“A gallant fight!” declared Lord Hastings to his officers, as the Sylph drew off after the battle. “England may well be proud of her sailors!”
“It was glorious!” replied Frank. “But I am sorry we did not have a more important part to play.”
“And so am I,” declared Jack.
“Don’t let that worry you,” replied Lord Hastings. “You will see all the fighting you want, and more too before the war is over, or I miss my guess.”
“Well,” said Jack, “to-day’s action has proved one thing, at least.”
“And that?” questioned Lord Hastings.
“That” repeated Jack, “is that Britannia, as ever, rules the wave!”
CHAPTER XXV.
AT THE ELEVENTH HOUR.
Aboard H. M. S. battle cruiser Alto subdued excitement prevailed. It was six o’clock the morning after the first British naval victory off Helgoland, and still, for some unaccountable reason, the commander of the Alto had received no information of the battle.
Alice Beulow, pale from loss of sleep and tired to the point of exhaustion, paced to and fro in her little cabin. Several times she fell upon her knees beside her bed and prayed, for, by the mandate of the court-martial, she had less than two hours to live.