Frank passed the word for the quartermaster, who arrived within a few moments.

“Call Captain Templeton,” Frank directed.

Jack arrived on deck a few moments later and exchanged greetings with his visitor.  The latter produced a packet of papers.

“From the admiralty,” he said.  “You will know what to do with them.”

Jack took the papers and stowed them in his pocket.

“Yes, sir,” he said.

“That is all, then,” said the visitor.  “I shall be going.”

He stepped to the side of the vessel and disappeared.

“This means,” said Jack, after the other had gone, “that we can sail any time now.”

“Then why not at once?” asked Frank.

“You anticipated me,” replied Jack.  “Will you kindly pipe all hands on deck, Mr. Chadwick?”

Frank passed the word.

Sleepy men came tumbling from their bunks below.  All became bustle and hurry aboard the Brigadier.  Jack himself took the bridge.  Frank stood beside him.  Other officers took their places.

“Man the guns!” came Jack’s order.

It was the lad’s intention to overlook nothing that would protect the ship should it encounter an enemy submarine en route, and, as the lad knew, it was just as possible they would encounter one in the English Channel as elsewhere.

For, despite all precautions taken by British naval authorities, enemy submarines more than once had crept through the channel, once penetrating Dover harbor itself, where they had wreaked considerable damage before being driven away by British destroyers and submarine chasers.

A few moments later Jack signaled the engine room.

“Half speed ahead.”

Slowly the Brigadier slipped from her anchorage and moved through the still waters of the harbor.  Directly she pushed her nose into the channel, then headed east.

“Full speed ahead!” Jack signaled the engine room.

The Brigadier leaped forward.

“Better turn in, Jack,” said Frank.  “It’s Thompson’s watch.”

“No, I’ll stick until we reach the Atlantic,” returned Jack.

“Then I’ll stick along,” said Frank.

This they did.

It was hours later when the Brigadier ran clear of the channel and breasted the heavy swell of the Atlantic.  Jack spoke to Thompson, the third officer.

“I’m going to turn in,” he said.  “If anything happens, call me at once.”

“Very well, sir,” was the third officer’s reply.

He saluted briefly.  Jack and Frank went below.

“Come in a moment before you turn in, if you wish,” Jack said to Frank.

“May as well,” replied the latter.  “I don’t feel like turning in for an hour yet.”

“Well, you can’t keep me out of bed that long,” declared Jack.  “I’ve got to be stirring before you go on watch again.  But I thought we might talk a few moments.”

Nevertheless, it was an hour later that Frank went to his own cabin.  He turned in at once and was soon fast asleep.