, sir," Jack agreed. "Yet my first officer is an
+American."
+
+The Commandant glanced at Frank.
+
+"Can that be true?" he asked.
+
+Frank smiled.
+
+"It's true enough, sir," he said. "Yes, I'm a native of the Bay state and
+am in the British service merely as the result of an accident."
+
+He explained.
+
+"Well," said the Commandant, 'I'm glad of it. I'll have something to tell
+my officers and men that will make them proud. I hope that the next time
+either of you find yourselves in these parts you will look me up."
+
+"Thank you, sir. We certainly shall," said Jack.
+
+The Commandant took his departure.
+
+"And now," said Jack, "for England."
+
+First, Jack made a personal tour of inspection of the destroyer. Finding
+everything ship-shape, the crew was piped to quarters and Jack rang for
+half speed ahead.
+
+A crowd had gathered at the water's edge and the Essex was speeded on her
+way by cheering and waving thousands. It was a touching scene, and Jack
+was very proud.
+
+"A great country," he confided to Frank, as the vessel moved slowly out
+into the Roads. "A great country. I am glad to have seen it again, and I
+hope to come back some day."
+
+"Oh, you'll come back," said Frank. "You'll come back when the war's over,
+to visit me."
+
+"I certainly will," Jack declared.
+
+The fortifications of Fortress Monroe now loomed ahead.
+
+"I suppose the Commandant is somewhere about to wish us God-speed," Frank
+remarked.
+
+The lad was right. And he did it in imposing manner.
+
+The boom of a great gun was heard. This was followed by the roar of many
+more; and the rumble continued as the Essex drew near, was louder as she
+breasted the fort and continued as the ship passed on. Jack ordered a
+reply to the salute from the forward guns, and for the space of several
+minutes, the very sea seemed to tremble.
+
+Then the Essex gathered speed and plowed ahead.
+
+"Quite an ovation," said Frank, as he and Jack descended to the latter's
+cabin, leaving Lieutenant Hetherton on the bridge.
+
+"It was, indeed. Yes, as I said before, it's a great country. You should
+be proud to be a native of it."
+
+"I am," said Frank simply.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIII
+
+BACK IN ENGLAND
+
+
+Following the return of the Essex to English waters, Jack reported at once
+to Lord Hastings in Dover.
+
+"I hear great things of you boys," said Lord Hastings. "Great things
+indeed."
+
+"We were a bit fortunate, sir," Jack admitted.
+
+"It was more than good fortune," declared Lord Hastings. "But it's nothing
+more than I expected of you both."
+
+They conversed about various matters for some minutes. Then Jack asked:
+
+"And what is in store for us now, sir?"
+
+"You will report to Admiral Beatty," said Lord Hastings. "The Essex will
+be assigned to duty with the Grand Fleet in the North Sea. Patrol work,
+mostly. There is little likelihood that the Germans will make another
+effort, but the sea must be patrolled, nevertheless."
+
+"When do we report, sir?"
+
+"At once. You will weigh anchor in the morning. Admiral Beatty's flagship
+is somewhere off the coast of Belgium."
+
+"Very well, sir," said Jack, and departed.
+
+The next day the Essex left Dover. Fifty miles out, Jack picked up the
+flagship by wireless and received his instructions.
+
+Days lengthened into weeks now and weeks into months and the Essex was
+still patrolling the North Sea with others of the Grand Fleet--composed
+besides British vessels of an American squadron in command of Vice-Admiral
+Sims. August passed and September came and still the Germans failed to
+venture from their fortress of Helgoland and offer battle to the allies.
+
+The work became monotonous. Occasionally, the Essex put back to port for
+several days to replenish her bunkers and to take on provisions. At such
+times Jack and Frank usually went ashore for short periods, and the crew,
+portions at a time, were granted shore leave.
+
+It was upon the last day of September that great news reached the
+fleet--news that indicated that the war was nearing its end and that now,
+if ever, the German fleet might venture from its hiding place and risk an
+engagement.
+
+Bulgaria had broken with Germany and sued for a separate peace.
+
+Several days later came the news that an armistice had been signed and
+that Bulgaria had ordered all German and Austrian troops to leave her
+boundaries. King Ferdinand abdicated in favor of his eldest son, Boris,
+who immediately ordered the demobilization of the Bulgarian armies.
+
+"Turkey will come next, mark my words," declared Frank as he and Jack
+stood on the bridge, looking off across the broad expanse of the North
+Sea.
+
+"Most likely," Jack agreed; "and after Turkey, Austria. That will leave
+Germany to fight the world by herself."
+
+"She'll never attempt that," Frank declared. "The minute she sees her last
+chance gone, she'll squeal for help, the same as a hog. It's not in a
+German to take a licking, you know. He begins to show, yellow when the
+game goes against him."
+
+"Perfectly true," said Jack, with a nod. "Now, it strikes me that Germany,
+facing the problem of fighting it out alone--for she must see that
+Bulgaria's action will soon be followed by her other allies--may send out
+her fleet for a grand blow."
+
+Frank shook his head.
+
+"Not a chance," he said.
+
+"But," said Jack, "it has been the opinion of war critics and experts
+right along that Germany was saving her fleet for the final effort when
+all other means had failed."
+
+"I don't care what the experts think," declared Frank, "I don't think the
+Germans will dare risk an engagement. In the first place, it would be
+suicidal--she would have everything to lose and nothing to gain. Don't
+fret. The German naval authorities know just as well as we do what would
+happen to the German fleet should it issue from Helgoland."
+
+"Maybe you're right," said Jack, "but in the enemy's place, I wouldn't
+give up without a final effort."
+
+"That's just it," Frank explained. "You wouldn't, and neither would I.
+Neither, for that matter, would any British or American officer, nor
+French. But the German is of different caliber. He doesn't fight half as
+well when he knows the odds are against him. No, I believe that the German
+fleet will be virtually intact when the war ends."
+
+"Then we'll take it away from them," declared Jack.
+
+"I'm sure I hope so. It would be dangerous to the future peace of the
+world to allow the Germans to keep their vessels."
+
+"Well," said Jack, "you can talk all you please, but you can't convince me
+our work is over--not until peace has been declared--or an armistice
+signed, or something."
+
+"I agree with you there. There will be plenty of work for us right up to
+the last minute."
+
+As it developed the lads were right.
+
+"It was shortly after midnight when Jack was aroused by the third officer.
+
+"Message from Admiral Beatty, sir," said the third officer, and passed
+Jack a slip of paper.
+
+Jack read the message, which had been hastily scribbled off by the radio
+operator.
+
+"German squadron of six vessels reported to have left Helgoland and to be
+headed for the coast of Scotland," the message read. "Proceed to intercept
+them at full speed. Other vessels being notified."
+
+Jack sprang into his clothes, meanwhile having Frank summoned from his
+cabin. Frank dashed into Jack's cabin, clothes in hand.
+
+"What's up?" he demanded.
+
+"Germans headed for the Scottish coast," replied Jack briefly, and dashed
+out of the door.
+
+Frank followed him a few moments later. Jack was standing on the bridge
+giving orders hastily.
+
+"Have a look at the engine room, Frank," said Jack, "and tell the engineer
+to crowd on all possible steam. We'll have need of speed this trip, or I
+miss my guess."
+
+Frank obeyed.
+
+The Essex, which had been proceeding east by south at a leisurely pace,
+had come about now and was dashing due north at top speed. Jack himself
+shaped the course and gave the necessary instructions to the helmsman.
+
+Below in the radio room, the wireless began to clatter. The operator, from
+time to time, was getting into touch with other vessels of the Grand Fleet
+ordered north to intercept the German raiders.
+
+First he received a flash from the Lion; then the Brewster replied, and
+after her, the Tiger, Southampton, Falcon, White Hawk and Peerless.
+Counting the Essex this made eight ships speeding northward to intercept
+the enemy.
+
+"I take it," said Jack, "that this is about the last blow the enemy will
+attempt to deliver. The Germans, knowing they are beaten, are intent now
+only upon doing what damage they can while there is yet time. This raid, I
+suppose, they figure will throw a scare into the coast cities, as similar
+raids did earlier in the war. However, they'll have a surprise this time,
+for all the coast ports are fortified now. There will be guns there to
+stand them off until we get there."
+
+"Let's hope we get there in time," muttered Frank. "I'd like one more
+crack at the enemy. I'm afraid they are going to get off too easily when
+peace comes."
+
+"We've got to get there in time," declared Jack.
+
+From time to time the radio operator sent reports to Jack giving the
+positions of other vessels rushing to the defense of the coast ports.
+
+"We'll get there first, at this rate," said Jack. "We're closer than the
+others."
+
+"But we're no match for the enemy single-handed," declared Frank. "Chances
+are that the German squadron is composed mostly of battleships."
+
+"True enough," Jack admitted, "but we'll do what damage we can. The
+Tiger, Lion, White Hawk, Falcon and Peerless are warships, you know.
