“I can see the Vice-Admiral standing by himself up on the bridge,” Amos remarked just then. “If only you could catch his eye he might beckon to you to join him there, for I fancy he’s taken a great liking to you, Jack.”
“That would give me the opening I wanted, to ask a favor of him about being put ashore, wouldn’t it, Amos? Besides, he would be likely to know about where aviation headquarters might be found.”
“Nothing like trying, Jack; and here’s wishing you luck.”
Jack managed to stroll forward until near the bridge. He stood there, keeping an eye on the figure in the admiral’s uniform. Apparently the commander was using his binoculars to some purpose, possibly locating certain units of the fleet so as to know which way to look for any orders that might come from the one in supreme control, while darkness rested on the sea.
Something caused him to glance downward after a little while, and seeing Jack saluting him, he smiled. Then, just as Amos had prophesied, he beckoned the boy to ascend to the bridge and join him.
Amos laughed softly when he saw this. Doubtless he was saying to himself that he was a good guesser, since he had made a bull’s-eye the first shot. He watched Jack join the commander, who immediately engaged him in earnest conversation, pointing out certain warships as though telling Jack what they had accomplished. Then Jack must have started to mention what he and his comrade wished to do, for the Vice-Admiral seemed to be listening, occasionally saying something as the opportunity arose.
“It’s all right,” Amos remarked, in a satisfied tone. “I know he’ll do nearly anything Jack asks of him, because my chum has such a convincing way about him, he can nearly always carry his point. And it may be we’ll not be aboard the bully old Thunderer when dawn breaks, though that remains to be seen.”
A short time afterwards he saw Jack again salute the grizzled commander, and start down from the bridge, while the officer again used his glass to locate the most prominent units of the big fleet of war vessels.