The Boy Allies under Two Flags
hen the great European war broke out, he succeeded, with his fathe
at the hands of a sailor. After thanking the lad for his timely aid, the man had immediately shanghaied the la
to fleece Jack Templeton, an English youth out of his just dues. Jack, a strapping youngster, strong as an ox, though no older than Fra
ecame grea
boys released him, and then, with Lord Hastings, who had come to Africa in his yacht, succeeded in striking such a blow at the Trip
e British navy, Lord Hastings, who had taken an immense liking to them, secured them commissions as midshipmen. Later
ot to destroy the whole British fleet had been frustrated and the English ha
f the most trusted of British secret agents. He was a distant relative of the English monarch and, as the boys had already learned, had more power in naval
hters had been, sent to the bottom, the Sylph had returned to London for repairs. Here Frank and Jack had been personally pr
before the two lads once more found themselves pacing the deck of the Sylph, going they knew
rman cruiser Emden, a swift raider which later caused so much damage to British shipping as to gain the name "Terror
destination of the Sylph from Lord Has
nough," he said wit
to see action s
ortunate," w
ry," replied His Lordship. "You will see all the action you
e boys were forc
oe, and then suddenly had encountered the two German cruisers, the Breslau and the Goebe
s had ordered that the original course of the Sylph be resumed, the little vessel was
ing the encounter with the German cruisers; and as they sto
e Emden," he sai
merchant vessel s
ord Hastings. "A c
"I always thought that any cruiser of o
ve heard by wireless, our vessel attacked, but was sent to the b
e of the British
d Hastings; "but the action wa
"that it is about time this German ter
and mark my words, she will be when o
soon!" ejac
th the German terror prowled about the seas, caus
denly and headed for home. Under full speed she ran for days, until the boys knew they were o
we have come back so
f Lord
in the North Sea. Only three days ago, a German submarine, after apparent
d both boys
me of these under-the-sea fighters, or other German warships, that we have come back. The who
on't have to wait
hope that every German ship afl
st, but for two days cruised back and forth, east, w
upon the two lads, to whom a figh
ever we were going, and not have come bac
eve we would have done better to have joined the
s appeared on the horizon. Quickly they grew until they could be identified as enemy ships. T
ls: approaching rapidly," and t
nt came t
ntercept the enemy when active
gs sent ano
any ar
d accompanied by torpedo destroyers Lan
rd Hastings; then t
erin
lear for a
ght of battle in their eager eyes. At Lord Hastings' command, the
ess message from t
der!" i
" was the answer se
figured the German commander. To him it appeared that he could overtak
lly coming close enough to send a shot after it. They wer
tered Lord Hastings, "or he may draw off. We'll
he Germans kicked up
lp
nge in a minute, s
erin
o the south," was th
eing struck. All this time Lord Hastings was in constant wireless communicati
lookout ma
stings keen eye had already perceived
our convoys. They were steaming rapidly and in such a direction that they would intercept
the Sylph. Those on board the Sylph noticed a sud
ack, who had stood impatiently on the brid
turned to Lieutenant Hetherington. "You may
my, who even now had turned to escape toward the south, at the same time
d!" came the com
ight. It was a desperate venture, and none, perhaps, realized it more than did Lord H
, the range finder already had gauged the distance, medical supplies for the wounded were ready for
Sylph was untouched. Still the British ship drew nearer without firing. Th
f one of the German destroyers, and a cheer went up from the British. Then came several broadsides from
hell had struck her forward turret with terrible force, putting her biggest
from Lord Hastings and Lieutenant Hetherington, now and then taking a man
been struck twice more. Then Lord Hastings
mplished his purpose. He had halted the Germans in their attempt to escape,
dway, there came the heavy boom of a great gun. T
gs summoned
you find to the
, sir," replied the lad. "Ten
had had new
tongs. Seeing that all hope of escape had been cut off, the German comm
n the enemy, the great guns of the Und
vessels to the Germans-again into the fray, and in spite of its cripp
e Sylph. By a quick and skillful maneuver, Lord Hastings avoid
e Undaunted and her convoys to aid the one engaged with t
yards apart. It was evident to those on the Sylph that a shell must have badly cripple
the Sylph, the German destroy
stings, and the Sylph leaped