Note: This is book six of eight of the Submarine Boys Series. 

THE SUBMARINE BOYS FOR THE FLAG

Deeding Their Lives to Uncle Sam

by

VICTOR G. DURHAM

1910

CONTENTS

CHAPTERS I. "Do You Speak German?" II. "French Spoken Here" III. The Man Who Marked Charts IV. Jack's Queer Lot of Loot V. Sighting the Enemy VI. Flank Movement and Rear Attack VII. A Lesson in Security and Information VIII. Eph Feels Like Thirty Tacks IX. Jack Plays with a Volcano X. "Mr. Grey" Makes New Trouble XI. Facing the Secretary of the Navy XII. Navy Officers for an Hour or a Day XIII. Commander of a U. S. Gunboat! XIV. The Bow Gun Booms and Eph Puts Off XV. "The Right Boat and the Right Crew!" XVI. The Duel Through the Door XVII. The Last Hour of CommandXVIII. Eph Bets an Anchor Against a Fish-Hook XIX. Jack's Caller at the United Service Club XX. The Girl in the Car XXI. Daisy Huston Decides for the Flag XXII. The Part of Abercrombie R. N. XXIII. "Foreign Trade" Becomes Brisk XXIV. Their Lives Deeded to the Flag

CHAPTER I

"DO YOU SPEAK GERMAN?"

"Hey, there, Mister!" called out Jabez Holt, from one of the two officewindows in the little hotel at Dunhaven. 

As there was only one other man in the office, that other man guessed thathe might be the one addressed. 

With a slight German accent the stranger, who was well-dressed, andlooked like a prosperous as well as an educated man, turned and demanded:

"You are calling me?"

"I reckon, " nodded Jabez. 

"Then my name is Herr Professor--"

"Hair professor?" repeated Jabez Holt, a bit of astonishment showing inhis wrinkled old face. "Hair professor? Barber, eh? Why, I thought youwas a traveler. But hurry up over here--do you hear me?"

"My good man, " began the German, stiffly, drawing himself up to his fullsix-foot-one, "it is not often I am affronted by being addressed so--"

"There! He'll be outer sight in another minute, while you are arguin'about your dignity!" muttered Holt. "And that's the feller you said youwanted to see--Jack Benson. "

"Benson?" cried the German, forgetting his outraged dignity and springingforward. "Benson?"

"That's him--almost up to the corner, " nodded Landlord Jabez Holt. 

"Run out and bring him back with you, " directed Herr Professor Radberg. "Be quick!"

"Waal, I guess you're spryer'n I be, " returned old Jabez, with a shrewdlook at his guest. "Besides, it's you that wants the boy. "

Running back and snatching up his hat, Professor Radberg made for thestreet without further argument. 

Moving along hastily, the German soon came in sight of young Captain JackBenson, of the Pollard Submarine Torpedo Boat Company. 

"Ach, there! Herr Benson!" shouted the Professor. 

Hearing the hail, Jack Benson turned, then halted. 

"You are Herr Benson, are you not?" demanded Professor Radberg, as soonas he got close enough. 

"Benson is my name, " nodded Jack, pleasantly. 

"Then come back to the hotel with me. "

"You are a foreigner, aren't you?" asked Jack, surveying the strangercoolly. 

"I am German, " replied Radberg, in a tone of surprise. 

"I thought so, " nodded the boy. "That is, I didn't know from whatcountry you came. But, in this country, when we ask a favor of astranger, we usually say 'please. '"

"I am Herr Professor--"

"Oh, barbers are just as polite as other folks, " Jack assured him, hislaughing eyes resting on the somewhat bewildered-looking face of theGerman. 

"Then please, Herr Benson, come back to the hotel with me. "

"Yes; if it's really necessary. But why do you want to go to thehotel?"

"Because, Herr Benson, when we are there, I shall have much of importanceto say to you. "

"Important to me, or to you?" asked Jack, thoughtfully. 

He had no intention of answering a much older man disrespectfully. Butthere was about Herr Radberg the air of a man who expects his greatnessto be recognized at a glance, and who demands obedience from commonpeople as a right. This sort of thing didn't fit well with theAmerican boy. 

