CHAPTER IV
THE START
Inside Jack's cabin, Frank found his commander and chum engaged inconversation with the engineer officer, who had sought his new commanderimmediately after giving instructions below. He saluted Frank as the ladentered.
"My first officer, Lieutenant Chadwick, Mr. Winslow," Jack introducedthem. "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 Iwish to be ready to leave on a moment's notice."
"Very well, sir," said the engineer, "As I said before, I'll have steam upin 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 thedeck?"
"I turned the deck over to Hetherton," replied Frank with a grin. "Iwanted to find out what all this rush is about?"
"Don't you know it's bad form to ask questions of your commander?" Jacksaid 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, Ijust 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 upthe companion way and fell into line aft. Jack and Frank walked forward tolook them over. Jack addressed a few words to the men.
"I've just taken over command of the Brigadier," he said. "To-morrowmorning, or sooner, we shall sail, our destination temporarily to be knownonly to myself. I believe that I may safely promise you some action beforemany 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 thebridge, 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 everythingabsolutely clean and ship-shape. The muzzles of the big guns were shiningbrightly beneath their coat of polish. After the inspection, Jack andFrank went below for a look at the ship's papers.
The Brigadier was a small destroyer, not more than 200 feet long. It had acomplement of 250 men, officers and crew; carried two batteries of 9-inchguns in turrets forward and aft and was equipped with three 2-inch torpedotubes. It was not one of the latest of British destroyers, but still itwas modern in many respects.
"A good ship," said Jack, after a careful examination of the papers. "Asto speed, we should get twenty-three knots on a pinch. Her fightingequipment is excellent, everything is spick and span, and I was impressedwith 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 nowyou're in command of a British destroyer. By George! I wouldn't mindhaving your job myself."
Jack smiled.
"Never mind," he said. "You'll get yours some day. I've just been morefortunate, that's all. Besides, I knew something of navigation before youdid, and while you have mastered it now, I had a long start."
"That's true enough," Frank admitted, "but at the same time you areconsiderably more fit for the job than I am. Another thing. I don't knowthat 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 togethernow since the war began, almost. I hope that we may see it throughtogether."
"Here, too," declared the commander of the Brigadier, "but at the sametime you should not let a matter of friendship stand between you and whatmay be your big opportunity."
"Oh, I'd probably take the job if it were offered me," said Frank. "I'mjust hoping the offer will not be made; that's all."
The lads conversed for some moments longer. Then Frank looked at hiswatch.
"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. "Atthe 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 toforget in public some time."
"Well, maybe you're right," said Jack.
Frank turned on his heel and went on deck, where he relieved LieutenantHetherton, 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 thelookout on the port side called:
"Boat off the port bow, sir."
Frank advanced to the rail. A moment later there was a hail from thewater.
"What ship is that?'
"His Majesty's Ship Brigadier," Frank called back.
"I'm coming aboard you," said the voice from the darkness. "Lower aladder."
Frank gave the necessary command. A few moments later a man attired in theuniform of a British captain came over the side. He approached Frank, whowas barely visible in the darkness.
"Captain Templeton?" he asked.
"No, sir. I'm Lieutenant Chadwick. A moment, sir, and I'll call thecaptain."
"If you please," said the visitor.
Frank passed the word for the quartermaster, who arrived within a fewmoments.
"Call Captain Templeton," Frank directed.
Jack arrived on deck a few moments later and exchanged greetings with hisvisitor. 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 anytime now."
"Then why not at once?" asked Frank.
"You anticipated me," replied Jack. "Will you kindly pipe all hands ondeck, Mr. Chadwick?"
Frank passed the word.
Sleepy men came tumbling from their bunks below. All became bustle andhurry aboard the Brigadier. Jack himself took the bridge. Frank stoodbeside 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 shipshould it encounter an enemy submarine en route, and, as the lad knew, itwas just as possible they would encounter one in the English Channel aselsewhere.
For, despite all precautions taken by British naval authorities, enemysubmarines more than once had crept through the channel, once penetratingDover harbor itself, where they had wreaked considerable damage beforebeing 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 thestill 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 Fr
ank.
This they did.
It was hours later when the Brigadier ran clear of the channel andbreasted the heavy swell of the Atlantic. Jack spoke to Thompson, thethird 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 anhour yet."
"Well, you can't keep me out of bed that long," declared Jack. "I've gotto be stirring before you go on watch again. But I thought we might talk afew moments."
Nevertheless, it was an hour later that Frank went to his own cabin. Heturned in at once and was soon fast asleep.
On the other hand, sleep did not come to Jack so soon. For an hour or morehe lay in his bunk, reviewing the events of the past and hisresponsibilities of the present.
"It's a big job I have now," he told himself. "I hope I can carry itthrough successfully."
But he didn't have the slightest doubt that he could. Jack's one bestcharacteristic was absolute confidence in himself.