+They'll be more than enough for the foe."
+
+"Yes; but we may be at the bottom of the sea by that time."
+
+"Don't worry. We'll hold our own until assistance arrives."
+
+Jack made a rapid calculation.
+
+"If we had any idea of the approximate position of the enemy at this time,
+we would know better how to go about our work," he said.
+
+"You might call the enemy and find out?" said Frank with a grin.
+
+"Don't be funny, Frank," said Jack severely. "This is no time for levity."
+
+Came a cry from the lookout.
+
+"Battle squadron off the port bow, sir!"
+
+Jack clapped his glass to his eye.
+
+The ships were too far distant and the night was too dark, however, to
+permit him to ascertain the identity of the approaching vessels.
+
+"May be the enemy, Jack," said Frank.
+
+"Right," Jack agreed.
+
+A shrill whistle rang out on the Essex.
+
+This was the answer to Jack's order to pipe the crew to quarters.
+
+"Clear ship for action!" was Jack's next command.
+
+"If it is the enemy," he confided to Frank, "we'll try and keep him
+engaged until reinforcements arrive."
+
+"It may not be so hard, after all," Frank said "They may turn and beat a
+retreat when they find they are discovered."
+
+"Not if there is only one of us," said Jack. "Pass the word to the forward
+lookout to sing out as soon as he can identify the enemy. I'll flash my
+light on them. He may be able to make them out."
+
+The huge searchlight of the Essex flashed forth across the water, and
+played upon the approaching ships.
+
+"Germans!" came the cry from the lookout.
+
+"I thought so," said Jack. "Frank, go to the radio room and find out how
+close our nearest support is."
+
+Frank was back in a few minutes.
+
+"Lion says to engage," he reported. "Says she'll be with us in less than
+an hour. Tiger says she will arrive not more than fifteen minutes later.
+Falcon and Hawk report they are less than an hour and a half away."
+
+"Right," said Jack. "Trouble is those fellows are likely to out-range us,
+in which event we'll have to retire slowly, trying to draw them after us.
+In that way reinforcements may arrive sooner. Hello! There she goes!"
+
+The roar of a great gun came across the water.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIV
+
+THE ENGAGEMENT
+
+
+"If we retire," said Jack, "we will leave the way open to the coast. At
+this minute we are in their way."
+
+"But if we try to stick it out here we'll be sunk," said Frank. "And if we
+retire toward the coast, we'll be moving away from our supports."
+
+"True enough," Jack agreed. "There's only one thing to do. That is to
+retire as slowly as possible and try to entice all six ships after us. But
+I'd much rather wade right in."
+
+"Same here. But discretion is the better part of valor, you know."
+
+"Boom!"
+
+Again a gun spoke aboard one of the enemy.
+
+"We're still out of range," said Jack. "Let 'em come a little closer."
+
+As Jack could now see, all six ships had altered their course slightly and
+were heading directly for the Essex.
+
+"You may come about, Mr. Chadwick," said Jack.
+
+Slowly the Essex swung about.
+
+"Train your left guns on the enemy," Jack ordered.
+
+This was done.
+
+"Range finders!"
+
+"Still out of range, sir," was the report.
+
+"All right But let me know the minute we can strike."
+
+"Aye, aye, sir."
+
+"Half speed ahead, Mr. Chadwick."
+
+"Aye, aye, sir."
+
+Frank signalled the engine room.
+
+"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
+
+Guns spoke simultaneously aboard three of the enemy ships.
+
+"Still beyond range."
+
+It was Lieutenant Hetherton who spoke.
+
+"Trouble is," said Frank, "that they will be within range before we are."
+
+"We'll risk it," said Jack. "It's up to us to keep them busy until the
+warships arrive."
+
+The next fire from the enemy resulted in a screaming shell to port.
+
+"They've got the range, sir," said Frank.
+
+"Make it two-thirds speed ahead."
+
+The speed of the Essex increased.
+
+But the German vessels were bearing down on her swiftly, and eventually
+Jack was forced to call for full speed ahead.
+
+But still the German warships gained.
+
+"They've the heels of us, too," muttered Jack. "Well, we'll slow down a
+bit and trust to luck. We can't do any damage unless we get within
+range."
+
+The Essex slowed suddenly to half speed.
+
+The German fleet dashed ahead, now in single formation. This was fortunate
+for the Essex, for it meant that the guns of only one ship could be
+brought to bear on the British destroyer at one time.
+
+"Range, sir!" cried the range finder at this point.
+
+"Then fire!" shouted Jack to the aft turret battery captain.
+
+The battery spoke sharply, and the men gave a cheer of delight.
+
+The first shell went home. It cleared the bow of the first German vessel
+apparently by the fraction of an inch and smashed squarely into the
+bridge. The crash of the shell striking home was followed almost instantly
+by an explosion. Timber and steel, intermingled with human bodies, flew
+high in the air. This much those aboard the Essex could see by the flare
+of the searchlight.
+
+"A good shot, men!" cried Jack. "An excellent shot!"
+
+An excellent shot it was indeed.
+
+Something appeared to have gone wrong with the steering apparatus of the
+first German ship. She veered slightly to port.
+
+The target thus presented was an excellent one.
+
+"Fire!" cried Jack again.
+
+The aft battery crashed out and once more the British cheered.
+
+Two shells plowed into the crippled German just on the water line.
+
+"A death wound," muttered Frank.
+
+The lad was right.
+
+The German vessel staggered under the force of the impact and seemed to
+reel backward. Men leaped to the rails and hurled themselves into the sea.
+
+Suddenly there was a loud explosion and the ship seemed to split in two, a
+blaze of red fire stretching high into the heavens from the middle of the
+vessel as it did so. Then blackness enveloped it again and the two parts
+of the ship fell back into the water with a hiss like that of a thousand
+serpents. The first German ship was gone.
+
+It was first blood to the Essex and the crew cheered again.
+
+But the other five German vessels came on apace. The gun on the forward
+ship spoke, but the shell went wild.
+
+"If they'll keep that formation, we might get away with the whole bunch of
+them," said Frank.
+
+"Yes, but they won't," replied Jack.
+
+He was a good prophet.
+
+Even now, the German vessels began to spread out, and within ten minutes
+had formed a semi-circle. It was possible now for the forward guns on each
+ship to rake the Essex without interfering with each other's fire.
+
+"Train your guns on the ship farthest to port," Jack instructed.
+
+The order was obeyed. Again came the order for range finders, and the
+report that the range was O.K.
+
+"Fire!" cried Jack.
+
+Once more fortune was with the crew of the Essex. The range had been
+absolutely accurate, and the heavy shell from the Essex carried away the
+superstructure of the German. At the same moment came a cry from the
+lookout aft:
+
+"Warship coming up astern, sir!"
+
+Quickly Jack looked around.
+
+"The first of our reinforcements," he said quietly.
+
+He gave his attention again to the enemy, who was drawing uncomfortably
+close.
+
+"Crash!"
+
+Jack whirled sharply.
+
+A shell had struck the Essex just above the water line on the port side.
+
+"Go below and report, Mr. Chadwick!" Jack ordered.
+
+Frank hurried away in response to this command. He sought the engine room.
+
+"What's the damage, chief?" he asked.
+
+"Slight," was the reply. "Shell passed clear through us, but cleared the
+boilers. Better round up the carpenter, though, sir."
+
+Frank hurried back to the bridge and reported the extent of the damage.
+Then he sent a midshipman for the ship's carpenter.
+
+"Crash! Bang!"
+
+Another shell had struck the Essex, this time in the aft gun turret.
+
+"Report, Mr. Chadwick," said Jack briefly.
+
+Frank hurried to the turret.
+
+"What's the damage, Captain?" he asked of the chief of the gun crew.
+
+"One gun smashed, sir," was the reply. "Three of the crew killed and five
+injured."
+
+"Other guns still working?"
+
+"Can't you hear 'em, sir?"
+
+Frank smiled in spite of himself and cast a quick glance around.
+
+In spite of the death that had overtaken their comrades, the surviving gun
+crews in the turret were working like Trojans. The big guns continued to
+spit defiance at the enemy.
+
+Now and then a cheer rose on the Essex as a shot went home.
+
+Frank again returned to the bridge to report.
+
+"Boom!"
+
+It was a deeper voice that spoke this time.
+
+The radio operator himself rushed to the bridge.
+
+"Lion firing, sir," he said. "Says she has sighted us and for us to
+retire. No need of sacrificing ourselves Captain Jacobs says. The enemy
+can't get away."
+
+At the same moment the lookout aft sang out again.
+
+"Warship coming up astern, sir!"
+
+"The second of our reinforcements," said Jack quietly. "I'll bet these
+fellows wish they had stayed home."
+
+"I'm betting the same way," declared Frank.
+
+"Well, it's getting too hot here," said Jack. "We'll get back and let the
+big fellows get in the game."
+
+"Good idea, sir," said Lieutenant Hetherton.