"Oh, it is important to you, and very much so, " urged the Professor, somewhat more anxiously. "Besides, " added the German, with a nowreally engaging smile, "I have met your demand, Herr Benson, and havesaid 'please. '"

"Then I suppose I'll have to meet your demand, " nodded Jack, good-humoredly. "Lead the way, sir. "

"Ach! You may walk at my side, " permitted the German. 

It all seemed a bit strange, but Captain Jack Benson had been throughmore strange experiences than had most Americans of twice or thrice hisage. Besides, as he walked beside Herr Professor Radberg Jack imaginedthat he had guessed at least an inkling of the other's business. TheGerman had announced himself as a professor; probably, therefore, he wasa scientist. Being a scientist, the Professor had very likely invented, or nearly invented something intended for use in connection withsubmarine torpedo boats, and wanted to interest the concern by which theyoung submarine skipper was employed. Though this guess was areasonable one, it soon turned out to be the wrong one. The Professor'sreal reason for seeking this interview was one that was bound to takethe submarine boy almost off his feet. 

Readers of the preceding volumes in this series need no introduction toCaptain Jack Benson, nor to his chums, Hal Hastings and Eph Somers. Such readers recall, as told in "_The Submarine Boys on Duty_, " howJack and Hal drifted into Dunhaven just at the right moment to fight foran opportunity to work themselves into the submarine boat buildingbusiness. How the boys helped build the first of the now famous Pollardsubmarines, and afterwards learned how to man her, was all told, togetherwith all their strange adventures in their new life. 

In the "_The Submarine Boys' Trial Trip_" was related how Jack Bensonsolved the problem of leaving a submarine boat when it lay on theocean's bottom, and also the trick of entering that submerged boatagain, after diving from the surface of the water. The attempt ofshrewd business men to secure control of the new submarine boat companywas also described, together with the manner in which the submarineboys outwitted them. Through a successful trial trip, and CaptainJack's ingenious ways of arousing public interest, the government wasforced to buy the "Pollard, " as the first of the submarines was named. 

In "_The Submarine Boys and the Middies_" was narrated how the submarineboys secured the prize detail of going to the Naval Academy at Annapolisas temporary instructors in submarine boating. Many startling adventures, and some humorous ones, were related in that volume. 

Then in "_The Submarine Boys and the Spies_" was shown how the young mensuccessfully foiled the efforts of spies of foreign governments to learnthe secrets of the Pollard craft. 

In "The Submarine Boys' Lightning Cruise" the adventures of these clever, enterprising boys were carried further. In this book, was told how theboys were trained in the handling of the actual torpedo of, warfare. ThePollard boats, "Benson" and "Hastings" were entered in officialgovernment tests in which the submarine craft of several other makescompeted. The desperate lengths to which the nearest rival of thePollards went in order to win were told with startling accuracy. Theresult of all these tests was that the Pollard company received fromthe Navy Department an order for eighteen submarine torpedo boats, the"Benson" and the "Hastings" being accepted as the first two boats onthat order. 

By the time the present narrative opens it was near the first of May. Over at the shipyard, where facilities had been greatly increased, twoof the submarines had lately been finished, and four more were under wayin long construction sheds. Work on the government's order was beingrushed as fast as could be done while keeping up the Pollard standards, of high-class work. 

Of late Jack and his young friends, though their pay went on, had littlework to do. Whenever a new boat was completed it was the task of thesubmarine boys to take her out to sea and put her through all manner oftests in order to determine her fitness. But there were days and dayswhen the submarine boys had naught to do but enjoy themselves as theirfancy dictated. 

"Shall we sit down here?" asked Jack, as he and the tall German enteredthe hotel office. 

Jabez Holt stood behind the desk, bent over the register, on which theProfessor's name had been the only new one in a week. The old landlordpretended to be busy, but he was covertly watching and listening. 

"Sit here?" repeated Professor Radberg. "Ach, no! Come along with me. "

There was something rather disagreeably commanding in the German'sinvitation, but Jack merely smiled quietly as he followed in thestranger's wake. Up the stairs they went. The Professor unlocked adoor, admitting himself and his guest to the outer of a suite of tworooms. Once they were inside Radberg locked the door behind them. 

