CHAPTER III
SAILING
"Frank tells me," said Jack, at the dinner table that evening, "that weare about to sail again; about to go into active service."
Lord Hastings smiled.
"There has been a slight alteration in plans since I spoke to Franklast," he said.
"You mean that we are not to go, Sir?" asked Frank. His face showedhis disappointment.
"Not exactly," said Lord Hastings.
"But," Jack interrupted, "Frank said that we would help convoy Americantroops to England and France."
"Frank lets his imagination run away with him sometimes," said LordHastings quietly. "America has not yet declared war on Germany."
"But she will, sir," said Frank positively.
"That is probably true," said Lord Hastings, "although the resolutionis being fought in the senate, according to latest cable advices.However, as you say, America will undoubtedly declare war. But evenshould American troops be sent to Europe it will not be for severalmonths after war is declared."
"I thought they would send the regulars right away, sir," said Frank.
"Hardly. However, it is possible that an American fleet will bedispatched to act in conjunction with the British grand fleet in thewar zone."
"Then we must sit home, sir?" asked Frank.
"I didn't say that," said Lord Hastings, smiling.
"You are too quick to jump at conclusions, Frank."
Frank flushed a trifle. "I'm just disappointed, sir," he replied.
"You need not be," said Lord Hastings. "There is work ahead. In fact,I may say that you will leave England some time tomorrow."
"Is that so, sir?" exclaimed Frank, happy again instantly. "Where dowe go, sir?"
"I am not going at all," said Lord Hastings; "at least, not for sometime yet. You and Jack will make this trip alone."
"That's too bad," declared Jack quietly. "We always like to have youwith us, sir."
"I know you do," laughed Lord Hastings, "However, I will turn uplater, so don't worry."
"In that event, it's all right," grinned Jack.
"Will you, tell us where we are going, sir, and what we are to do?"asked Frank.
"I will if you will restrain your impatience," said Lord Hastings.
Frank felt this rebuke and became silent. A moment later Lord Hastingscontinued:
"I suppose you have heard that there is another German raider operatingin the Atlantic off the coast of South America?"
"No, sir," said Frank, "I had not heard of it."
"Nor I," said Jack.
"Nevertheless, it's true," said Lord Hastings. "Where it came from noone seems to know, but many merchant ships have been sunk by thisraider. It is understood that she has citizens of allied countriesaboard to the number of several hundred."
"Must be a big ship, sir," said Frank.
"So it is. It is probably a converted liner."
"Well, why haven't some of our cruisers picked it up, sir?" Jack wantedto know.
"They've tried hard enough," said Lord Hastings. "Trouble is thisraider seems to have the heels of all ships of war. She simply runsaway from them. However, the activities of the raider have become soserious that the government has decided she must be captured at allhazards."
"Which is where we come in," guessed Frank.
Lord Hastings gazed at the lad sternly.
"Frank," he said, "it's a wonder to me that your tongue hasn't got youinto trouble long ago. Now, if you'll listen, I'll proceed."
Frank sat back abashed.
"Excuse me, sir," he said. "It won't happen again."
"All right, then," said Lord Hastings. "As I say, it seems impossibleto come up with this raider by speed, so she must be captured or sunkby strategy. Now, I'll explain the plans to you, that you may knowwhat to do and what will be expected of you."
Lord Hastings talked slowly for several hours, and the lads listenedwith unflagging interest. When His Lordship had finished it was almostmidnight.
"Now, are you sure you understand?" he asked, getting to his feet.
"Perfectly, sir," was the reply.
"Very well, then, you had better turn in. You will sail aboard theAlgonquin at five tomorrow evening. I will see that your reservationsare made and that you are supplied with sufficient funds."
The lads went to bed.
When Jack and Frank went aboard the Algonquin the following eveninghalf an hour before the sailing hour, they were dressed as civilians.Each wore a heavy traveling suit and overcoat and a steamer cap. LordHastings accompanied them aboard and introduced them to the captain,Stoneman by name, with whom His Lordship was well acquainted. ThenLord Hastings went ashore.
The Algonquin was an American vessel and sailed under Americanregistry.
"I don't believe any raider will bother us," said Jack.
"Never can tell," declared Frank. "What's our destination, anyhow? Iforgot to ask."
"Buenos Ayres," replied Jack.
"Wonder if there are many passengers aboard?"
"Doesn't look like it. We'll have a look at the passenger list."
They did so and found that the only passengers on the trip were twowomen, registered as Mrs. Silas Wheaton and Miss Elizabeth Wheaton.
"Looks like we would be pretty much to our ourselves," grinned Jack.
"So much the better," said Frank.
The Algonquin was not, in the true sense of the word, a passengersteamer. She had accommodations for some, but she was primarily afreighter, detoured this trip to carry a cargo of oil to the Argentinecapital.
The vessel lifted anchor and steamed down the Thames promptly at 5o'clock. At 6 the lads found themselves at dinner at the captain'stable. There, too, they found Mrs. Wheaton and her daughter,Elizabeth. Introductions followed.
"I do hope we do not meet a submarine on the way," declared MissWheaton, who could not have been more than eighteen.
"I guess we are safe enough on that score," smiled Jack.
"Then they tell me there is a German raider operating off the coast ofSouth America," said the girl. "We may be captured."
"Pooh!" exclaimed her mother. "Didn't I see guns front and back onthis ship as I came abroad?"
"You mean fore and aft, mother," said the girl, smiling. "Yes, I sawthe guns, too, but I don't imagine they would be much protectionagainst a German raider."
"Then what are they there for?" Mrs. Wheaton wanted to know.
Jack and Frank laughed, and Captain Stoneman allowed a smile to wrinklethe corners of his mouth.
"Well, they won't dare attack us," said Mrs. Wheaton. "If they do theUnited States will make Germany pay for it."
"I guess Germany is not worrying about the United States right now,"said Jack quietly.
"We'll make her worry," declared the woman.
"We're going to declare war and then the Kaiser will wish he had let usalone. Besides, there are probably American ships of war off the coastof South America. They will not allow us to be molested by a Germanraider."
"But, perhaps they won't be able to help it," mother, said the girl.
"Of course they will be able to help it," said the mother. "Now don'ttalk about this foolishness to me any more."
She arose and left the table. Her daughter followed her a few momentslater.
"If the Germans get her they'll find they have caught a tartar,"declared Jack.
"So they will," declared Captain Stoneman.
"By the way, Captain," said Frank, "do you fear the raider will attackus?"
"She will if she knows we are around," declared the captain grimly.
"And we are not prepared to fight her, sir?" asked Frank.
"Hardly," said the captain quietly.
"What's your crew?" demanded Jack.
"First, second and third officers, chief engineer, assistant and fortymen," was the reply.
"And nothing worth while to shoot with," grinned Frank.
The captain brought his hand
down hard upon the table.
"No!" he bellowed. "And still with these pirates sailing the seas, theAmerican government won't allow us to carry guns big enough to do anydamage."
"Well, we'll hope for the best," said Frank, rising.
The lads made their way on deck.