"Frank, sir," said Jack.
"Come," said His Lordship, "I have a way to decide."
He took two toothpicks, and broke one off a little shorter than the other. He put them behind his back for a moment, and then held his hand out in front of him.
"Whoever draws the shortest stick," he said, "shall be my first officer. Draw!"
Jack took one of the toothpicks and Frank the other. Then they compared them.
Frank dropped his and slapped Jack heartily on the back.
"Good!" he said joyfully, "you've won."
CHAPTER XX
THE "EMDEN"
"The Emden," said Lord Hastings to Jack and Frank, "has probably done more damage to British, French and Russian shipping than all of the other German raiders and fleets at large."