Inside Jack’s cabin, Frank found his commander and chum engaged in conversation with the engineer officer, who had sought his new commander immediately after giving instructions below.  He saluted Frank as the lad entered.

“My first officer, Lieutenant Chadwick, Mr. Winslow,” Jack introduced them.  “I am sure you will get along together.”

“So am I, sir,” agreed the engineer.  “And when shall we be moving, sir?”

“I can’t say, exactly,” replied Jack.  “Probably not before morning, but I wish to be ready to leave on a moment’s notice.”

“Very well, sir,” said the engineer, “As I said before, I’ll have steam up in two hours.”

“Do so, sir.”

The engineer saluted and left Jack’s cabin.

Jack turned to Frank.

“Now,” he said, “what are you doing here?  I thought I left you to take the deck?”

“I turned the deck over to Hetherton,” replied Frank with a grin.  “I wanted to find out what all this rush is about?”

“Don’t you know it’s bad form to ask questions of your commander?” Jack said severely.

“Maybe it is,” Frank agreed, “but I just wanted to find out.”

“Well, I wouldn’t do it in front of any of the other officers or the men,” said Jack.  “It’s bad for the ship’s discipline.  However, I’ll tell you, I just wanted to have things ready, that’s all.  Come, we’ll go on deck.”

They ascended to the bridge.  Jack addressed Lieutenant Hetherton.

“Pipe all hands on deck for inspection, Lieutenant,” he ordered.

Lieutenant Hetherton passed the word.  A moment later men came tumbling up the companion way and fell into line aft.  Jack and Frank walked forward to look them over.  Jack addressed a few words to the men.

“I’ve just taken over command of the Brigadier,” he said.  “To-morrow morning, or sooner, we shall sail, our destination temporarily to be known only to myself.  I believe that I may safely promise you some action before many days have passed.”

A hearty British cheer swept the ship.

“Hurrah!” cried the men.

A few moments later Jack dismissed them.  Then the officers returned to the bridge, where Jack told off the watches.

“Now,” he said, “I’ll have to look over the ship.”

Frank accompanied him on his tour of inspection.  They found everything absolutely clean and ship-shape.  The muzzles of the big guns were shining brightly beneath their coat of polish.  After the inspection, Jack and Frank went below for a look at the ship’s papers.

The Brigadier was a small destroyer, not more than 200 feet long.  It had a complement of 250 men, officers and crew; carried two batteries of 9-inch guns in turrets forward and aft and was equipped with three 2-inch torpedo tubes.  It was not one of the latest of British destroyers, but still it was modern in many respects.

“A good ship,” said Jack, after a careful examination of the papers.  “As to speed, we should get twenty-three knots on a pinch.  Her fighting equipment is excellent, everything is spick and span, and I was impressed with the officers and crew.  Yes, she is a good ship.”