CHAPTER IABOARD U.S.S. PLYMOUTH"Sail at 4 a.m.," said Captain Jack Templeton of the U.S.S. Plymouth,laying down the long manila envelope marked "Secret." "Acknowledge bysignal," he directed the ship's messenger, and then looked inquiringlyabout the wardroom table."Aye, aye, sir," said the first officer, Lieutenant Frank Chadwick."Ready at four, sir," said the engineer officer, Thomas; and left hisdinner for a short trip to the engine room to push some belated repairs."Send a patrol ashore to round up the liberty party," continued CaptainTempleton, this time addressing the junior watch officer. "Tell them tobe aboard at midnight instead of eight in the morning.""Aye, aye, sir," said the junior watch officer, and departed in haste.There was none of the bustle and confusion aboard the U.S.S. Plymouth, atthat moment lying idle in a British port, that the landsman would commonlyassociate with sailing orders to a great destroyer. Blowers began to humin the fire rooms. The torpedo gunner's mates slipped detonators in thewarheads and looked to the rack load of depth charges. The steward made alast trip across to the depot ship. Otherwise, things ran on very much asbefore.At midnight the junior watch officer called the captain, who had turned inseveral hours earlier, and reported:"Liberty party all on board, sir."Then he turned in for a few hours' rest himself.