The prisoners taken from the U-87 were stowed safely away below-decks on the Essex, after which Jack got in touch with Admiral Sellings, on the Dakota, by wireless. He reported the capture of the submarine and the fact that it was being towed into port by the Ventura. Admiral Sellings ordered Jack to continue his patrol of the coast until further notice.
Nevertheless, the Essex escorted the Ventura almost to port, before putting about and resuming her patrol duty.
All the remainder of that day and the two days that followed Jack kept his ship moving up and down the coast, but he caught no sight of an enemy vessel, nor were any of the sinkings reported in that time close enough to be considered within his territory.
On the fourth day came a message from Admiral Sellings.
"German submarine reported twenty miles north of Cape Charles," read the message. "Investigate."
Jack acknowledged receipt of the order and addressed Frank, who stood beside him on the bridge.
"Something definite to act on at last," he said, and read the admiral's message aloud, adding: "Shape your course accordingly, Mr. Chadwick."
Frank gave the necessary directions. The big ship came about and headed south again.
It was well along in the afternoon when the Essex reached the approximate point designated by Admiral Sellings. Jack ran the destroyer as close in-shore as he dared, and for several hours cruised about in the neighborhood. But he saw nothing to indicate the presence of a submarine.
"If there's a U-Boat here, it's keeping pretty well under cover," said Frank.