The Boy Allies With The Victorious Fleets

CHAPTER I

ABOARD U.S.S. PLYMOUTH


"Sail at 4 a.m.," said Captain Jack Templeton of the U.S.S. Plymouth,
laying down the long manila envelope marked "Secret." "Acknowledge by
signal," he directed the ship's messenger, and then looked inquiringly
about the wardroom table.

"Aye, aye, sir," said the first officer, Lieutenant Frank Chadwick.

"Ready at four, sir," said the engineer officer, Thomas; and left his
dinner for a short trip to the engine room to push some belated repairs.

"Send a patrol ashore to round up the liberty party," continued Captain
Templeton, this time addressing the junior watch officer. "Tell them to
be aboard at midnight instead of eight in the morning."

"Aye, aye, sir," said the junior watch officer, and departed in haste.

There was none of the bustle and confusion aboard the U.S.S. Plymouth, at
that moment lying idle in a British port, that the landsman would commonly
associate with sailing orders to a great destroyer. Blowers began to hum
in the fire rooms. The torpedo gunner's mates slipped detonators in the
warheads and looked to the rack load of depth charges. The steward made a
last trip across to the depot ship. Otherwise, things ran on very much as
before.

At midnight the junior watch officer called the captain, who had turned in
several hours earlier, and reported:

"Liberty party all on board, sir."

Then he turned in for a few hours' rest himself.