+
+"Full speed ahead!" Jack ordered.
+
+At the sound of the great gun on the British warship Lion, the German
+admiral in command of the flotilla ordered his ships to slow down. Until
+that moment he had not been appraised of the fact that the German raid was
+known to the British fleet. He supposed, upon seeing the Essex, that he
+had encountered a single vessel which just happened to be in that part of
+the sea, but when the Lion came into the fight he began to have his
+doubts.
+
+As yet, however, there was no other vessel in sight, and as the Germans
+heavily outnumbered the British, the admiral decided to continue the
+engagement.
+
+"I suppose this fellow happened to hear the firing and came to
+investigate," muttered the German admiral. "Our raid can hardly have been
+discovered yet."
+
+Accordingly he gave the word to advance again.
+
+And a moment later he was sorry that he had done so.
+
+Far astern of the Lion, and yet not so far that the German admiral could
+not have seen her but for the darkness, came two other long gray shapes;
+and from farther east, and closer, appeared a third.
+
+The German admiral gritted his teeth.
+
+"Confound these English!" he exclaimed. "Can nobody beat them?"
+
+For a moment he debated with himself. He had half a mind to continue the
+struggle, for the odds were still, with the Germans. Then he changed his
+mind.
+
+The wireless aboard the German flagship flashed a signal to retire.
+
+But the German admiral had delayed too long for a successful retreat.
+Other British ships hove into view--seven of them. There was nothing for
+the German fleet to do but fight it out. The admiral gave the order:
+
+"Advance!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXV
+
+THE LAST SEA BATTLE
+
+
+The cannonading became terrific.
+
+Now that assistance arrived, Jack ordered the Essex, which still was the
+nearest British vessel to the enemy, back into the fray.
+
+"The big fellows will look out for us," he confided to Frank.
+
+The revolving turrets of the Essex were kept on the move and guns crashed
+as fast as they could be brought to bear. Shells struck on all sides of
+the destroyer and occasionally one came aboard. But thanks to Jack's
+maneuvering of the vessel, so far she had not been struck in a vital part.
+
+The main British fleet bore down on the enemy from two sides, and to
+protect themselves against these new foes, the Germans were forced to turn
+their attention elsewhere than the Essex. Already big shells from the
+British warships were striking aboard the enemy. The range had been found
+almost with the first fire from the approaching war vessels and the
+Germans were replying as fast as they were able.
+
+The fighting was at such close range now that Jack was able to distinguish
+the names of the German battleships. In the center, flying the flag of
+Admiral Krauss, was the Bismarck. On the right of the flagship were the
+Hamburg and the Potsdam, while on the left the flagship was flanked by the
+Baden and the Wilhelm II.
+
+The fire of all five German vessels, at order of the admiral, was now
+directed upon the Lion, which bore down swiftly and was perhaps a quarter
+of a mile closer to the enemy than any other British craft except the
+destroyer Essex, commanded by Jack.
+
+The forward guns of the Lion roared angrily and spat fire in the darkness
+as she bore down on the Germans at full speed. As yet no enemy shell had
+struck the Lion, but she had put several shells aboard the nearest German
+battleship--the Baden.
+
+Now that the German fire had been momentarily lifted from the Essex, Jack
+ordered his ship in closer; and a veritable hail of shells were dropped on
+the Potsdam. For a moment or so the Germans paid no attention to the
+destroyer, but the fire from Jack's men became so accurate that the
+captain of the German ship found it necessary to disregard the admiral's
+orders and turn his attention to the Essex in self-defense.
+
+The first shell from the Potsdam flew screaming over the bridge of the
+destroyer, but did no damage. The second was aimed better. It struck the
+bow of the destroyer on the port side and plowed through. The destroyer
+quivered through her entire length.
+
+"Go below and report, Mr. Chadwick," Jack commanded.
+
+Upon investigation, Frank learned that the shell had plowed through the
+forward bulkheads and that the outside compartments were awash. But the
+inner compartments had not been penetrated. He rounded up the ship's
+carpenter, who announced that the damage could be repaired in half an
+hour. There had been no casualties.
+
+Jack accepted Frank's report with a brief nod; then gave his attention
+again to fighting his ship.
+
+Forward and to the right of the Essex there sounded a terrific explosion,
+followed by a blinding glare. The Baden, one of the largest of the German
+warships, sprang into a mighty sheet of flame. A shell from the Lion had
+penetrated the engine room and exploded her boilers. Came wild cries from
+aboard the vessel and escaping steam and boiling water poured on the crew
+and scalded them.
+
+With the searchlights of the British ships playing on her, the Baden
+reared high out of the water, and as men jumped into the sea for safety,
+she settled by the head, and sank.
+
+This left only four of the enemy to continue the struggle and opposed to
+these the British offered eight unwounded vessels. Admiral Krauss gazed in
+every direction, seeking a possible avenue of escape. And at last he
+believed he saw it.
+
+To the east--back in the direction from which he had come--the space
+between the British battleships Peerless and Falcon seemed to offer a
+chance. The German admiral calculated rapidly. To the eye it appeared that
+the German ships could pass through that opening before the British could
+close in.
+
+The wireless aboard the German flagship sputtered excitedly. Instantly the
+four remaining German ships turned and dashed after the flagship, which
+was showing the way.
+
+Instantly the commander of every British ship realized the purpose of the
+enemy. Even the distant Falcon and Peerless seemed to know what was
+expected of them. Their speed increased and they dashed forward in an
+effort to intercept the enemy.
+
+It was nip and tuck. The Lion was the first to dash in pursuit, followed
+by the Tiger and the White Hawk. The Brewster and Southampton, closely
+followed by the more or less crippled Essex, brought up the rear, each
+doing its utmost to pass the other in order to get another chance at the
+enemy.
+
+Slowly the Lion, the Tiger and the White Hawk gained on the enemy; and it
+became apparent now that the Germans would be unable to get through the
+space between the Peerless and Falcon without a fight.
+
+Aboard the Bismarck, the German admiral gritted his teeth.
+
+"It will have to be fight now," he muttered, "and the odds are all against
+me."
+
+The Falcon and the Peerless, from either side and forward of the Germans,
+now opened with their big guns almost simultaneously. Every available gun
+aboard the German vessels replied. From astern, the guns of the Lion were
+pounding the sterns of the fleeing enemy battleships. The Brewster and the
+Southampton, together with the Tiger and the White Hawk, also were hurling
+shells after the Germans, although with little effect, for they were
+trailing too far behind.
+
+Jack urged the Essex forward in the wake of the others. He was far behind
+and was rapidly being outdistanced by the larger ships, but he determined
+to see the thing through if possible.
+
+The last German ship in line, struck by a shell from the pursuing Lion,
+staggered and fell to one side. The Lion darted on, pouring a broadside
+into the crippled enemy as she passed, then dashed after the vessels
+ahead.
+
+The Tiger, White Hawk, Brewster and Southampton, also poured broadsides
+into the Wilhelm II as they passed, but they did not even slacken their
+pace.
+
+But the Wilhelm II apparently had not received her death blow. Her crew
+continued to fight the ship heroically, and as the Essex approached she
+was greeted with a heavy fire from the German.
+
+"The big fellows don't seem to have made a very good job of this," said
+Jack to Frank. "We'll finish it for them."
+
+The Essex slowed down and turned sharply toward the Wilhelm II. Her guns
+still in condition to fight burst forth anew. The British showed
+excellent marksmanship. Shell after shell was poured into the crippled
+foe. Jack ordered "cease firing."
+
+Taking a megaphone that lay nearby, he put it to his mouth and called:
+
+"Surrender!"
+
+His answer was a shell that came crashing aboard aft from one of the
+Wilhelm II's big guns. Jack turned quietly to Frank.
+
+"Sink her!" he said.
+
+Frank dashed across the deck to where the crew of the forward gun turret
+was anxiously awaiting some command. He addressed the captain of the crew.
+
+"See if you can put a shell into her engine room," he said. "Take your
+time."
+
+The latter did so; and it was several seconds before the big gun spoke,
+but when it did Frank uttered an exclamation of satisfaction.
+
+The shell had gone true. Watching eyes aboard the Essex saw it plow its
+way through the side of the Wilhelm II. Then came the explosion and the
+Wilhelm II seemed to part in the middle. She sank in less than five
+minutes.
+
+Meanwhile, the Peerless and Falcon had headed off the other three German
+ships, which, forced to fight, now stood at bay, with every gun pounding.
+The Lion, Tiger and the other vessels bore down on them rapidly from
+astern.
+
+For the space of half an hour the view of those aboard the Essex was
+obscured by the smoke from the big guns, which could not be penetrated
+even by the bright lights of the searchlights. They could hear the boom of
+the big guns, the crash of the shells as they struck home and occasional
+sharp explosions that told of irrepairable damage aboard the enemy
+vessels, but they could see nothing.
+
+"This will be the last of the enemy," was Frank's comment.
