sation with the engineer officer, who had sought his new commander immedi

, Mr. Winslow," Jack introduced them.

he engineer. "And when s

robably not before morning, but I wish t

gineer, "As I said before, I'

so,

aluted and lef

rned to

ou doing here? I thought I

replied Frank with a grin. "I wanted to

m to ask questions of your c

agreed, "but I just

" said Jack. "It's bad for the ship's discipline. However, I'll tell you,

bridge. Jack addresse

ck for inspection, Li

ing up the companion way and fell into line aft. Jack and Frank wal

sooner, we shall sail, our destination temporarily to be known only to myself.

tish cheer s

" cried

m. Then the officers returned to the b

"I'll have to lo

and ship-shape. The muzzles of the big guns were shining brightly beneath their coat of

nd crew; carried two batteries of 9-inch guns in turrets forward and aft and was equipped with three 2-inch

uld get twenty-three knots on a pinch. Her fighting equipment is excellent, everything is

han four years ago you knew nothing at all of naval tactics, and now you're in c

smi

re fortunate, that's all. Besides, I knew something of navigation be

e considerably more fit for the job than I am. Another thing. I do

ked his

" he

. "We've been together now since the war began, a

at the same time you should not let a matter of friendshi

offered me," said Frank. "I'm just hopin

me moments longer. Then F

id quietly. "I'll

ck. "Call me if

rank, saluting his

gri

he said. "At the same time I suppose it must be done for the

d better stick to it or I'm liabl

you're righ

n deck, where he relieved Lieutenan

sir," said Lieutenan

as Frank's reply, a

watch was nearing its end when th

the port

l. A moment later there w

ship i

hip Brigadier,"

said the voice from the d

ttired in the uniform of a British captain came over the side

empleton?"

Chadwick. A moment, sir,

ase," said

the quartermaster, who arr

Templeton,"

and exchanged greetings with his visito

he said. "You will kno

ers and stowed th

sir,"

" said the visitor.

side of the vess

ter the other had gone, "th

t at once?"

Jack. "Will you kindly pipe al

assed t

stle and hurry aboard the Brigadier. Jack himself took the bri

ns!" came J

ould it encounter an enemy submarine en route, and, as the lad knew, it was j

once had crept through the channel, once penetrating Dover harbor itself, where they had wre

ter Jack signale

speed

ved through the still waters of the harbor. Directly s

d!" Jack signale

dier leap

k," said Frank. "It'

l we reach the Atlan

tick along,"

the

the channel and breasted the heavy swell of the A

he said. "If anything ha

" was the third

fly. Jack and F

e you turn in, if you w

latter. "I don't feel like

red Jack. "I've got to be stirring before you go on w

t Frank went to his own cabin. He turn

or an hour or more he lay in his bunk, reviewing the eve

e told himself. "I hope I can

hat he could. Jack's one best characteri