"Well, boys," said Lord Hastings half an hour later, "we shall go back now, and when we get there I have a piece of news for you that will prove of interest." Aboard the D-16 again. Lord Hastings did not give this piece of news at once, and finally Frank, becoming impatient, was moved to ask: "And what is this piece of news that will interest us, sir?" Lord Hastings smiled. "Can't hold your horses a minute, can you?" he laughed. "Well, I'll tell you. The D-16 is going to take a little trip in advance of the fleet." Frank's delight was so great that he hurled his cap into the air with a shout, and in coming down the wind carried it overboard. Jack laughed. "You see what too much enthusiasm gets you," he remarked. "Never mind," said Frank after one regretful look at his departing headpiece, "I have another." He turned to Lord Hastings. "What are we to do, sir?" "Well, we are to try and establish the location of mines, draw maps of the fortifications, which may have been changed somewhat since the maps the admiral has were drawn, and learn anything else of value we can." "I thought there would be fighting," said Frank, somewhat disappointed. "Well, there is always liable to be fighting," said Lord Hastings. "In fact, any time you are around I am positive there will be fighting of some kind." "And when do we start, sir?" asked Jack. "As soon after nightfall as we are ready." "But why wait for night?" asked Frank. "We are going under the water, aren't we?" "Yes," replied his commander, "but we are likely to have to come to the surface at any time, and there is no need of taking unnecessary risks." "That's true, too," said Frank. "But Great Scott! Night is a long ways off." "In the meantime," said Lord Hastings, "I don't know of anything better than to watch the progress of the battle." "We shall have to get closer than this if we expect to see anything," declared Lord Hastings. He gave the command for fifteen knots, and gradually the D-16 forged ahead of the _Queen Elizabeth_ and stood out before the whole fleet. She made such a small speck as she floated gently upon the surface of the water, that Lord Hastings had no fear for her safety, and there she remained all during the day, while shells flew screaming past or cut up the water before and on all sides of her. Twice the firing became so heavy that Lord Hastings deemed it advisable to submerge, and this was done. She reappeared in a new place each time, and her officers again ascended the bridge to watch the progress of the battle. Along in the afternoon, the _Queen Elizabeth_, having almost dismantled two of the Turkish forts, steamed on past, unheeding the fire of their remaining guns and leaving them for her smaller sisters to dispose of.