Anxious now to inform the Allies’ fleet of the intended U-boat raid planned for the following evening McClure decided upon a flying trip down the Belgian coast during the night and then a dash across the North Sea to intercept speedy American destroyers and convey to them the valuable information that it might be relayed to the flagship and the warning given in due time.

“We’ll stick to the coast for the next six hours,” said the Monitor’s captain to his executive officer, “and may be able to lay out another U-boat hurrying to the tryst with Mother Bergerhof.”

Cruising on the surface the Monitor settled down for the night’s run with Jack in command while his superior officer went below for a few hours’ rest.  It was a calm moonlight night with a smooth running sea and a breeze out of the south.  Jack threw open the conning tower and climbed into the deck steering station.  From his vantage point he had a commanding view of the sea for many miles in every direction and the young ensign reveled in the glories of the night.

Suddenly, at a distance of not more than two miles off the starboard beam, Jack spied a vessel driving leisurely toward the east with a trail of smoke floating along in her train.  Taking up his glasses he was able to make her out plainly in the moonlight—–­a destroyer!

Without calling his captain Jack decided to follow her for a while and accordingly altered the course of the Monitor to east by southeast until she was cutting in at right angles toward the speedy warship.  After a chase lasting the better part of half an hour Jack found that the Monitor was rapidly approaching the mainland off to port, with the destroyer running into what appeared to be a convenient harbor on the Belgian coast.  He decided to report to McClure before proceeding further, and forthwith sent Ted to waken the ship’s commander.  In a few minutes McClure climbed into the conning tower.

“What’s up now?” he asked as he swept the horizon.

“Destroyer right ahead, sir,” reported Jack as he indicated the position of the vessel.  McClure picked it up with his glasses, and by taking the Monitor’s position was able very shortly to determine that the vessel was off the entrance to Ostend.

“We might as well run up a bit closer and take a shot at her anyway,” he announced shortly.

Crowding on full speed, the American vessel edged in closer and was then partially submerged.  The German vessel had not noticed the submarine as yet; at least, she gave no indication of being cognizant of the proximity of the American vessel.  At a distance of three thousand yards McClure decided to loose a torpedo.

“We’ll take one shot and then dive,” he said.  “The coast is studded with guns everywhere here and we are too close to them to loiter around long.”

In another moment, after sighting carefully on the fleeing destroyer, McClure gave the signal to fire and Jack sent a torpedo whirling from the bow of the Monitor.