+
+Jack nodded.
+
+"I should think so," he agreed. "If they let one of those fellows get away
+now they should be court-martialed."
+
+"Don't fret," said Frank, "they won't get away."
+
+They didn't get away.
+
+Firing ceased just as the first streak of light appeared in the eastern
+sky, and when the smoke of battle cleared away, Jack and Frank saw that
+the British victory had been complete.
+
+Only two German ships were still above water. These were the Bismarck,
+flagship of Admiral Krauss, and the Hamburg. The others had all been sunk.
+
+The Hamburg, the lads could see, was slowly sinking by the head. She was
+being abandoned by her crew, who, in small boats, some even swimming, were
+hurrying to the side of the Bismarck, where they were lifted aboard.
+
+"Why didn't they sink her, too?" demanded Frank pointing to the German
+flagship.
+
+"Why?" repeated Jack. "Why should they? Can't you see that white flag
+flying at the masthead?"
+
+"By George! I hadn't noticed that."
+
+"And there," said Jack, pointing, "goes a prize crew from the Lion to take
+over the vessel."
+
+A launch loaded with British tars had put off from the Lion and was making
+toward the German flagship.
+
+Admiral Krauss and his officers and men were soon transferred to the Lion
+and a British crew was in possession of the Bismarck.
+
+Thus ended the last sea battle of the great war. In all the times that
+Germany had tested the naval power of Great Britain and her allies, she
+had found it great--too much for German naval tactics to overcome. And now
+that the great war was drawing to an end, she did not test it again.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVI
+
+THE END APPROACHES
+
+
+With the coming of November, it became apparent to every officer and man
+in the Grand Fleet--as well as the rest of the world--that the beginning
+of the end was at hand--that the German war machine was disintegrating and
+was about to break.
+
+This was strengthened by the announcement on November 2 that the preceding
+day England, France and Italy had concluded an armistice with Turkey, thus
+depriving Germany of her second ally. This left only Germany and Austria
+to continue the struggle, and upon the same day that the armistice with
+Turkey was announced came word that Austria also had made overtures for
+peace.
+
+"You can take it from me," said Jack, as the destroyer Essex continued her
+patrol of the North Sea, "that this war is about to end. I'm willing to
+bet that Germany will sue for peace within a couple of weeks."
+
+Frank expressed his doubts.
+
+"She's likely to continue the struggle for some time yet," he said.
+
+"But that would be foolish," declared Jack. "She can hope to gain nothing
+thereby."
+
+"Perhaps not. But if Germany sues for peace now there is likely to be such
+an internal upheaval in the Empire that the French revolution will look
+like a house party."
+
+"Maybe you're right, but I stick to my opinion nevertheless."
+
+Events proved that Jack was right.
+
+On the morning of November 5, word reached the Grand Fleet that an
+armistice had been concluded with Austria the day before.
+
+"As I expected," said Jack. "What did I tell you, Frank?"
+
+"Well, I anticipated that myself," said Frank. "But Germany hasn't asked
+for peace yet, you know."
+
+"True, but I can tell you something you don't know. I just got word this
+morning."
+
+"What's that?"
+
+"Why Germany, through Chancellor Ebert, already is in negotiations with
+President Wilson."
+
+"What?"
+
+"Exactly. President Wilson has replied that he will stick to his original
+principles of peace, announced some time ago. Germany is requested to
+announce whether she will accept such terms."
+
+"But it seems to me," said Frank, "that if Germany wants peace she should
+be made to ask it on the field of battle."
+
+And that is exactly what happened, for when the armistice negotiations
+were finally begun it was at a conference between Marshal Foch,
+commander-in-chief of all the allied forces, and a commission of German
+officers.
+
+It was on November 8, that news of the armistice conference was flashed to
+the Grand Fleet.
+
+"Armistice commission will meet November 10 at Hirson, France," read the
+message, flashed to every vessel in the fleet.
+
+All that day and the next, every man in the fleet waited anxiously for
+further word of the approaching armistice conference. None came. Neither
+had any word been received on the evening of November 10.
+
+"Must have been a hitch some place," said Frank, as they sat in the
+latter's cabin that night.
+
+"Not necessarily," replied Jack, "You know these things take time. A
+matter like this can't be fixed up in an hour, or a day."
+
+"Well," said Frank, "I'd like to know what terms Marshal Foch will impose
+on the foe."
+
+"They'll be stringent enough, don't you worry," said Jack. "He'll impose
+terms harsh enough to make sure that Germany doesn't renew the struggle
+while final peace negotiations are in progress."
+
+"I hope so. But I'll tell you one thing I hope he does."
+
+"What's that?" Jack wanted to know.
+
+"I hope he insists on the surrender of the whole German fleet."
+
+"Whew!" exclaimed Jack. "You don't want much, do you?"
+
+"Well, he should insist on it," declared Frank.
+
+"But he probably won't," returned Jack. "I figure, however that he will
+insist that a large share of the ships be turned over to the allies,
+including their most powerful submarines and battleships and cruisers. But
+you can't expect them to give up the whole business, particularly when the
+entire High Seas Fleet is practically intact."
+
+"Maybe not; but I'm for taking all we can get."
+
+"So am I," Jack agreed, "all that we can get without danger of causing a
+hitch in the armistice proceedings."
+
+"Seems to me," said Frank, "that by this time we should have had some word
+of the proceedings at Hirson to-day."
+
+"It would seem so, that's a fact. However, I guess we will get the
+information all in good time."
+
+"That's all right. But I'm anxious to know what's going on."
+
+"Well, we won't know to-night; so I am in favor of turning in."
+
+"Guess we may as well."
+
+But early the next morning, an account of the first day's proceedings of
+the armistice delegates was flashed to the fleet. This, however, did not
+bring much jubilation, for the announcement simply said that the German
+delegates had refused the terms offered by Marshal Foch and had returned
+to their own lines for further instructions.
+
+"Told you so!" exclaimed Frank. "This war is not over yet."
+
+"Don't you believe it," declared Jack. "These Germans may do a little
+bluffing--I'd probably try the same thing under similar conditions--but
+you mark my words, they'll accept the terms, all right."
+
+"The conference is to be resumed some time this afternoon," said Frank.
+"That means that we will hear nothing before morning."
+
+"It depends," said Jack. "If the armistice is signed to-day, we'll
+probably get the word immediately; but if it stretches out for a day or
+two, we probably won't"
+
+"I guess that's about the size of it," Frank admitted.
+
+All during the day excitement aboard the Essex, and all other vessels
+patrolling the North Sea, for that matter, was at fever heat. While every
+man knew that there was little likelihood of receiving news until long
+after dark, each one nevertheless lived in hopes.
+
+Nevertheless, patrol work was still being done carefully. It had become an
+axiom of a British sailor that a German was not to be trusted--that when
+he appeared the least dangerous, it was time to watch him more carefully.
+Consequently, in spite of the impending armistice, the vigilance of the
+British fleet was not relaxed.
+
+Six o'clock came, and seven; and still there had been no word from the
+scene of the armistice conference. At eight o'clock Frank said:
+
+"I don't know what we are sitting up for. Something must have gone wrong
+again. If the armistice had been signed we would know something of it by
+this time."
+
+"Hold your horses," said Jack. "I'm just as anxious as you are, but there
+is no use getting excited about it."
+
+"Well," said Frank, "if we haven't heard something by nine o'clock, I'm
+going to turn in."
+
+But at nine o'clock no word had been received.
+
+"I know we shall hear nothing to-night," said Frank, rising, "so I'm going
+to tumble into my bunk."
+
+"Help yourself," said Jack, looking up from a book he was reading. "I'll
+wait a little longer."
+
+Frank retired to his own cabin and was soon asleep. At ten o'clock, no
+word having been received, Jack put down his book and rose.
+
+"Frank may be right," he told himself. "At all events, I may as well turn
+in. My remaining up won't alter the facts, whatever they are."
+
+He undressed, extinguished the light in his cabin and climbed into bed.
+
+Aboard practically every ship in the fleet, almost the same scenes were
+enacted that night. Officers and men alike remained up for hours, awaiting
+possible word that the armistice had been signed. But at midnight no word
+had been received, and while the big ships moved about their patrol work,
+the men slept--those of them who had no duties to perform at that hour.
+Only the officers and members of the crew watch, and the night radio
+operators, remained awake.
+
+To Jack it seemed that he had just closed his eyes when he was aroused by
+the sound of the Essex's signal whistle. It screeched and screeched. Jack
+leaped from his bunk and scrambled into his clothes.
+
+"Something wrong," he muttered. "Wonder why they didn't call me?"
+
+He hurried on deck.
+
+Frank, in his cabin, also had been aroused by the noise. He, too, sprang
+into his clothes and hurried on deck.
