CHAPTER XI
THE WARNING GIVEN
"Land Ho!"
The cry came from the forward lookout, posted aloft.
Jack clapped his binoculars to his eyes and gazed earnestly ahead.
"Where do you make our position, sir?" asked Lieutenant Hetherton.
"Off the Virginia Capes," was Jack's reply. "We should pick up Fort Monroebefore noon."
Jack was a good prophet. It still lacked half an hour of midday when theoutlines of the historic fortress at Old Point became distinguishable inthe distance.
The Essex slipped quietly through the smooth waters of Hampton Roads anddropped anchor some distance off shore. At Jack's command the launch wasmade ready, and leaving Lieutenant Hetherton in command, Jack motionedFrank to follow him into the launch.
A moment later they were gliding shoreward through the water.
"We'll have to pay our respects to the commandant," said Jack. "It wouldbe a breach of etiquette if we didn't. Also, I want to ascertain the bestplace to anchor for the next week or so."
"Surely you're not figuring on staying here," protested Frank.
"Not at all, but you know these papers I have been entrusted with must bedelivered, and I can't deliver them here. I'll have to go to Washington."
"Right," Frank agreed. "I had forgotten. And are you going to take mealong?"
Jack smiled.
"Well, I might, if you are real good," he said.
"I'll be good," Frank promised.
"Hello," said Jack at this point, "if I'm not mistaken, here comes a guardof honor to escort us to the commandant."
Toward the point where the launch now moved, half a dozen Americanofficers approached. They extended helping hands as Jack and Frankscrambled ashore. Jack addressed the senior officer, a major.
"I am Captain Templeton of H.M.S. Essex," he said. "Will you please escortme into the presence of the commandant?"
"With pleasure, sir," replied the major. "Come with me."
He led the way, Frank and the other American officers following. Jack wasreceived immediately by the commandant. Their conference was brief, andsoon Jack returned to the place where he had left Frank.
"Well, what did he say?" demanded Frank, as they made their way backtoward the launch.
"Said it would be well to continue to Newport News," said Jack. "Dockingfacilities are better there right now. We can tie up alongside one of thepiers there, or anchor off shore, as we choose. Said he would send word ofour coming."
"Good," said Frank. "Then I suppose we shall continue without delay?"
"Yes."
"But if memory serves," said Frank, "Newport News is on the James River,and not Hampton Roads."
"Correct," replied Jack.
"Well, I didn't know the river was navigable by a vessel of our draught."
"It is, nevertheless," replied Jack.
They stepped into the launch, and were soon back aboard the Essex. Jackimmediately gave the necessary commands and the vessel moved forward.
Two hours later the Essex anchored in the James River half a mile offshore. Frank took in the scene about him, and expressed his wonder.
Shipping of all the allied and many of the neutral nations was to be seenon every hand. Almost over night, it seemed, Newport News had grown froma port of little importance to one of the greatest shipping centers in theUnited States. There, half a mile away, Frank saw one of the great Germanmerchantmen, which had been interned soon after the outbreak of the war,but which was later to be converted into a United States auxiliarycruiser.
"Well," said Jack, "there is no use delaying here. The commandant at thefort informed me that about the quickest way to get to Washington now isto take a boat up the Potomac."
"And where do we get the boat?" asked Frank.
"Norfolk. But what's the matter with you, Frank? Where's your geography?Seems to me that if I were born and lived most of my life in the UnitedStates I would know something about it."
"I do know something about it," declared Frank; "but how do you expect meto know all these details? This is the first time I've ever been inNewport News, and I've never been to Norfolk. How do we get there fromhere?"
"Either in the Essex's launch, or by ferry."
"Which way do you choose?"
"Ferry, I guess. It will save trouble all around."
"Any way suits me," said Frank.
"You talk like you were dead certain of going along," remarked Jack with agrin.
"Of course I do. I know you could not be hard-hearted enough to leave mebehind."
"Nevertheless," Jack declared, "I'm not sure I shouldn't leave you incommand here."
"By George! That's no way to talk," declared Frank. "Hetherton can stickon the job here."
"Well, I guess it will be all right," said Jack. "We may as well pack whatbelongings we shall need. We shouldn't be gone more than a day or two."
