“A great country,” he confided to Frank, as the vessel moved slowly out into the Roads.  “A great country.  I am glad to have seen it again, and I hope to come back some day.”

“Oh, you’ll come back,” said Frank.  “You’ll come back when the war’s over, to visit me.”

“I certainly will,” Jack declared.

The fortifications of Fortress Monroe now loomed ahead.

“I suppose the Commandant is somewhere about to wish us God-speed,” Frank remarked.

The lad was right.  And he did it in imposing manner.

The boom of a great gun was heard.  This was followed by the roar of many more; and the rumble continued as the Essex drew near, was louder as she breasted the fort and continued as the ship passed on.  Jack ordered a reply to the salute from the forward guns, and for the space of several minutes, the very sea seemed to tremble.

Then the Essex gathered speed and plowed ahead.

“Quite an ovation,” said Frank, as he and Jack descended to the latter’s cabin, leaving Lieutenant Hetherton on the bridge.

“It was, indeed.  Yes, as I said before, it’s a great country.  You should be proud to be a native of it.”

“I am,” said Frank simply.

CHAPTER XXIII

BACK IN ENGLAND

Following the return of the Essex to English waters, Jack reported at once to Lord Hastings in Dover.

“I hear great things of you boys,” said Lord Hastings.  “Great things indeed.”

“We were a bit fortunate, sir,” Jack admitted.

“It was more than good fortune,” declared Lord Hastings.  “But it’s nothing more than I expected of you both.”

They conversed about various matters for some minutes.  Then Jack asked: 

“And what is in store for us now, sir?”

“You will report to Admiral Beatty,” said Lord Hastings.  “The Essex will be assigned to duty with the Grand Fleet in the North Sea.  Patrol work, mostly.  There is little likelihood that the Germans will make another effort, but the sea must be patrolled, nevertheless.”

“When do we report, sir?”

“At once.  You will weigh anchor in the morning.  Admiral Beatty’s flagship is somewhere off the coast of Belgium.”

“Very well, sir,” said Jack, and departed.

The next day the Essex left Dover.  Fifty miles out, Jack picked up the flagship by wireless and received his instructions.

Days lengthened into weeks now and weeks into months and the Essex was still patrolling the North Sea with others of the Grand Fleet—­composed besides British vessels of an American squadron in command of Vice-Admiral Sims.  August passed and September came and still the Germans failed to venture from their fortress of Helgoland and offer battle to the allies.

The work became monotonous.  Occasionally, the Essex put back to port for several days to replenish her bunkers and to take on provisions.  At such times Jack and Frank usually went ashore for short periods, and the crew, portions at a time, were granted shore leave.