+
+There the first thing that his eyes encountered was a circle of figures,
+with hands joined, dancing about the bridge and yelling at the top of
+their voices. Among them was Jack, who, for the moment, seemed to have
+forgotten the dignity that went with his command. Also, the shrill signal
+whistle continued to give long, sharp blasts. Frank looked at Jack in pure
+amazement.
+
+"Must have gone crazy," he muttered.
+
+He hurried to the bridge and standing behind the dancing figures, caught
+Jack by the coat as he whirled by.
+
+"I say," he demanded. "What's the meaning of this? Have you gone mad?"
+
+Jack stopped and broke away from the circle which danced on without him.
+
+"Almost," said Jack, in answer to Frank's question, "and with good
+reason."
+
+"What--" began Frank.
+
+"By George! Can't you think?" demanded Jack.
+
+Gradually comprehension dawned on Frank.
+
+"You mean--" he began again.
+
+"Of course, I mean it," shouted Jack. "Why else do you think I'd be
+dancing around here like a whirling dervish? Come on and join the crowd.
+The armistice has been signed!"
+
+"Hurrah!" shouted Frank.
+
+A moment later he was circling madly about the bridge with the others.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVII
+
+PREPARING FOR THE SURRENDER
+
+ALTHOUGH the armistice had now been officially signed and fighting had
+ceased, under orders from Admiral Beatty, commander of the Grand Fleet,
+every ship was still stripped for action. While it appeared that
+everything was open and above-board, the British admiral intended to take
+no chances. He recalled other German treachery and he was not at all sure
+in his own mind that the enemy might not attempt some other trick.
+
+Two days after the signing of the armistice, upon instructions from the
+admiralty, Admiral Beatty got in touch by wireless with the German fleet
+commander in Helgoland, Admiral Baron von Wimpfen. With the latter Admiral
+Beatty was to arrange for the surrender for such portions of the German
+High Seas Fleet as had been decided upon by Marshal Foch and the German
+armistice commission.
+
+All day the wireless sputtered incessantly aboard the flagship, while
+other ship commanders within radio distance listened to what was going on.
+Jack was among these. He relieved his radio operator for the day and took
+the instrument himself.
+
+"The German fleet," ticked Admiral Beatty's flagship wireless, "will steam
+forth from Helgoland on November 19 and move due west toward the English
+coast, where the British fleet will be stationed to await its coming."
+
+"Shall we dismantle our guns?" asked Admiral von Wimpfen.
+
+"Yes."
+
+"And what of the size of our crews?"
+
+"They shall be large enough to handle the vessel. That is all. The crew of
+each ship shall be reduced to the minimum."
+
+"And how about our submarines?"
+
+"They must be surrendered first."
+
+"But the surrender cannot be completed in one day."
+
+"I am aware of it," replied Admiral Beatty. "As I have instructed you, the
+first of the German fleet will leave Helgoland on the night of November
+19. By that I mean the submarines. They must steam on the surface. The
+first flotilla to be composed of twenty-seven vessels."
+
+"I understand," returned the German admiral.
+
+"Very well. My ships will be stretched out in a fifty-mile line on either
+side of your ships as they approach and will fire at the first sign of
+treachery."
+
+"There shall be no treachery, sir. You have the word of a German admiral."
+
+"Very well I shall acquaint you with other details from time to time."
+
+This was the conversation that Jack heard that day.
+
+At noon on November 18, Jack, together with other commanders, received
+word from Admiral Beatty to steam toward Harwich, on the English coast,
+and to take his place in the long line of ships that would be gathered
+there to receive the surrender of the enemy fleet.
+
+Excitement thrilled the crew of the Essex. They were about to witness one
+of the greatest events of world history and there wasn't a man aboard who
+didn't know it. Nevertheless, there was no confusion, and the Essex
+steamed rapidly westward.
+
+"Hope we get up near the front of the line," said Frank to his chum. "Also
+that we are close to Admiral Beatty's flagship."
+
+"Here too," said Jack. "It will be a sight worth seeing."
+
+"Rather."
+
+"Well, we can't kick no matter where they place us, you know. I suppose I
+shall receive the necessary instructions in plenty of time."
+
+Jack did. The instructions came the following morning, while the Essex was
+still possibly a hundred miles off the English coast.
+
+"You will report to Admiral Tyrwhitt," Jack's message read, "who will
+assign you to your station."
+
+Jack immediately got in touch with Admiral Tyrwhitt by wireless. The
+latter gave his position and informed the lad that his place in line would
+be next to the Admiral's flagship.
+
+"I thought Admiral Beatty would be up toward the front," said Jack.
+
+"He probably will," was Frank's reply. "I have it figured out like this,
+from what you have told me of the fact that the submarines will be
+surrendered first: Admiral Tyrwhitt probably will receive the surrender of
+the U-Boats, while Admiral Beatty will receive the formal surrender of
+Admiral von Wimpfen himself."
+
+"Maybe that's it," Jack agreed.
+
+It was well after noon when the Essex sighted the flagship of Admiral
+Tyrwhitt, the Invincible, and reported for duty. Jack received
+instructions to lay to just west of the flagship. He obeyed.
+
+From time to time now other vessels appeared and reported to Admiral
+Tyrwhitt and were assigned places in the long line.
+
+Suddenly there was a cheer from the crews of the many ships. Jack glanced
+across the water, as did Frank. And then the latter went wild with
+excitement.
+
+Steaming majestically toward them came five great battleships flying the
+Stars and Stripes.
+
+"So the Americans will be in at the finish," said Jack.
+
+"You bet they will," declared Frank. "We're always in at the finish."
+
+"Well, you deserve to be this time, I guess," said Jack with a smile.
+
+"We always deserve to be," declared Frank.
+
+"So?" replied Jack. "I'm not going to argue with you about it."
+
+"It wouldn't do any good," declared Frank. "Let me tell you something. If
+it hadn't been for the United States this war wouldn't be over yet."
+
+"Is that so?" demanded Jack. "Why wouldn't it?"
+
+"Because all the British and French together don't seem to have been able
+to lick the Germans."
+
+"Rats," exclaimed Jack. "We would have done it in time."
+
+"Maybe so, but there is nothing sure about it It was the Americans who
+turned the tide at Chateau-Thierry."
+
+"They did some wonderful work, I'm not gain-saying that," Jack admitted.
+"But I can't see that it was any more remarkable than what the Canadians
+did at Vimy Ridge."
+
+"Well," said Frank smiling, "while the Canadians are really British
+subjects, nevertheless they come from the same part of the world as the
+Yankees. They're made out of the same pattern."
+
+Jack smiled.
+
+"I seem to have spoiled my own argument there, don't I?" he said.
+
+Frank grinned too.
+
+"You've got to admit," he said, "that when the Americans start a thing
+they go through with it. They never turn back."
+
+"True enough," Jack admitted, "but to my mind it takes them a deuced long
+time to get started."
+
+"They just want to be sure they're right first," Frank explained.
+
+"Have it your own way. But those five American ships approaching now look
+mighty good, I'll admit that."
+
+"I never saw a more beautiful sight," declared Frank, and he meant it.
+
+Majestically the American warships steamed along, the leading vessel
+flying the flag of Admiral Sims. They approached almost to the flagship of
+Admiral Tyrwhitt and the guns of the two flagships boomed out an exchange
+of salutes. Then the American flotilla slowed down and swung to leeward,
+and took its places in the long line.
+
+"Going to be quite an event this surrender, if you ask me," said Frank.
+
+"It certainly is," Jack replied. "I understand King George and Queen Mary,
+together with many other distinguished British, French, Americans and
+Italians, will be present to witness the surrender."
+
+"Including ourselves," grinned Frank.
+
+"Well, we're probably not such big fry," Jack commented, "but we've done
+as much--and a whole lot more--than a good many of them, if you ask me."
+
+"My sentiments exactly," declared Frank. "And for that reason we're just
+as much entitled to be in at the finish as any of the rest."
+
+"More so," said Jack quietly.
+
+"Well, we'll be there. So we have no kick coming."
+
+All day great vessels of war continued to arrive and take their places in
+the line. As far as the eye could see long gray shapes lay in the
+water--two lines of them--with perhaps half a mile between. Through this
+space the German warships would pass when they came out to surrender.
+
+When the eye could no longer see ships, the presence of other vessels was
+noted by smudges of smoke on the horizon. The line of ships, or rather the
+two lines, Jack and Frank knew, stretched almost to the distant shore.
+
+"Yes," said Jack, "it's going to be quite an event."
+
+Suddenly the guns of every ship burst out with a roar. The flagship of
+Admiral Beatty was approaching down the line from shore. Aboard it, every
+man of the great fleet knew, besides the admiral, were King George and
+Queen Mary of England; and it was the royal salute that was being fired.
+Even the American ships joined in the greeting.
+
+The guns of Admiral Beatty's flagship were kept busy acknowledging the
+salutes. On every deck handkerchiefs and caps waved frantically as the
+flagship passed.
+
+As the vessel drew abreast of the Essex, Jack and Frank, standing together
+on the bridge, made out the forms of the King and Queen of England on the
+bridge.
