d asked for instructions.
When the reply came it was signed Lord Hastings and said merely:

"Stay where you are pending further orders."

And after three weeks no word had come.

Several times during the three weeks Jack and Frank, or one of the lads at
a time, had returned to Newport News to look to the needs of the Essex,
which still lay quietly in the James river. Steam was kept up in the
destroyer every moment of the day, and she was ready to put to sea on an
instant's notice.

"Chances are when we need her it will be in a hurry," said Jack.

Therefore nothing was overlooked that would enable the destroyer to go
into action on a moment's notice. Provisions were added to the stores from
time to time, and the crew were put through their drills daily.

Meanwhile, from what Jack and Frank learned from the British ambassador,
no steps had been taken to prepare for a possible German attack on
shipping in American waters. True, the coast defenses had been
strengthened, but that was merely a matter of routine for a country at
war.

Off the coast, warships were on patrol. But there were comparatively few
of these, for the bulk of the American fleet had been sent abroad to
reinforce the British grand fleet patroling the North Sea.

Jack and Frank discussed these matters frequently.

"It would be a great time for the Germans to strike," said Jack one
evening, as the lads sat in their rooms at the hotel. "The American people
don't seem to realize the possibilities of the submarine."

"That's true," said Frank, "but at the same time such an attack might
prove a boomerang to the Germans."

"What do you mean?"

"Why," said Frank, "you haven't forgotten, have you, that it took a number
of air raids on England to fully arouse the British people to the fact
that the Germans must be licked?"

"That's true enough," agreed Jack. "The Germans, of course, figured that
they would frighten England and scare her out of the war."

"Exactly, and the result was altogether different from what they had
anticipated. That's why I say submarine activities off the American coast
will prove a boomerang to the foe."

"I see," commented Jack. "You mean it would arouse the American people to
the necessity of prompt action."

"Exactly."

"Well," said Jack, "it begins to look as though Lord Hastings were wrong.
We've been here three weeks now and nothing has transpired to indicate
that the Germans are meditating a submarine raid in Ame