"Come to the other room, Herr Benson, " directed the Professor. The doorof this inner room the German also locked, remarking:

"Now, if the man, Holt, chooses to follow and listen, he can hearnothing. "

"All this sounds mighty mysterious, " laughed Jack Benson, good-humoredly. 

However, the submarine boy went and stood by a chair near the window andthen waited until he saw that the stranger was about to seat himself. 

"Now, " asked Jack, stretching his legs, "what's the business about? Ihaven't a whole lot of time to-day. "

"Listen, and you shall hear, as soon as I am ready, " came, stiffly, fromthe stranger. "You are a boy, and I am Herr Professor--"

"Oh, you told me all about being a hair professor before, " smiled Jack. "Now, see here. Whether you're really a barber, or whether you're justamusing yourself with me, we want to have one thing understood. I camehere, sir, as a matter of courtesy to you, and you will have to treatme with just as much courtesy. Otherwise, I shall wish yougood-morning. "

This was said with a flash of the eye which warned Radberg that, in hisrather overbearing way, he was going too for. 

"Oh, my dear young friend, " he replied, persuasively, "you don'tunderstand. In Germany I am--well, perhaps what you would call arather distinguished man. At least, my neighbors are good enough tosay so. And, in Germany, when a herr professor talks, others listenrespectfully. "

"Just the same way with the hair professors in this country, " chuckledJack. "When an American barber gets wound up and started, all a fellowcan do is to listen. It's no use trying to run away from a barberanywhere, I guess. He has you strapped down to the chair. "

"Barber?" repeated Professor Radberg, in disgust. "I don't understandyou. "

"Oh, it isn't necessary, " laughed Jack. "It's a sort of Yankee joke. And I beg your pardon, Professor, if I am wasting your time. Now, goahead, please, and tell me why you invited me here. "

There was something of salt water breeziness and crispness about Jack'sspeech that caused the German's brow to cloud for an instant. Then, after a visible effort to compose himself, Radberg leaned forwardto ask:

"Do you speak German?"

"No, sir. " Jack shook his head. 

"Ach, that is too bad!" muttered the German, in a voice suggestingsevere disapproval of one who hadn't mastered his own native tongue. "However, you will soon learn. "

"Yes; if there's a big enough prize goes with it, " agreed Jack. 

"Prize?" repeated Professor Radberg. "You will say so!"

Then, leaning forward once more, and speaking in his most impressivevoice, Herr Professor Radberg continued:

"Herr Benson, we are going to take you into the German Navy!"

The Professor now leaned back to watch the effect of his words. 

"Are you going to do it when I'm awake?" asked Jack, curiously. 

"Nein! I do not understand you. "

"Are you going to take me in by force, or wait until you catch measleep?" questioned Captain Jack Benson. 

"Ach! Do not be silly, boy!"

"I might say the same to you, Professor, " replied Jack Benson, composedly, "but we'll let it pass. How are you going to get me intothe German Navy, and what are you going to do with me after you get methere?"

"How?" cried Professor Radberg. "Why we are going to pay you a veryhandsome sum of money, and we are going to give you a most honorableposition in our imperial service. And--"

Here Professor Radberg leaned forward once more, lowering his voiceconsiderably. 

"There are three of you boys, all experts at the Pollard works. Well, we are going to take all three of you into the German navy, and we willdo something very handsome for you all. "

"The other fellows will be delighted when I tell 'em what's coming theirway, " smiled Captain Jack. 

"Ach! So? Of course. "

"Now, what do you propose to do with us in your navy?" Jack went on. "Are you going to make officers of us?"

"Officers?" repeated Herr Professor Radberg, slowly. "Well, no, HerrBenson. We could not exactly do that. Our officers are, as you willunderstand, very--what is your English word?--aristocratic. Theycould not be quite persuaded to take American commoners as their brotherofficers. That you would not expect, of course. "

"Certainly not, " young Benson agreed. If there was a slight tinge ofsarcasm in his it was lost on the German, whose brow cleared as he wenton, heavily:

"No, no, my young friend; not officers. But you shall all three havevery honorable positions, and handsome sums of money to pay you forentering our service. We in Germany know the rank which you young menhave won as submarine experts, and we shall not be niggardly, for wehave determined to have you in our service. "

"I hope you'll pardon me, " proposed young Benson. "There is just onepoint that has been overlooked. You tell me that you are authorizedto come to Dunhaven and kidnap my friends and myself. But, really, how do I know that you have such authority from your own side of thewater?"

