ight enrol his crew in the Navy; what
do you think?" Mr. Llewellyn John abounded in tact.

"I take it that you understand navigation, Mr. Dene?" ventured the
Admiral.

"Sure," was the reply. "You come a trip with me, and I'll show you
navigation that'll make your hair stand on end. Sorry," he added a
moment after, observing that Admiral Heyworth was almost aggressively
bald.

"That's all right," laughed the Admiral; "they call me the coot."

"Well, is it a deal?" demanded John Dene, rising.

"It is," said Mr. Llewellyn John, "and a splendid deal for the British
Empire, Mr. Dene," he added, holding out his hand. "It's a great
privilege to meet a patriot such as you. Sir Lyster and Admiral
Heyworth will settle all details to your entire satisfaction."

"If they do for me, I want you to give the command to Blake, then to
Quinton, and so on, only to my own boys; is that agreed?"

"Do for you?" queried Mr. Llewellyn John.

"Huns, they're after me every hour of the day. There was a little chap
even in your own building."

"We really must intern these Germans----" began Mr. Llewellyn John.

"You're barking up the wrong tree, over here," said John Dene with
conviction. "You think a German spy's got a square head and says 'Ach
himmel' and 'Ja wohl' on street-cars. It's the neutrals mostly, and
sometimes the British," he added under his breath.

"In any case you will, I am sure, find that Sir Lyster will do whatever
you want," said Mr. Llewellyn John as they walked towards the door.

For the second time that morning John Dene smiled as he left No. 110,
Downing Street, with Sir Lyster and Admiral Heyworth, whilst Mr.
Llewellyn John rang up the chief of Department Z.

CHAPTER II

JOHN DENE'S WAY

As Sir Lyster entered Mr. Blair's room, accompanied by John Dene and
Admiral Heyworth, he was informed that Sir Bridgman North, the First
Sea Lord, was anxious to see him.

"Ask him if he can step over now, Blair," said Sir Lyster, and the
three men passed into the First Lord's room. Two minutes later Sir
Bridgman North entered, and Sir Lyster introduced John Dene.

For a moment the two men eyed one another in mutual appraisement; the
big, bluff Sea Lord, with his humorous blue eyes and ready laugh, and
the keen, heavy-featured Canadian, as suspicious of a gold band as of a
pickpocket.

"Pleased to meet you," said John Dene perfunctorily, as they shook
hands. "Now you'd better give me a chance to work