r Bridgman casually, "suppose the
_Destroyer_ was--er--lost and you with her."

"I've arranged for a set of plans to be delivered to the First Lord,
whoever he may be at the time," said John Dene.

"Good!" said Sir Bridgman. "You think of everything. We shall have
you commanding the Grand Fleet before the war's over."'

Sir Lyster said nothing. He did not quite relish the qualification
"whoever he may be at the time."

"About the spies," he said after a pause. "I think it would be
advisable to arrange for your protection."

"Not on your life!" cried John Dene with energy. "I don't want any
policemen following me around. I've got my own--well," he added, "I've
fixed things up all right, and if the worst comes to the worst, well
there aren't many men in this country that can beat John Dene with a
gun. Now it's up to me to make good on this proposition." He looked
from one to the other, as if challenging contradiction. Finding there
was none, he continued: "But there are a few things that I want before
I can start in, and then you won't see me for dust. You get me?" He
looked suddenly at Sir Lyster.

"We'll do everything in our power to help you, Mr. Dene," said Sir
Lyster, reaching for a clean sheet of paper from the rack before him.

"Well, I've got it all figured out here," said John Dene, taking a
paper from his jacket pocket. "First I want a written undertaking,
signed by you," turning to Sir Lyster, "and Mr. Llewellyn John that I'm
to have four months to run the _Destroyer_ with no one butting in."

Sir Lyster nodded and made a note.

"Next," continued John Dene, "I want a mothership fully equipped with
stores and fuel sufficient for four months."

Again Sir Lyster inclined his head and made a note.

"I'll give you a schedule of everything I'm likely to want. Then I
want an undertaking that if anything happens to me the command goes to
Blake and then to Quinton. If I don't get these things," he announced
with decision, "I'll call a halt right here."

"I think you can depend upon Sir Lyster doing all you want, Mr. Dene,"
said Sir Bridgman; "and when you see the way he does it, perhaps you'll
have a better opinion of the Admiralty."

Sir Lyster smiled slightly. He had already determined to show John
Dene that nowhere in the world was there an organisation equal to that
of the Admiralty Victualling and Stores Departments.

"You help John Dene and he's with you till the cows come to roost,"