+
+Both lads doffed their caps, and Jack ordered the royal salute fired by
+the big guns of the destroyer.
+
+The vessel trembled under the detonation and the crew seemed to go wild as
+they cheered at the top of their voices.
+
+The flagship passed on.
+
+A mile or so to the east, the flagship slowed down and turned into line.
+
+"And that's where I suppose she will remain until after the surrender,"
+said Jack.
+
+The lad was right.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVIII
+
+THE SURRENDER
+
+
+Germany's sea surrender began at dawn on November 20, nine days after the
+signing of the armistice.
+
+Out in this misty expanse of the North Sea the allied battleships had
+taken up their positions in a fifty-mile line of greyhounds. Aboard the
+allied battleships every eye was strained to the east; every man was on
+the alert. The British and allied war vessels presented a noble sight,
+stretched out as far as the eye could see, and beyond.
+
+Every ship was stripped for action. Crews were at their posts. Not until
+the surrender was an accomplished fact would the vigilance of the British
+naval authorities be relaxed. Not until the German vessels were safe in
+the hands of the allies would British officers and crews be certain that
+the enemy was not meditating trickery up to the last moment.
+
+The destroyer Essex, commanded by Jack, as has already been said, was at
+the extreme east of the long line of battleships. Beyond it were the
+flagship of Admiral Beatty, flanked still farther east by three big war
+vessels, and Admiral Tyrwhitt's flagship.
+
+Jack and Frank were on the bridge of the destroyer. Other officers were at
+their posts. The crews stood to their guns. Below, the engine room was the
+scene of activity. A full head of steam was kept up, for there was no
+telling at what moment it might be needed.
+
+Came a shrill whistle from the farthest advanced British vessel, followed
+by a cry from the lookout aboard the destroyer:
+
+"Here they come!"
+
+As the red sun rose above the horizon the first submarine appeared in
+sight. Soon after seven o'clock, twenty-seven German submarines were seen
+in line, accompanied by two destroyers. These latter were the Tibania and
+the Serra Venta, which accompanied the flotilla to take the submarine
+crews back to Germany.
+
+All submarines were on the surface, with their hatches open and their
+crews standing on deck. They were flying no flags whatever, and their guns
+were trained fore and aft in accordance with previous instructions from
+Admiral Beatty.
+
+Until the moment that they had sighted the first ship of the British
+fleet, the German flag had flown from the mastheads of the various
+undersea craft, but they had been hauled down at once when the allied war
+vessels came into view.
+
+The leading destroyer, in response to a signal from Admiral Beatty on his
+flagship, altered her course slightly and headed toward the coast of
+England.
+
+The wireless instrument aboard the destroyer Essex clattered and a few
+moments later the radio operator rushed to the bridge with a message for
+Jack. The latter read it quickly, then said:
+
+"Send an O.K. to the admiral?'
+
+"What's up, Jack?" asked Frank.
+
+"Lower half a dozen small boats, Mr. Hetherton," instructed Jack before
+replying to Frank's question, "and have them manned by a score of men
+each, fully armed."
+
+"Aye, aye, sir."
+
+Lieutenant Hetherton hurried away.
+
+"What's up, Jack?" asked Frank again.
+
+"I have been ordered to inspect each submarine as it comes abreast of us,"
+Jack replied. "Apparently the admiral still fears treachery. I'll remain
+aboard here, and leave the work to you and the other officers."
+
+This was done. As each submarine drew up with the Essex she was boarded by
+a score of the Essex's men. Some stood guard at the hatches with weapons
+held ready, while an officer and the others of the crew went below for a
+hurried trip of inspection, searching them diligently for "booby traps,"
+and other signs of treachery.
+
+This necessitated a slowing down in the speed of the German craft, but at
+length the work was accomplished and Frank and his men, and all others
+belonging aboard the Essex, returned to their ship.
+
+"All serene, Jack," Frank reported.
+
+"Very well, I shall so inform the admiral."
+
+He scribbled off a brief message, which he sent to the radio room.
+
+Now, with the submarines well along the line, the British fleet began to
+move--escorting the U-Boats toward Harwich. The fleet would return the
+next day to receive the surrender of the larger enemy war vessels, but
+to-day it meant to make sure that the submarines were taken safely to
+port.
+
+There was one brief halt while the German admiral in command of the
+flotilla went aboard Admiral Tyrwhitt's flagship to make formal surrender
+of the submarines. He was accompanied by two members of his staff.
+
+Admiral Tyrwhitt received him on the bridge. There were tears in the eyes
+of the German admiral as he said:
+
+"Sir, I surrender to you this submarine fleet of the Imperial German
+navy."
+
+He extended his sword.
+
+Admiral Tyrwhitt waved back the sword and accepted the surrender in a few
+brief words. The German admiral turned on his heel and walked to the rail.
+There one of his officers held out his hand to a British lieutenant who
+was nearby.
+
+The latter refused it, and the German turned away muttering to himself in
+his native tongue. The German admiral and his officers returned to the
+destroyer, and the march of the fleets continued.
+
+It was a procession of broken German hopes--in the van, a destroyer of the
+unbeaten navy; behind, the cruel pirate craft that were to subjugate the
+sea. Each of the allied warships turned, and keeping a careful lookout,
+steamed toward Harwich.
+
+As the Essex passed one of the largest submarines, which carried two 5.9
+guns, Frank counted forty-three officers and men on her deck. The craft
+was at least three hundred feet long.
+
+"By George! Isn't she a whopper?" exclaimed the lad.
+
+Jack nodded.
+
+"She is indeed. The largest submarine I ever saw."
+
+Near the Shipwash lightship, three large British seaplanes appeared
+overhead. They were followed by a single airship. The sight of the Harwich
+forces, which soon appeared in the distance, together with the seaplanes
+and the airship, was a most impressive one.
+
+Suddenly two carrier pigeons were released aboard one of the captured
+submarines.
+
+A shock ran through the officers and crew of every allied vessel in sight.
+Apparently something was wrong. Sharp orders rang out. But the matter
+passed over. It was explained that the pigeons had been released merely to
+carry back to Germany the news that the surrender had been made.
+
+Nevertheless, the act called forth a vigorous protest from the flagship of
+the British commander-in-chief.
+
+"Another act like that and I shall sink you," was Admiral Beatty's
+message.
+
+Still ten miles off shore, the procession came to a halt. Feverish
+activity was manifest aboard the British vessels. Small boats were lowered
+and put off toward the submarines. These carried British crews that were
+to take over the vessels and conduct them to port. As fast as a British
+crew took possession, the German crews were transferred to the German
+destroyers there for the purpose of taking them back to Germany.
+
+Then the procession moved toward Harwich again.
+
+As the boats went through the gates into Harwich harbor, a white ensign
+was run up on each of them, with the German flag flying underneath.
+
+Before being removed to the destroyers, which were to carry them back,
+each submarine commander, who were the only Germans left aboard the
+vessels as they passed into the harbor, was required to sign a declaration
+that his submarine was in perfect running order, that his periscope was
+intact, the torpedoes unloaded and the torpedo head safe.
+
+Despite orders issued to the Harwich forces in advance, to the effect that
+no demonstration must be permitted in the city after the surrender of the
+German fleet, wild cheering broke out on the water front as the
+submarines, escorted by the great British warships, steamed into the
+harbor.
+
+Military police cleared the water front of the dense throng that had
+gathered, but the best efforts they put forth were unable to still the
+bedlam that had broken loose.
+
+Commanders of the British ships had difficulty in restraining cheers by
+their crews and later by the Harwich forces themselves when the fleet of
+captured submarines was turned over to Captain Addison, the commandant at
+that port.
+
+Harbor space for the surrendered U-Boats had been provided in advance,
+and the vessels were now piloted to these places, where they were placed
+under heavy guard.
+
+This work took time, and it was almost dark before the last submarine had
+been escorted to its resting place.
+
+All day crowds thronged the streets of Harwich, cheering and yelling
+madly. In vain the military authorities tried to stop the celebration. As
+well have tried to shut out the sound of thunder in the heavens. At last
+the authorities gave it up as a bad job, and joy and happiness ran rampant
+and unrestrained.
+
+It was a glorious day for England, and thousands of persons from London
+and the largest cities of the island had hurried to Harwich to witness the
+formal surrender of the fleet and its internment. All night the thousands
+paraded the streets of the little village, the celebration seeming to grow
+rather than to diminish as the early morning hours approached.
+
+So passed the bulk of Germany's undersea fighting strength into the hands
+of Great Britain and her allies. No longer would they terrorize with their
+ruthless warfare. They were safe at last. The fangs of the undersea
+serpents had been drawn.
+
+And on the night of November 20, 1918, thus made harmless, they lay
+quietly in the harbor of Harwich, England, above them flying the Union
+Jack.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIX
+
+THE SURRENDER COMPLETE
+
+
+November 21! This was to be a day, perhaps, more historic than the one
+that preceded it, for on this day was to be surrendered to the allied
+fleet the bulk of the great war vessels that comprised the Imperial German
+navy.
