“Something wrong,” he muttered.  “Wonder why they didn’t call me?”

He hurried on deck.

Frank, in his cabin, also had been aroused by the noise.  He, too, sprang into his clothes and hurried on deck.

There the first thing that his eyes encountered was a circle of figures, with hands joined, dancing about the bridge and yelling at the top of their voices.  Among them was Jack, who, for the moment, seemed to have forgotten the dignity that went with his command.  Also, the shrill signal whistle continued to give long, sharp blasts.  Frank looked at Jack in pure amazement.

“Must have gone crazy,” he muttered.

He hurried to the bridge and standing behind the dancing figures, caught Jack by the coat as he whirled by.

“I say,” he demanded.  “What’s the meaning of this?  Have you gone mad?”

Jack stopped and broke away from the circle which danced on without him.

“Almost,” said Jack, in answer to Frank’s question, “and with good reason.”

“What—­” began Frank.

“By George!  Can’t you think?” demanded Jack.

Gradually comprehension dawned on Frank.

“You mean—­” he began again.

“Of course, I mean it,” shouted Jack.  “Why else do you think I’d be dancing around here like a whirling dervish?  Come on and join the crowd.  The armistice has been signed!”

“Hurrah!” shouted Frank.

A moment later he was circling madly about the bridge with the others.

CHAPTER XXVII

PREPARING FOR THE SURRENDER

Although the armistice had now been officially signed and fighting had ceased, under orders from Admiral Beatty, commander of the Grand Fleet, every ship was still stripped for action.  While it appeared that everything was open and above-board, the British admiral intended to take no chances.  He recalled other German treachery and he was not at all sure in his own mind that the enemy might not attempt some other trick.

Two days after the signing of the armistice, upon instructions from the admiralty, Admiral Beatty got in touch by wireless with the German fleet commander in Helgoland, Admiral Baron von Wimpfen.  With the latter Admiral Beatty was to arrange for the surrender for such portions of the German High Seas Fleet as had been decided upon by Marshal Foch and the German armistice commission.

All day the wireless sputtered incessantly aboard the flagship, while other ship commanders within radio distance listened to what was going on.  Jack was among these.  He relieved his radio operator for the day and took the instrument himself.

“The German fleet,” ticked Admiral Beatty’s flagship wireless, “will steam forth from Helgoland on November 19 and move due west toward the English coast, where the British fleet will be stationed to await its coming.”

“Shall we dismantle our guns?” asked Admiral von Wimpfen.