"It would seem so, that's a fact. However, I guess we will get the
information all in good time."

"That's all right. But I'm anxious to know what's going on."

"Well, we won't know to-night; so I am in favor of turning in."

"Guess we may as well."

But early the next morning, an account of the first day's proceedings of
the armistice delegates was flashed to the fleet. This, however, did not
bring much jubilation, for the announcement simply said that the German
delegates had refused the terms offered by Marshal Foch and had returned
to their own lines for further instructions.

"Told you so!" exclaimed Frank. "This war is not over yet."

"Don't you believe it," declared Jack. "These Germans may do a little
bluffing--I'd probably try the same thing under similar conditions--but
you mark my words, they'll accept the terms, all right."

"The conference is to be resumed some time this afternoon," said Frank.
"That means that we will hear nothing before morning."

"It depends," said Jack. "If the armistice is signed to-day, we'll
probably get the word immediately; but if it stretches out for a day or
two, we probably won't"

"I guess that's about the size of it," Frank admitted.

All during the day excitement aboard the Essex, and all other vessels
patrolling the North Sea, for that matter, was at fever heat. While every
man knew that there was little likelihood of receiving news until long
after dark, each one nevertheless lived in hopes.

Nevertheless, patrol work was still being done carefully. It had become an
axiom of a British sailor that a German was not to be trusted--that when
he appeared the least dangerous, it was time to watch him more carefully.
Consequently, in spite of the impending armistice, the vigilance of the
British fleet was not relaxed.

Six o'clock came, and seven; and still there had been no word from the
scene of the armistice conference. At eight o'clock Frank said:

"I don't know what we are sitting up for. Something must have gone wrong
again. If the armistice had been signed we would know something of it by
this time."

"Hold your horses," said Jack. "I'm just as anxious as you are, but there
is no use getting excited about it."

"Well," said Frank, "if we haven't heard something by nine o'clock, I'm
going to turn in."

But at nine o'clock no word had been received.

"I know we shall hear nothing to-night," said Frank, rising, "so I'm going
to tumble into my bunk."

"