The Boy Allies with the Victorious Fleets | Page 4

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