+
+Heading the great British flotilla that moved out to sea again was the
+super-dreadnaught the Queen Elizabeth, Admiral Beatty's flagship, aboard
+which were King George and Queen Mary, as they had been the day before.
+
+Following the first twenty-five British ships steamed the American
+squadron, Admiral Rodman, aboard the dreadnaught New York, showing the
+way. Following the New York were the Florida, Wyoming, Texas and Arkansas.
+Behind the Americans trailed a pair of French cruisers, followed in turn
+by a few Italian vessels, after which came the remainder of the great
+British fleet.
+
+So the flotilla moved out again and took up the positions they had held
+the day before. Again every eye was strained to catch sight of the first
+German warship. And at last came the cry, sounding much as it had on the
+preceding day:
+
+"Here they come!"
+
+The German fleet that approached now came much more swiftly than had the
+flotilla of undersea craft. This time the halt was made while the German
+flagship was abreast of the Queen Elizabeth. Admiral Baron von Wimpfen put
+off for Admiral Beatty's vessel in a launch.
+
+Admiral Beatty received the German admiral on the bridge of the Queen
+Elizabeth, with him were King George and Queen Mary. Admiral von Wimpfen
+made the formal declaration of surrender and it was accepted by the
+British admiral without ostentation.
+
+The German fleet thus turned over to Admiral Beatty consisted of
+approximately one hundred and fifty vessels of all classes, including
+dreadnaughts, battleships, cruisers and destroyers. Slowly these giant
+vessels fell into line now and steamed toward Harwich, the British ships,
+still cleared for action, accompanying them and watching carefully for the
+signs of treachery.
+
+But no such signs showed themselves. No longer were the Germans thinking
+of fight. They had been decisively beaten, and they knew it. Apparently
+they considered themselves lucky to get off so easily.
+
+Still some distance off-shore, the crews of the German ships were
+transferred to the half-dozen small vessels that were to carry them back
+to the Fatherland, and British crews were put aboard the vessels. Then,
+their eyes sad and watching what had once been the pride of Germany, the
+German officers and sailors began their cheerless journey home.
+
+Again it was a night of festivity in Harwich, and in all England, and all
+allied countries, for that matter. The surrender of the great German fleet
+was now a thing of the past. Germany's hands were tied. She could continue
+the struggle no longer even should she elect to do so. While a formal
+declaration of peace had not been signed, and probably would not be signed
+for months to come, the war was over, so far as actual fighting was
+concerned.
+
+No wonder England, France, America, Italy and the smaller nations with
+them went wild with joy. After four years of war, peace had again cast its
+shadow over the earth, and everyone was glad.
+
+"So it's all over."
+
+It was Frank who spoke. He and Jack were in the latter's cabin on the
+Essex. The ship was lying at anchor just outside Harwich harbor, riding
+gently on the swell of the waves.
+
+"Yes, it's all over," said Jack, "and I'm glad."
+
+"So am I," Frank declared; "and yet we have had a good time."
+
+"So we have, of a kind. And still you can't rightly call it a good time
+when all we have been doing is to seek, kill and destroy."
+
+"But it had to be done," Frank protested.
+
+"Oh, I know that as well as you do. But war is a terrible thing, and the
+more you see of it the more certain you become that it is all
+foolishness."
+
+"And yet, you can't permit a big bully to run amuck and smash up things
+all over the world."
+
+"That's true, of course, and it's exactly what the kaiser and his war
+machine tried to do. Now, the machine had to be smashed, of course, and it
+has been smashed. But how long will it take the world to recover? How long
+will it take to rebuild what has been destroyed in these four years of
+war?"
+
+Frank shrugged his shoulders.
+
+"I'm not good at conundrums," he replied.
+
+"Nor I; and yet I'll venture to say that the reconstruction days will be
+as hard as many we have experienced in the war."
+
+"The thing that I want to know," said Frank, changing the subject
+abruptly, "is just what will be done with Germany in the final peace
+conference."
+
+"You know as much about it as I do," replied Jack, "but my own idea is
+that the German empire will be dismembered--divided into the states of
+Prussia, Saxony, and so forth, as they were years before they united under
+one head."
+
+"I'm sure I hope so. Certainly the allies will never permit Germany to
+attain such power that may make all our fighting futile--they'll never let
+her grow strong enough to start another world struggle."
+
+The lads conversed far into the night before retiring. Nevertheless they
+were astir at an early hour, awaiting orders that they knew must come that
+day; and they came shortly after noon in the shape of a wireless from Lord
+Hastings.
+
+"Return to Dover at once," the message read.
+
+Again the Essex put to sea.
+
+But it was upon a peaceful voyage that the destroyer was bound now. No
+longer did her decks bristle with shining guns, crew at quarters and ready
+for action. True, the Essex still showed plainly that she was a ship of
+war, but her threatening attitude was gone. The war was over and all was
+quiet aboard.
+
+That night the destroyer put into Dover harbor and the lads went ashore to
+report to Lord Hastings. It was after ten o'clock, but their former
+commander received them at once in spite of the lateness of the hour.
+
+"Sorry to disturb you at this hour, sir," said Jack, "but I thought
+perhaps you would wish us to report to you immediately."
+
+"And I am glad you did," returned Lord Hastings. "Come, tell me something
+about yourselves. So you were in at the finish, eh?"
+
+"You bet!" exclaimed Frank enthusiastically. "You should have been there,
+sir."
+
+"I was," replied Lord Hastings.
+
+"You were, sir?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"But we didn't see you, sir," said Jack.
+
+"I know you didn't. But I saw you. And I saw Frank when he inspected the
+submarines on the first day of the surrender."
+
+"Where were you, sir?" demanded Frank.
+
+"Aboard the Queen Elizabeth. I viewed the surrender as the guest of
+Admiral Beatty, and their majesties."
+
+For some time the conversation dealt only with the surrender of the fleet.
+Then Lord Hastings said:
+
+"Well, boys, the war is over. What do you intend to do now?"
+
+"I know what I shall do, sir," said Frank.
+
+"Well, let's hear it."
+
+"I shall return to America as soon as I am able to procure my discharge."
+
+"As I thought," said Lord Hastings. "And you, Jack?"
+
+"I hardly know, sir. I have no relatives, few friends. There is no one
+dependent on me, and I am dependent on no one. It strikes me, sir, that
+the navy might be a good place to stick."
+
+"And I had expected that, too," said Lord Hastings quietly. "But I don't
+agree with you, Jack."
+
+"Why not, sir?" asked Jack, in some surprise.
+
+"In the first place," said Lord Hastings, "the life would begin to pall on
+you when it settled down to dull routine. Now in active service, of
+course, it's different. I know, because I've tried both. No, my advice to
+you Jack, is to get out of the navy."
+
+"But what shall I do, sir?"
+
+"There are many things," said Lord Hastings quietly. "There is the
+consular service, the diplomatic service. Who knows how far you may rise?
+Already you have made a name for yourself and have won distinction. You
+may go far, if you apply yourself."
+
+"That's true, too, sir," said Jack. "I have thought of that, at odd
+moments. But I guess you are right about the navy, sir."
+
+"I know I am. And the sooner you get out of it the better."
+
+"Then I'll take your advice, sir. But I'm afraid it won't be possible to
+get a discharge for some time yet."
+
+"It will be much simpler that you think, for both of you," said Lord
+Hastings with a smile. "I still have some influence, you know, and I shall
+see you receive your discharges within a fortnight, if you wish."
+
+"Hurray!" shouted Frank. "That suits me. There is no use sticking in the
+navy now. There is nothing to do."
+
+"And," continued Lord Hastings to Jack. "In the meantime I'll look around
+and see what I can turn up for you, Jack."
+
+"Thank you, sir," said Jack.
+
+"And in the meantime, Jack," added Frank, "you are going home with me for
+a visit. That is, as soon as we get our discharges."
+
+Jack hesitated.
+
+"But I don't know that I should," he said. "Lord Hastings----"
+
+"Go by all means," said Lord Hastings. "You have earned a rest and should
+take it. Now I'll see about the discharges at once, and as soon as you
+receive them, both of you take my advice and go to the United States. That
+will give me additional time to look around, Jack. And when you get there,
+stay until I send for you."
+
+"All right, sir," said Jack with a smile. "You're still my superior
+officer, sir. I must obey your commands."
+
+The three shook hands and Jack and Frank returned to the Essex.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXX
+
+HOME AT LAST
+
+
+"Recognize that, Jack?" asked Frank, pointing across the water.
+
+The lads were standing on the forward deck of a great trans-Atlantic liner
+that was edging its way into New York harbor.
+
+Jack looked in the direction Frank indicated.
+
+"Rather," he said, "although I only saw it once before. That's the Statue
+of Liberty."
