tell you," he said to Jack, "that the Essex has made quite a
name for herself among my men."

"I'm glad to hear that, sir," declared Jack.

"The men are only sorry, and naturally," continued the commandant, "that
she was not manned by an American crew."

"Naturally, as you say, sir," Jack agreed. "Yet my first officer is an
American."

The Commandant glanced at Frank.

"Can that be true?" he asked.

Frank smiled.

"It's true enough, sir," he said. "Yes, I'm a native of the Bay state and
am in the British service merely as the result of an accident."

He explained.

"Well," said the Commandant, 'I'm glad of it. I'll have something to tell
my officers and men that will make them proud. I hope that the next time
either of you find yourselves in these parts you will look me up."

"Thank you, sir. We certainly shall," said Jack.

The Commandant took his departure.

"And now," said Jack, "for England."

First, Jack made a personal tour of inspection of the destroyer. Finding
everything ship-shape, the crew was piped to quarters and Jack rang for
half speed ahead.

A crowd had gathered at the water's edge and the Essex was speeded on her
way by cheering and waving thousands. It was a touching scene, and Jack
was very proud.

"A great country," he confided to Frank, as the vessel moved slowly out
into the Roads. "A great country. I am glad to have seen it again, and I
hope to come back some day."

"Oh, you'll come back," said Frank. "You'll come back when the war's over,
to visit me."

"I certainly will," Jack declared.

The fortifications of Fortress Monroe now loomed ahead.

"I suppose the Commandant is somewhere about to wish us God-speed," Frank
remarked.

The lad was right. And he did it in imposing manner.

The boom of a great gun was heard. This was followed by the roar of many
more; and the rumble continued as the Essex drew near, was louder as she
breasted the fort and continued as the ship passed on. Jack ordered a
reply to the salute from the forward guns, and for the space of several
minutes, the very sea seemed to tremble.

Then the Essex gathered speed and plowed ahead.

"Quite an ovation," said Frank, as he and Jack descended to the latter's
cabin, leaving Lieutenant Hetherton on the bridge.

"It was, indeed. Yes, as I said before, it's a great country. You should
be proud to be a native of it."

"I am," said Frank simply.

CHAPTER XXIII

BACK IN ENGLAND

Following