“That is the place,” replied Lord Hastings.
By one, two, ten, fifteen, nineteen ships the D-16 went, and then, just ahead, the form of the giantess of the sea loomed up. From her issued dense clouds of smoke, and her voice spoke in a terrible tone as she hurled her messages of death and destruction many miles farther than the eye could see.
This monster was the British Super-dreadnought Queen Elizabeth.
The two lads looked at her spell bound as she continued to spit fire and smoke, and in truth she looked like some monster of ancient fiction. In action as she was, she was indeed a wonderful sight.
“That,” said Frank calmly, “is what I call a ship.”
“Some ship, as you Americans would say,” laughed Lord Hastings.
Right under the stern of the Queen Elizabeth, the D-16 came to a stop. The commander of the British dreadnought had noticed the arrival of the little vessel, and took the time to hail her. Upon learning that Lord Hastings was her commander, he invited him to come aboard at once.
“Would you like to go with me, boys?” asked the commander of the D-16.
“I should say we would, sir,” replied Frank eagerly.
Jack also spoke in assent and five minutes later the three were aboard the Queen Elizabeth.