Produced by Sean Pobuda
By Ensign Robert L. Drake
Frank Chadwick jumped from a chair in the front window and ran towardthe door. A form had swung from the sidewalk along the drive thatmarked the entrance to Lord Hasting's London home and at sight of itFrank had uttered an exclamation. Now, as the figure climbed thesteps, Frank flung open the door.
"Jack!" he exclaimed with outstretched hand. "I feared something hadhappened, you have been gone so long and we had heard nothing of you."
"I'm perfectly whole," laughed Jack, grasping his friend's hand. "Why,
I've been gone less than two weeks."
"But you expected to be gone only a day or two."
"That's true, but a fellow can't tell what is going to happen, youknow. I wasn't sure I should find you here when I returned, though."
"You probably wouldn't had you come a day later," returned Frank.
"How's that?"
"We sail tomorrow night," said Frank.
"By George! Then I'm back just in time," declared Jack. "Where boundthis time?"
"I don't know exactly, but personally I believe to America."
"Why?"
"The United States, I understand, is about to declare war on Germany. Ihave heard it said that immediately thereafter American troops will besent to Europe."
"What's that got to do with our voyage?"
"I'm coming to that. There will be need, of convoys for the Americantransports. I believe that is the work in which we will be engaged."
"That will be first rate, for a change," said Jack.
"But come," said Frank, leading the way into the house. "Where haveyou been? Tell me about yourself."
"Wait, until I get a breath," laughed Jack, making himself comfortablein a big armchair. "By the way, where is Lord Hastings?"
"He is in conference with the admiralty."
"And Lady Hastings?"
"Shopping, I believe. However, both will be back before long. Nowlet's have an account of your adventures."
"Well, they didn't amount to much," said Jack.
"Where've you been?"
"Pretty close to Heligoland."
"What! Again?"
"Exactly. You remember how Lord Hastings came to us one day and saidthat the admiralty had need of a single officer at that moment, andthat we both volunteered?"
"I certainly do," declared Frank, "and we drew straws to see which ofus should go. I lost."
"Exactly. Well, when I reached the admiralty I found there a certainCaptain Ames. I made myself known and was straightway informed that Iwould do as well as another. Captain Ames was in command of theBritish destroyer Falcon. He was bound on active duty at once, and hetook me along as second in command."
"Where was he bound?" demanded Frank. "And what was the nature of thework?"
"The nature of the work," said Jack, "was to search out German minesahead of the battleships, who were to attempt a raid of Heligoland."
"Great Scott!" exclaimed Frank. "I hadn't heard anything about that.
Was the raid a success?"
"It was not," replied Jack briefly.
"Explain," said Frank.
"I'm trying to," s