The Boy Allies with the Victorious Fleets | Page 7

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