"I hope so, and I feel sure we shall. There has been no sign yet of enemyactivities in this water."
"And there won't be any sign in advance. When the Germans strike it willbe suddenly."
The lads threw what belongings they believed they would need into theirhandbags and were rowed ashore. They proceeded at once to the pier of theChesapeake and Ohio ferry and soon were moving along toward Norfolk.
It was a short ride to Norfolk. Arrived in the city an hour later, theyinquired the way to the offices of the Washington and Norfolk Steamboatcompany, where they were fortunate enough to be able to secure a stateroomthat night.
It was still early, so the lads spent the afternoon looking about thecity, called by the natives the "New York of the South." They went aboardthe steamer Northland at 5.30 o'clock, and at 6 the boat left its pier.Jack and Frank remained on deck until after the Northland had put in atOld Point and taken on additional passengers. Then they went below todinner.
"You know this isn't a bad boat," Frank declared after a walk around,following their dinner.
"Indeed it isn't," Jack agreed. "It has all the comforts of home. It'srather small, but outside of that I can't see anything wrong with it."
"I guess it's big enough for us to-night," grinned Frank.
There were a score or more of American army and navy officers aboard andwith some of these the lads struck up an acquaintance. In fact, sointerested were some of the Americans in the lads' experiences that theysat up late regaling their newly found friends with accounts of warfare inEuropean waters.
Nevertheless, Jack and Frank were up early the following morning and had asubstantial breakfast before the boat docked at the foot of Seventh streetin the nation's capital. There they took a taxi and were driven to theRaleigh hotel.
"Now," said Jack, "the first thing to do is to get in touch with theBritish ambassador and have him arrange an audience with the secretary ofthe navy at the earliest possible moment."
Jack got the embassy on the telephone, told who he was and announced thathe would be on hand to see the ambassador within the hour. Then the ladswere driven to the embassy. Here Jack presented his credentials andexpressed his desire to see the secretary of the navy at once.
"You return to your hotel," said the ambassador. "I'll arrange theaudience and call for you in my automobile."
The lads followed these instructions.
At 2 o'clock in the afternoon the ambassador called for them. They weredriven at once to the War and Navy department building on Pennsylvaniaavenue and were ushered almost immediately to the offices of SecretaryDaniels. After a wait of perhaps five minutes, Mr. Daniels' privatesecretary announced.
"Mr. Daniels will see you now."
The three passed into the secretary's private office, where the Britishambassador introduced the lads. Secretary Daniels expressed his pleasureat the meeting, then said:
"And now what can I do for you, gentlemen?"
For answer Jack passed over the papers entrusted him by the Admiralty.Secretary Daniels scanned them briefly.
"These matters shall be atten
ded to, gentlemen," he said. "Now, is thereanything else?"
"There is, sir," said Jack, "and a matter probably of much greaterimportance."
He drew from his pocket the documents given him by Lord Hastings, andthese he also passed to Secretary Daniels. The latter read themcarefully, his face drawn into a scowl.
"Hm-m-m," he said at last. "Hm-m-m."
He grew silent, apparently lost in thought. At last he spoke.
"I have had some such fears myself," he said at last, "but it seems theyare not shared by other officials of the department. I dislike to takematters altogether into my hands, and yet I suppose I can do it. First,however, I shall make an effort to convince my associates through thesedocuments."
"I am instructed to say, sir," said Jack, "that it would be well if yougave the matter prompt attention."
"Oh," said Secretary Daniels, "I anticipate no immediate trouble; andstill this is a matter that should not be overlooked. I thank you,gentlemen, for bringing the matter to my attention."
He rose from his chair, signifying that the interview was ended.
Jack and Frank left the Navy department, and the ambassador dropped themat their hotel.
"I don't know what to think of the Secretary of the Navy," said Jack whenthey were alone. "He didn't seem greatly interested."
"He is the man, you know," said Frank, "who wanted to change the technicalterms of port and starboard to right and left."
"That's so," said Jack, "but I'll venture to say he can rise to anemergency."
"There is no doubt about that," Frank agreed, and added quietly:"Americans always have."
Boy Allies with the Victorious Fleets; Or, The Fall of the German Navy Page 11
