“See that you do,” returned Lord Hastings gravely.  “Nothing was ever gained by too great impatience.  Remember that.”

“I’ll try, sir.”

“Very well.  Then I shall acquaint you with the nature of the work in hand.”

The boys listened intently to Lord Hastings’ next words.

“As you know,” His Lordship began, “the seas have virtually been cleared of all enemy ships.  All German merchant vessels have been captured or sunk.  What few raiders that preyed on our commerce for a time have been put out of business.”

“Yes, sir,” said Jack.  “Our merchant vessels no longer have anything to fear from the foe.”

“They shouldn’t, that’s true enough,” replied Lord Hastings.

“You mean they have, sir?” asked Jack, incredulously.

Lord Hastings nodded.

“I do,” he admitted gravely.  “Particularly shipping on the other side of the Atlantic.”

“America, sir?”

“Exactly.”

“But surely,” Frank put in, “surely our blockade is tight enough to prevent the enemy from breaking through.”

“We have not yet found means,” replied Lord Hastings, “of effectually blockading the submarine.”

“Oh, I see,” said Frank.  “You mean that the Germans plan to open a submarine campaign upon allied shipping in American waters.”

“Such is my information,” declared Lord Hastings.

“And,” said Jack, “you wish us to cross the Atlantic and take a hand in the game of taming the U-Boats, sir.”

“Such is my idea,” Lord Hastings admitted.  “Let me explain.  My information is not authentic, but nevertheless, knowing the Germans as I do, I am tempted to credit it.”

“Then why not warn the United States, sir?” asked Frank.  “There are enough American ships of war off the coast to deal effectually with all the submarines the Germans can get across.”

“So I would,” was Lord Hastings’ reply, “but for the fact that some officials of the admiralty are opposed to it.”

“Opposed?” exclaimed Jack.  “And why, sir?”

“Because they labor under the delusion that such a warning would throw the people of the United States into a panic and would prevent the sending of additional troops to France.”

“What a fool idea!  By George!” exclaimed Frank, “what do they think the American people are made of?”

“You’ll have to ask them,” was Lord Hastings’ answer to this question.  “For my own part, I feel that it is hardly fair to keep this information from the American authorities.”

“I should say it isn’t fair,” declared Frank.

“I agree with you,” said Jack.  “But just where do Frank and I come in, sir?”

“I’ll make that plain to you very quickly,” replied Lord Hastings.

He drew a paper from his pocket and passed it to Jack.