Radberg looked a bit puzzled, for a moment. Then, as he seemed tobegin to comprehend, he replied, heavily:

"Herr Benson, I have already told you that I am Herr Professor--"

"Now, don't hang out the striped pole again, please, " urged Jack, hisface as sober as that of a judge. "Come right down to the points ofthe compass. How am I to know that you really do represent theGerman government?"

"Ach! I comprehend, " nodded the German. "Of course you will understandthat, on an errand of this kind, I do not travel with too many papers. But I shall take you and your two companions on to Washington to-morrow, I think--"

"To-morrow ought to do as well as any time, " replied Jack, ironically. 

"Yes; I think it will be to-morrow, " continued the German. "I shalltake you to our German Embassy, and one of our officials there willprove to you that I have been acting with authority. "

"That'll be right fine of him, " agreed Jack, placidly. 

"Ach! It is settled, then, " replied the German, all but dismissing thematter with a wave of his hand. "Yet you must bring your two comradeshere. They must understand just what is wanted of them. And now, HerrBenson, do you wish to understand what is to be paid to you to transferyour services to our German flag?"

"Why, yes; that will be mighty important--if we go under the Germanflag. "

"If you go?" repeated the Professor. "Why, that is all settled!"

"Then I must have missed something, by not watching you closely enough, "murmured Jack. "I shall have to sit up straighter and keep my eyeswider open. When was it all settled, sir?"

"Why, did you not tell me--"

"Haven't had a blessed chance to tell you anything, " replied Jack, looking astonished. "You've been doing all the telling. "

"But you'll go with me, of course, to Washington?" uttered Radberg, looking much taken aback. 

"I doubt it, " muttered young Benson, shaking his head. "In fact, sir, I may as well tell you that it's waste of our time to carry this lineof talk any further. "

"Ach! You are cunning, " smiled Professor Radberg, no longer nonplussed. "That is as it should be, too, for you are a clever young man, HerrBenson. "

"A thousand thanks, " murmured Captain Jack. 

"But, instead of talk, " pursued the German, "you wish to see some money. Quite right! I should, were I in your place, Herr Benson. Well, then--ach! Look at this. "

Thrusting a fat hand down deep in a trousers pocket, Herr ProfessorRadberg brought up into view a big roll of money. He held this up sothat the submarine boy could feast his eyes on it. Jack looked, composedly. 

"Did you ever see anything like this--you, who are such a young boy?"smiled the German, teasingly. 

"I--I don't know, really, " responded Jack, thoughtfully, thrusting ahand down into his own trousers pocket. Young Benson brought up intothe light a very comfortable looking handful of banknotes, rolled andsurrounded by a broad elastic band. "Let's measure the two, Professor, and see how they compare. "

"Ach!" muttered the German, regarding Jack's money with some displeasure. "Where did you get all that?"

"Oh, now, Professor!" cried the young submarine captain, reproachfully. "I didn't ask you where you got yours!"

"Ach! This is all so much foolishness!" cried the German Professor, returning his money to his pocket. 

"That's what I think, too, " agreed Jack, following suit. "It's what ourEnglish cousins call 'bad form, ' to go to comparing piles of money. "

"Now, sit down, Herr Benson, and I will tell you what a very handsomesum of money, and what excellent wages, the German government will payyou to enter our imperial naval service. "

"How much money is there in Germany?" interrupted the submarine boy, thoughtfully. 

"How much, in all Germany?" demanded the Professor. "Nein! How shouldI know?"

"You expect me, of course, to turn my back on this country for good, totell you Germans whatever I may know about submarine secrets, to drillwith your navy, and be prepared to fight in your navy if war comes?"

"Ach, yes! of course, " replied Radberg. "Now, we are beginning tounderstand one another. "

"Professor, " interrupted Captain Jack Benson, "we've had enough ofjoking. "

"Joking? I assure you--"

"Professor, " once more broke in the submarine boy, "_I wouldn't sell outmy country's flag for all the money you ever saw!_"

For a few moments the Professor's face was a study in consternation. Then he broke forth, angrily:

"Ach! You are a fool!"

