"She's seen us!" cried Frank, and dropped into a seat, laughing happily. Both lads watched silently the oncoming cruiser. "Can you make her out?" asked Frank at length. Jack rose and looked sharply across the water. "Yes," he said finally. "She is the Cumberland." A small boat was lowered from the cruiser and put off toward them. Soon it scraped alongside the boys' craft, and they were taken aboard where they were received with expressions of great surprise, both by the officer in command and by members of the boat's crew. "How did you get away out here?" asked the surprised boatswain. Briefly Jack explained. "By Jove!" exclaimed the officer when the lad had concluded his story. "You certainly have seen excitement. And so you blew up the German submarine?" "My friend here did," replied Jack, indicating Frank. "Sure," said the boatswain, "Captain Marcus will be glad to hear the yarn. It's a good one you can spin." The little boat now drew up against the cruise and quickly all clambered aboard. As Jack came over the rail, a man of great height--fully six feet five inches--greeted him. He was smooth-faced and ruddy, and the fane-anchor on his collar proclaimed him captain. "Captain Marcus?" queried Jack, as he leaped to the deck. "At your service," came the reply in a hearty sailor-like voice. "I am Lieutenant Jack Templeton, scout cruiser Sylph, sir," said Jack, "and this," turning to Frank, "is Lieutenant Frank Chadwick of the same vessel." "What are you doing in a dingy in the middle of the North Sea?" demanded the captain. Briefly once more Jack explained. "The Sylph sunk!" exclaimed Captain Marcus. "And what of my old friend Lord Hastings?" "Gone down with his ship, sir," replied Jack, Patiently. "Hastings dead!" cried the commander of the Cumberland. "It is impossible!" "No, sir," said Frank. "It is true." For a moment the commander bowed his head in reverence. Then he raised his eyes and looked at the boys. "He was my very good friend," he said simply, and motioned the boys to follow him below. Inside the cabin of the commander of the Cumberland, the captain motioned the lads to seats. "Now we shall see what is to be done with you," he said. "At present, because of the loss of the Sylph, you are, of course, unattached. How would you like to go with me?" "Where to, sir?" asked Jack. "I'll explain," replied the captain. "Until yesterday the Cumberland was one of the blockading fleet off Heligoland. You can understand, therefore, that I have already heard of you lads. I have been ordered to patrol the west coast of Africa, and, if I mistake not, there will be fighting. I have recently lost two of my midshipmen through illness. You may have their places. What do you say?" Both lads had taken a great liking to Captain Marcus at first sight, but it was Jack who made answer for both: "Thank you, sir. We shall be glad to go with you." CHAPTER VIII PATROLLING THE SOUTH SEA