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I would stake my soul that the American Navy can safeguard the passage of the One Hundred and Seventeenth Division of the American Army!
There was a gasp. The words were bold, but, if true, they solved a vexing problem. The spirit of the United States Navy had spoken through Dave Darrins lips.
Darrin, shouted an American staff officer, bringing a fist down on the table, then springing to his feet, youve answered for us! Youve given us our chart. Id trust the best troopship fleet well ever send over the ocean to the guarding care of a dozen young Yankee naval commanders of your stripe.
In an instant the enthusiasm became infectious. A cheer arose, in which the vice admiral joined. The British naval officer of the booming tones left his seat and went over to grasp Daves hand.
Darrin, I wish we had you in our Navy! he said, simply.
There was little more left to be agreed upon. It was decided, however, that a combined fleet of British and American patrol boats should be in readiness
to swoop down and save lives in case any of the American troopships should be torpedoed.
The council soon broke up. All that was now left to be done was for the vice admiral and his immediate staff to formulate the exact plans for the protection of the One Hundred and Seventeenth Division. Even after the destroyer fleet had turned itself loose on its task, further instructions could be sent in wireless code.
Gentlemen, said the vice admiral, rising, I thank you for your attendance, for your consideration of the problem, and for whatever help you have been able to extend. And I can see no objection, he added, a twinkle in his eyes, to your giving three cheers for Lieutenant-Commander Darrin.
Proud? Not a bit. As the volleys of cheers rang out deafeningly, Dave Darrin felt as though he would enjoy sinking through the deck.
But Danny Grin was there, and he undertook the job of feeling proud for his chum.
CHAPTER VI THE GLOW-WORM OF THE SEA
Out upon the sea, and seemingly alone at that. Not a sail was visible to the officers on the taut little destroyer, not a trail of smoke appeared on any part of the horizon. Indeed, the present speed and low fuel consumption aboard the Logan allowed only the thinnest wisps of smoke to issue from the raking funnels of the destroyer.
Had Dave needed other destroyer company, for any urgent reason, a signal snapping from his radio aerials would bring one, perhaps two, American destroyers to him within an hour. For some of these bulldog little fighting craft, that were out after the deep-sea pests, were capable of making more than thirty knots an hour.
The Logan had been out four days. Though headed westward at this moment, she had not been moving steadily westward, for she was now not more than three hundred and thirty miles west of the coast of Ireland.
On this fourth day, as on its predecessors, the destroyer steamed along at cruising speed. Though the crew knew nothing of Germanys proposed big submarine drive directed at the troopships conveying the One Hundred and Seventeenth Division, yet every marine and sailor felt that something unusual was in the wind. The lookouts had been instructed to aid their vision by the free use of their marine glasses and precautions out of the ordinary had been taken in other directions.
The Germans are using a new submarine periscope, slimmer than any that they have heretofore employed. They hoist it for only a few seconds at a time and do not send it as far out of the water as they did with the old style periscope. The man who sights a periscope in time will save our ship.
That was the word constantly passed about by the Logans officers. Every sailor hoped that he might be the lucky one to discover a periscope in time to lead to the bombing of one of the pests.
Dave had reached the bridge at seven bells. Dalzell was now below, sleeping as soundly as though he were back in the old home town of Gridley. Lieutenant Curtin was on the bridge watch.
Its odd, Mr. Curtin, that we havent sighted a submarine in four days; that we havent had the slightest visible reason to suspect the presence of one, Dave remarked to his subordinate officer.
Very likely, sir, were too far out, Curtin replied.
Yet we have every reason to believe that theyve extended the danger zone further westward, Darrin continued.
Thats the belief of the fleet commander, Curtin answered, but theres always a chance of his having guessed wrong. Why isnt it just as probable, he added, in a much lower tone, that the Huns have decided to have a try at the troopship fleet fairly close to land?
It wouldnt be likely, Dave went on, in an equally low tone. For one thing, Mr. Curtin, the enemy would want their first try farther out. Then, if they missed, theyd have another chance, perhaps, closer to land.
If they missed on their first try, the Huns would have to run their submersibles on the surface in order to overtake the troopship fleet for another chance. They couldnt travel under water and overtake the troopship fleet.