"I guess so, " nodded Jack, without resentment. "That's just the kindof fools we Americans are generally. "

Herr Radberg was a good enough reader of human faces to realize that, at all events, there was no use in continuing the conversation atpresent. 

"Very good, " he growled. "You can go. I shall see your friends, instead. "

"When you get through with 'em you'll think they're idiots, " grinnedCaptain Jack Benson. 

Herr Radberg wasn't a fool. Neither was he a rascal, expert in offeringbribes. Brought up within the wall's of a German university, he wouldhave been willing to lay down his life instantly for the good of theFatherland. Yet he couldn't understand that men of other nations couldbe just as devoted to their own countries. From Herr ProfessorRadberg's point of view Germany was the only country in the world thatwas fitted to inspire a real and deep sense of patriotism. 

"No harm done, Professor, " said Jack, moving toward the door, andturning the key to unlock it. "I'm sorry you had all the trouble andexpense of coming to Dunhaven on a useless errand. Good-bye!"

"Ach! You may go, but you will come back, " scowled the other. "Ifnot, your comrades will, I hope, prove to be young men of better senseand judgment. "

"Oh, they'll listen to you, " smiled Jack. "Good-bye!"

"I shall have two of you, anyway, " were Radberg's last words before thedoor of the outer room closed and Jack's footsteps sounded in thecorridor. 

CHAPTER II

"FRENCH SPOKEN HERE"

"Well, what do you think of that?"

It was Eph Somers who put the question, and the time was some fifteenminutes later. 

Captain Jack had met his two comrades up on the main street of thevillage. He had told them, with a good deal of amusement, of his latetalk with the German. 

Hal Hastings didn't say a word, but his eyes twinkled. 

"I wouldn't have minded, " laughed Jack, "but it was the Professor'scock-sureness that I was to be Germany's oyster. "

"Is he an old man?" asked Hal. 

"Not very, " Jack answered. "Perhaps not old enough to know better. Anyway, if I were going to a foreign government, Germany would be aboutthe last country. Germany is our rival in building a large navy. Aboutevery other month the experts in Germany sit down to figure whether theyare anything ahead of us in the tonnage of warships, and, if so, whetherthere is any danger of our catching up with them. Now, unless theGermans have a notion that they may need, to fight us one of thesedays--"

"Oh, I don't believe anything of that sort, " broke in Hal, shaking hishead. "I don't believe any country in the world is aching to pick aquarrel with us. "

"Not while the United States pocket-book is such a fat one, and so wellbuilt for paying war expenses, " grinned Eph. Then his look became moresolemn, as he added:

"But we don't want ever to get into a naval condition where it will beeasy for some other country to snatch that fat pocket-book out of ourhands. "

"Let's go along, fellows. Drowning and confusion to all possible foesafloat, " proposed Hal, the one who could never see "war" on the horizon. "After a winter on hot sodas, it'll be a relief to know that thedruggist put in icecream soda to-day. "

So the three boys turned and made their way to the drugstore. Whilethey were exploring with spoons the bottoms of their glasses, thestreet door opened. Herr Professor Radberg looked in, then came in, beaming condescendingly on the young men. 

"Ach! You young men are just the ones I wish to see, " he exclaimed, resting one hand on Eph's shoulder, the other on Hal's. 

"Lots of folks will pay for that privilege, " declared Eph, solemnly. 

"Yes? Well, I will pay, too--you shall see. I shall look for you atthe hotel, in just one hour. One hour--remember. "

"Have you a telescope?" inquired Eph, calmly. 

"A telescope. Eh?" inquired the German. "What for?"

"You might need it in looking for us, " Eph replied. 

"Then, in one hour, I shall see you--at the hotel!"

"You'll be lucky, if you do, " grinned Eph. 

"Eh? I do not know that I understand, " responded Herr Professor Radberg, slowly. 

"If you're figuring on seeing us, " Eph went on, gravely, "I'm afraidyou're in for bad news. "

"Bad news? Ach! What do you mean, young man?"

"Just what I said, " replied Eph. 

