Their surmises were all too true, for very soon Commander McClure, who had been ashore for some hours now while the businesslike preparations were in progress, came alongside in the launch of the commandant of the yard and called his staff of officers into executive conference down in the officers’ quarters.  The news spread quickly through the Dewey as though by magic, that the submarine was due to get away during the night under sealed orders.  A few minutes later Bill Witt confirmed the news.  He was on night watch and had heard it from the officer of the deck.

Under sealed orders!  Where and what!

CHAPTER IV

SOMEWHERE IN THE NORTH SEA

The Dewey was off!  Shortly after midnight the little craft got under way, with her nose pointed out of the harbor.

“I guess it’s ‘so long U.S.A.’ this time,” confided Jack to his chum, as they stood together, aft the conning tower.

“Gee, I’m glad we’re off!” answered Ted.  “I only hope we are going over there with the rest of the boys.”

Although they had yet to learn officially their destination, the Brighton boys, together with other members of the crew of the Dewey, took it for granted they now were on their way to Europe to join the great American fleet and battle with the Imperial German Navy for the mastery of the sea.  It had been noised about ever since their enlistment that Uncle Sam’s submarine fleet was soon to be sent abroad.

“Going to fight the U-boat snakes with made-in-America snakes!” was the way Bill Witt had sized up, the situation one evening when he and the Brighton recruits had been discussing the likelihood of their getting out on the firing line at an early date.

Jovial Bill Witt had proved such a capital good fellow that Jack and Ted had taken a great liking to him.  The three boys were great pals by this time and were always together in their leisure moments.  Temperamental Jean Cartier, the smiling little Frenchman who had shipped aboard the Dewey as chief commissary steward, very often joined their circle and spun the boys stories of that dear France and his home near Marseilles.

To-night it was different.  There was no levity.  Every man seemed to sense the situation and stood to his post of duty grimly conscious of the serious business upon which he had embarked.  Through the minds of the lads flitted visions of home and campus.

Jack, dreaming of good old Brighton, was stirred out of his reverie by his chum.

“Do you suppose we will go all the way over under our own power, or will we be towed?” Ted was asking.

“Haven’t the least doubt but that we’ll stand on our own sea legs,” replied Jack.  “Don’t you remember how we read in the papers early in the war of a bunch of submarines put together in the St. Lawrence River going all the way across to Gibraltar and thence through the Mediterranean to the Dardanelles under their own power?”