+
+"Right," said Frank, "the emblem of that for which America went to war."
+
+"And the spirit for which we all fought," Jack added.
+
+"Exactly. Well, it's been a long time since I saw her. I'm glad to see her
+again."
+
+It was morning of the last day of the year 1918.
+
+True to his word, Lord Hastings had been able to secure discharges for the
+lads within two weeks after the surrender of the German fleet. They
+accompanied Lord Hastings to London, where they remained some time at his
+home. Frank, meanwhile, communicated with his father and announced that he
+would be home soon. He did not give the exact date, for he wished his
+return to be a surprise. And a surprise he knew it would be, as he now
+stood on the deck of the incoming liner.
+
+The ship docked a short time later and Jack and Frank went ashore at once.
+They took a taxi to the Grand Central station, where they caught a fast
+train for Boston. It was night when they arrived there, but Frank
+determined to go out to his home in Woburn, ten miles from Boston, at
+once.
+
+Accordingly they took an elevated train at the South Station. This put
+them in the North Station ten minutes later, and Frank found that there
+was a train for Woburn in half an hour.
+
+It was after dark when the lads alighted from the train in the little town
+of Woburn. Jack had been there with Frank before, when the lads had
+crossed the Atlantic to New York soon after the United States entered the
+war. Accordingly, he knew the way from the station to Frank's home almost
+as well as the latter did himself.
+
+"Know where you are?" asked Frank.
+
+Jack grinned.
+
+"I've been here once," he said. "That should answer that question. You
+know my memory is pretty good."
+
+"Then you can show me which house I live in," said Frank.
+
+Jack pointed to a house a block away where a dim light showed from beneath
+a drawn curtain.
+
+"There's the house," he said, "and there appears to be some one home."
+
+"That's father, of course," said Frank. "He seldom goes out in the
+evening."
+
+The lads quickened their steps and soon were before the house. Quietly
+they mounted the steps and as quietly tip-toed across the porch. Frank
+tried the door. It was unlocked.
+
+"Careless of father," he whispered. "I'll have to speak to him about
+that."
+
+He opened the door gently and the two lads passed within. Frank closed the
+door noiselessly behind him. The lads dropped their grips silently in the
+hall and then tip-toed toward a room at the far end, where a light showed.
+
+Keeping out of sight, Frank peered in the door. There, with his back to
+his son, sat Dr. Chadwick, reading. Frank stepped softly across the room
+leaving Jack standing, grinning, at the door.
+
+Frank reached out and put both hands across his father's eyes.
+
+Dr. Chadwick's book dropped to the floor and for a moment Frank was afraid
+he had frightened him by this unceremonious greeting. But Dr. Chadwick's
+hands reached up and clasped the hands that for the moment blinded him.
+
+"Frank!" he cried, and sprang to his feet.
+
+The next moment father and son were in each other's arms.
+
+Dr. Chadwick held his son off at arm's length, and looked at him.
+
+"You're a sight for sore eyes," he declared. "You look better than you did
+the last time I saw you, and you were looking fine then."
+
+"Here, Father," said Frank, "is a friend of mine come to see you."
+
+Dr. Chadwick turned and saw Jack in the doorway. He stepped forward and
+gripped Jack's hand heartily.
+
+"Jack Templeton, eh?" he exclaimed. "I'm glad to see you. And you are
+Captain Templeton now, I perceive."
+
+Jack blushed.
+
+"They insisted on making me one, sir, and I couldn't refuse," he said.
+
+"Now," said Dr. Chadwick, "you two boys sit right down here and tell me
+all about yourselves. But first, are you hungry?"
+
+"No, sir," said Frank. "We had dinner on the train just before we reached
+Boston."
+
+"Then let's hear what you have been doing. I understand you were present
+at the surrender of the German fleet. Give me some of the details."
+
+Until long after midnight the three sat there, Dr. Chadwick listening
+eagerly to the tales of his son and the latter's chum. But at last he
+looked at his watch.
+
+"Why, it's after midnight," he exclaimed. "Time for bed."
+
+Frank led the way to the room he had occupied since babyhood. This Jack
+was to share with him during his stay.
+
+"I'll tell you," said Frank, as he climbed into bed, "it feels pretty good
+to a fellow to get back into his own bed after all these years."
+
+"I should think it would," agreed Jack. "But mine is a long ways from
+here. However, I guess I shall see it again some day."
+
+"Of course you will, old fellow, and I'll go along with you."
+
+They fell asleep.
+
+Both lads were awakened by the sound of a commotion without. They jumped
+out of bed. It was broad daylight of the first day of January, 1919.
+
+"Still celebrating the new year, I guess," said Frank. "Remember we heard
+'em shooting before we went to bed?"
+
+Jack nodded.
+
+Frank went to the window and stuck his head out. Instantly there was a
+wild yell outside. Frank drew his head hurriedly back again.
+
+"What's the matter?" asked Jack.
+
+"I don't know," said Frank. "There is a whole gang of fellows out there
+and they all seem to be crazy about something."
+
+Jack had a faint suspicion. He crossed to the window and looked out.
+
+Again a yell went up, followed by a cry from many throats:
+
+"We want Frank!"
+
+Even Frank heard this. His face turned red and he began to act flustered.
+
+"Some of the fellows know I'm home, I guess," he said.
+
+"That's what's the matter, all right," Jack agreed. "Better show yourself
+again."
+
+"Wait till I get some clothes on and I'll go down and see 'em," said
+Frank.
+
+"They'll probably want you to make a speech," Jack suggested.
+
+Frank was alarmed.
+
+"Speech?" he repeated. "I can't make a speech."
+
+"Oh, yes you can. You don't mean to tell me that a fellow who has done
+what you have--who has talked with kings and czars--is afraid to talk to
+some of his old friends and companions?"
+
+"That's different," declared Frank.
+
+Jack smiled.
+
+"I catch your point, and maybe you're right," he admitted. "However,
+you'll have to do it."
+
+"I suppose I shall," said Frank with a sigh, "so the sooner I get it over
+with the better."
+
+He led the way downstairs and on to the front porch. Jack stepped forward
+close beside him. Again there was a wild cheer from many throats.
+
+Both lads still wore their British uniforms, and they both presented a
+manly and handsome appearance as they stood there on the front porch of
+Frank's home.
+
+"Hello, Frank!" "Glad to see you back!" "Are you going to stay here?"
+"Tell us about yourself."
+
+These were some of the cries hurled at the lad.
+
+Frank's face turned red and he would have turned away had not Jack's
+stalwart frame stayed him.
+
+"Speech! Speech!" came the cry.
+
+The hubbub increased.
+
+"I can't do it, Jack!" Frank exclaimed.
+
+"Oh, yes you can," replied his chum. "I'll help you."
+
+He raised his right hand for silence, still keeping his left tightly on
+Frank's shoulder, for the latter showed signs of bolting at the first
+opportunity. Instantly the shouting died away and the crowd of young
+fellows waited expectantly.
+
+"I just want to introduce my friend," said Jack smiling. "Lieutenant
+Chadwick, gentlemen, of His British Majesty's service, though an American
+citizen, and a good one at that. Lieutenant Chadwick will be glad to say a
+few words to you."
+
+The cheering burst forth again, but died away as Jack pushed Frank
+forward.
+
+Frank made a brave effort and finally managed to say a few words. He grew
+more at ease as he went along and his audience listened intently. He
+spoke for perhaps five minutes, then concluded:
+
+"And now, fellows, I want you all to step up and shake hands with my
+friend--also my commander--Captain Jack Templeton. He's an Englishman, but
+a pretty good fellow at that--and he's no older than any of us."
+
+There was another cheer and the boys gathered around to shake Jack's hand
+and get acquainted with him. And after they had talked and talked and
+feasted their eyes on the British uniforms to their hearts' content they
+went away. Then Jack and Frank went in to breakfast, where Dr. Chadwick
+was awaiting them at the table.
+
+A few words more and the history of The Boy Allies on the Sea is complete.
+
+Jack remained with Frank for several weeks, then returned to England upon
+receipt of a message from Lord Hastings announcing that he had found a
+place for the lad in the diplomatic service. The story of Jack's struggles
+in his chosen profession would make interesting reading, perhaps, but it
+is in no wise connected with the great war. Suffice it to say that he is
+rapidly rising to fame and fortune and that in years to come, in all
+probability, he will hold one of the most important posts in the British
+government.
+
+Frank, for his part, remained in his home town, where he took up the
+study of law. He proved an apt student and soon showed signs of talent
+that undoubtedly will make him famous.
+
+So here we shall take our leave of Jack Templeton and Frank Chadwick,
+knowing that, in years to come, they will meet again, both famous then,
+and that through all the years their friendship shall survive, and grow
+stronger than it was in the days when they fought side by side for the
+freedom of the world.
+
+THE END
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Boy Allies with the Victorious
+Fleets, by Robert L. Drake
+
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