Professor Radberg looked so puzzled that Hal Hastings broke in, quietly:

"Professor, unless I'm much in error, you want to see us about aproposition that we enter the German naval service. "

"Hush! Not so loud, " warned Radberg, looking suspiciously around. 

"There's nothing we have to keep quiet about, " Hal went on. "You havealready spoken to our captain, Jack Benson, about this matter. "

"Ach! Yes. "

"And Jack has refused. "

"Your captain is a fool!" cried the German. 

"Then we serve a fool, because he's our captain, " retorted Hal, quietly, though there was a flash in his eyes. 

"I shall look for you two at the hotel in one hour, " declared the German, impressively. 

"My friend, Mr. Somers, has already told you that you'll be using youreyesight to poor advantage, then, " Hal answered. 

"What do you mean?"

"Why, I mean, Professor, that you can't possibly persuade us to go toGermany and tell your people anything that we know about the Pollardsubmarine boats, or any other type. "

"But you shall be well paid!"

"Professor, what would be your price for selling out your country to theUnited States?" asked Hal, gazing fixedly at the German. 

"You insult me!" cried the German, his face growing red. "I am apatriot. "

"Yet, you insult us by thinking that we would sell our country, " wenton Hal, coolly. 

"Are you two going to be as big fools as your captain?" demanded HerrProfessor Radberg, almost incredulously. 

"Bigger!" promised Eph, with a grin. 

"Ach! Well, we shall talk this all over when you come to the hotel inan hour, " replied the German. He turned and left the store. 

"Now, I don't doubt, " mocked Hal, "he has gone away firm in the beliefthat we'll keep his appointment. "

"He'll wake up after a while, " laughed Eph Somers. 

After indulging in a second ice cream soda the submarine boys starteddown the street toward the Farnum shipyard where the Pollard boats werebuilt. 

As they passed a street corner they heard a cautious:

"Hss--sst!"

"Now, who threw that our way?" demanded the irrepressible Eph, turningswiftly. Then he added, in a tone so low that only his comrades couldhear:

"Say, fellows, I'll bet that cost something!"

"That" was, a rather undersized little man, of perhaps thirty. Dark ofhair, and sparkling of eye, the stranger's rather pallid face was partlycovered, in front, by a short goatee, of the French "imperial" sort, and a moustache whose points were waxed out in fierce militaryfashion. 

It was the stranger's apparel that had attracted Eph's noticeparticularly. The stranger was arrayed almost exquisite fashion; hisclothes were of finest texture and latest Parisian type. His little, pointed shoes were almost as dainty as a girl's. Though the day waswarm the stranger was gloved, and handled a cane in the head of which ahandsome amethyst shone. 

"I wonder how that got through the custom house?" was Eph Somers's nextundertoned question. 

"Ah, good morning, gentlemen, " greeted the stranger, coming toward them, all smiles and bows. "Av I have not med ze mistake, zen I am address zetorpedo boys. "

"Right-o, " drawled Eph. "Regular human torpedoes, as touchy asgun-cotton. Why, I am due to explode this moment!"

Though the stranger looked puzzled at first, his face rapidly broke intoa cordial smile. 

"Oh, ah! I understand. You mek what is call ze American joke, eh? Youhave little fun wiz me. "

The Frenchman, for that he unmistakably was, laughed in the utmost goodhumor. The boys found themselves much inclined to like this stranger. 

"Now, young gentlemen, " continued the Frenchman, "I am ze ChevalierGari d'Ouray. "

"Glad to meet you, Chev, " volunteered Eph, with suspicious amiability, holding out his hand, which the Frenchman took daintily. "I'm a'shoveleer' myself, and this awkward, gawky looking boy with me is ourengineer. "

Eph had a tight grip on the stranger's hand, by this time, and wassurely making it interesting for the Frenchman. The Chevalier d'Ouraywas doing his best to retain his politeness, but Somers's hearty griphurt the foreigner's soft little hand. 

"What can we do for you, Chev?" demanded Eph, holding to the Frenchman'shand so persistently that Hastings gave his friend a sharp nudge inthe back. 

"Let us go somewhere, " urged the Frenchman. "Some place were we can sitdown and have ze talk about important matters. I have ze message foryou zat I cannot deliver upon ze street. "

"Now, don't say, please, " begged Eph, "that you have heard we are wantedin the French Navy. "

The Chevalier d'Ouray looked intensely astonished. 

