“But not with my permission,” continued McClure after a pause.

Jack was pleased at the compliment and hastened to assure his commander that he hoped always to remain with him for the war.  Jack’s brave fight to save his captain from the sea in the encounter with the floating mine, together with the experiences they had shared the last two weeks, had endeared these two to each other, and while there was a difference of some ten years in their ages, they were close friends.

Commander McClure’s surmises as to the disposition of the U-boat were correct, as subsequent events showed.  Chief Engineer Blaine and his staff of the Dewey were assigned to the U-boat with orders to familiarize themselves with the operation of the vessel as quickly as possible.  American deck guns were being substituted for the German guns and alterations being made in the torpedo tubes to accommodate made-in-america torpedoes.

Returning to the naval station one afternoon from shore-leave, Commander McClure drew Jack aside to announce briefly that he had just received orders transferring him from the Dewey to command of the U-boat.  Executive Officer Cleary, with a portion of the Dewey’s crew, had been detailed to remain in Chatham with the American submarine.  It was to undergo extensive repairs after its perilous adventure on the bottom of the sea.

“And now I have a surprise for you,” smiled “Little Mack,” as he took from his inner pocket an official-looking envelope and handed it to Jack.  The latter took the proffered envelope and tore it open.  What he read therein was enough to make any ambitious young American submarine sailor open his eyes.

It was an official order announcing the appointment of Jack as an ensign with an assignment to the captured U-boat as executive officer under Lieutenant-commander McClure!

Jack could scarce believe what he read and was so dumbfounded he could not speak for some minutes.

“And our friend Wainwright is to be with us, too,” continued McClure.

“You mean Ted Wainwright?” asked Jack.

“Yes, he will be my aide and relieve the wireless operator at times,” explained “Little Mack.”  “As a matter of fact,” he continued, “I will ship the most of my old crew on the U-boat.  The Dewey will be out of service for some time and Cleary will probably take her out on her next voyage with a brand new crew.”

Jack excused himself in a few minutes to hurry away and acquaint Ted with the news.  He found his chum writing letters and broke the news to him.  The two did a fine young hornpipe dance, so delighted were they over the fact that they had been assigned together to the same vessel again—–­and to the famous U-boat.

The next ten days were taken up by the new officers of the U-boat in acquainting themselves thoroughly with the operation of the captured craft, and in preparations for the new trip to sea.  Latest news from the front had shown the Allies closing in on the German naval bases along the North Sea front.  The combined armies of the Americans, the French and the British under one commander had driven the Huns northward till Zeebrugge was in danger of being wrested from them.  Consequently, the American lads were anxious to get into the fray with their powerful new vessel.