“Seven days in bed,” he declared.  “Not a second less; and two more days before you can move about much.”

“Yes, but look here, Doc,” said Lord Hastings.  “I’ve work to do.  I’ve got to get back into harness.”

“And two weeks exactly before you can get back in harness,” declared the man of medicine.

From this ultimatum he would not swerve.

At the end of the first week Lord Hastings was for disregarding the surgeon’s orders and getting back into harness anyhow; but Jack and Frank would not hear of it.

“Might just as well get well, first, sir,” declared Jack.

Lord Hastings glared at him.

“How about you?” he demanded.  “How would you like to stay around like this doing nothing?  You couldn’t sit here for five minutes.  I know you.”

“You may be right, sir,” agreed Frank.  “But you are older than I am, sir, and should have more patience and fortitude.”

Lord Hastings was forced to smile at this rejoinder.

“You see, sir,” said Frank, “I can remember some of the things you have said to me.”

“I see,” agreed Lord Hastings.  “I guess, then, that I shall have to remain here, if for no other reason than to set a good example for you.”

“That’s right, sir,” declared Jack.  “If you didn’t, there would be no living with Frank.”

“Oh, I don’t know,” said the latter.  “I can remember one time when you were in bad shape that I had to threaten to lick you to keep you in bed.”

“Well, that’s different,” said Jack.  “I——­”

“Well, let’s talk about something cheerful,” said Lord Hastings.  “Germans or anything like that.”

And so the conversation was changed.

When the two weeks had come to an end Lord Hastings proceeded to get back in harness immediately.

“I’ve been here long enough,” he told the boys.  “Back to The Hawk again now.”

And back to The Hawk they went that day.

Aboard The Hawk Lord Hastings made a careful inspection and then left the lads, while he held an interview with the British commanding officer in charge of the motorboat flotilla.  When he returned he had a smile on his face.

“Good news,” he said, as he came aboard.

“What, sir?” asked Frank.

“Action to-night, sir?” demanded Jack.

“Better than that—­for you boys,” replied Lord Hastings.  “Action, and at once.”

“Where?” asked Frank.

“Around the same neighborhood we were in before.”

“Good,” declared Jack.

“And more important prey, this time,” continued Lord Hastings.

“Submarines?” asked Jack.

“Well, that’s what we expect,” replied Lord Hastings.  “We hope to be fortunate enough to find one or two.”

“When do we start, sir?” demanded Frank.

“As soon as the Glasgow comes along.”

“The Glasgow, sir?  You mean the steamship Glasgow?”