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The Dreadnought of the Air

The Dreadnought of the Air

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Chapter 1 CONCERNING SUB-LIEUTENANT DACRES.

Word Count: 1552    |    Released on: 06/12/2017

gs off Singapore. Two cables' length ahead of her swung her sister ship the "Repulse," flying the flag of Admiral Maynebrace commanding the Special Squadron, now on a cruise

emed to penetrate everywhere on board in spite of electric fans and the latest type of ventilators. Officers and men, used though they were to the heat of the Tropics, were reduced to a state of

r proud position by the flagship: and the flagship didn't forget to crow over her success. Had the contest been carried out under equal conditions and the "Royal

esults and add a lot about the superb efficiency of the flagship and the lamentable falling-off of the 'Royal Oak's' gun-layer

aufort Scale logged as O (a flat calm), while our packet was shoving her nose into it with the fo'c'sle awash and e

do with it: a little misunderstanding they had when they were at Osborne, I believe. And the fact that Maynebrace is now an admiral and Stagge

personal matters are taken into consideration in the Service. Anyway,

le Dick Alderney, the m

nt Basil Dacres emphatically.

e betokened a zest for sport, for in spite of the heat he paced the deck with an elasticity of tread that denoted exceptional physical energy. It did not take long for an observer to come to the right conclusion that Basil Dacres' so

eparatory stages of perpetrating another joke. Upon the eve of his departure from home on the present commission this trait asserted i

ne, a martinet even in home life, although "his bark was worse than his bite." One thing is certain, Basil Dacres never inherited the lighter vein from his father, for t

home day, and Mrs. Dacres' at-homes were always well-attended. On this occasion there were presen

pay particular attention to the magnificent teapot. In came the head footman, resplendent in his fine livery and powdered hair, and placed th

of Mrs. Dacres' at-homes: it was a sort of

ere removing the covering that hid the gorgeous silver teapot. The act was a silent appeal for attent

ractised conjuror Mrs. Da

solemnly at the sudden transit from darkness into light, and

s, tortoise and tea-things, including the c

s mother's farewell was somewhat chilly, while t

thing there'll be trouble. It will end with your being court-martialled and kicke

s broad shoulders and to chuckle at the idea that he had been accused of what he had not done. He was not asked for an explanation, nor did he give one. He had no wish that punishment sho

what about?" ask

perhaps it was not altogether wise to confide in his subordin

rather up the pole about the prize-f

licked hollow at cricket, actually had the cheek to row round the ship with a cock perched on a jack-staff in the bows, and the whole crowd cr

siness has given us a good lead in submarines and pretty we

the Naval Wing of the Royal Flying Corps, but owing to an unexpected decision on the p

e on deck, and Dacres, freed from his responsible duty of doi

t to the half-deck and knocked at the Gunnery Lieutenant's cabin door. He was there for nearly an hour, at the end of which time he appl

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