"Parbleu! You are one marvel!" gasped the Frenchman. "You read my mostsecret thought. But yes! You have made ze one right guess. However, I cannot more say upon ze street. Let us go somewhere. "

"All right, " nodded Eph. "You go along, now, and we'll be along in anhour. "

"Wiz pleasure, " nodded the chevalier, eagerly. "But we're shall I go?"

"Anywhere you like, " suggested Eph, cordially. 

"But, zen, how will you know w'ere I am to be found?"

"Oh, we'll take a chance on that, " proposed Eph, carelessly. 

"But, unless I am able to say, now, w'ere I shall be--" the Frenchmanstarted to argue. 

"We'll guess the meeting place as well as we did your errand, " proposedEph. 

"Ten thousan' thanks!" cried, the chevalier. "Yet, for fear we mek zeone mistek, suppose I say--"

Eph Somers had struck such a streak of "guying" nonsense that JackBenson felt called upon to interpose, for he and Hal both liked thetwinkling eyes and good-humored face of this dandified little Frenchman. 

"Pardon me, sir, " Jack accordingly broke in, "but, if we happened toguess your errand, it was because we have just gotten away from theagent of another government. "

"How? Is zat posseeble?" cried the Chevalier d'Ouray, a disappointedlook coming into his face. 

"Yes; it's true, " nodded Jack. 

"But you did not come to any terms wiz him?"

"Oh, no!"

"Ah, zen, ze coast is steel clear, " cried the little Frenchman, delightedly. "So, as to w'ere we can meet and mek ze one talk--"

"We can get that all over with, right here, " Jack replied. "We can makeyou the same answer that we gave the other man. We are Americans, andwould never think of serving any other flag, even in peace time. Chevalier, I can save your time by telling you that any arrangement toengage our services away from the United States would be utterlyhopeless. "

"But ze money--" began the Frenchman, protestingly. 

"There isn't money enough across the Atlantic to hire us, " Jack answered, bluntly. 

"And ze honneur--"

"Honor? What would that word afterwards mean to Americans, Chevalier, after they had left their own country to serve another?"

The Chevalier d'Ouray began to look as though he realized he had a hardertask before him than he had expected. 

"So you see, sir, " Jack went on, "it will not be in the least worth yourwhile to try to tempt us. Come what will or may, we are under theAmerican flag for life. You yourself, Chevalier, wouldn't leave theFrench flag to serve this country, Great Britain or Germany. "

"No; but zat is deeferent, for I, monsieur, am French. "

"And we are American, " Jack responded. 

"I will leave you, now, zen, gentlemen, " replied the Frenchman, in atone of disappointment. "But I shall not go away before to-morrow. Ifyou change ze mind--or weesh to hear w'at I have to mek ze offer--"

"Thank you, " nodded Jack. "But don't waste any more time on us, Chevalier. And now--good-bye!"

The Chevalier d'Ouray shook hands with them all most gallantly. Eph feltsomewhat ashamed of his late nonsense, and, to prove it, hit theChevalier d'Ouray a friendly slap on one shoulder that set the Frenchmanto coughing. 

"Say, " muttered Jack, as the three now hurried along the street, "I beginto wish I had a good umbrella. "

"Humph! You'd look great with one, " retorted Hal. "You, who have stoodon the platform deck of a submarine for hours, steering unconcernedly, when the skies were trying to drown you. "

"But I feel, " remonstrated Jack, "that it's soon going to rain foreignagents. I'd like to get in out of the international wet. "

"Oh, we won't see any more of these fellows, " smiled Hal. 

"Now, there's just where I believe you're wrong, messmate, " Jackcontended. "These foreign governments hire detectives to watch eachother. When we hear from one, we're likely to hear from the whole lotat once. Look around you, Eph. Do you see a Jap anywhere?"

"Not a solitary jiu-jitsu fiend, " responded Eph, after halting andstaring both ways in turn along the street. 

"Well, Japan is about due, " laughed Benson. "And now, let's get inthrough the gate of the shipyard. If any more of these foreign agentsshow up--well, there are two boats in the harbor that are in commission. We'll find an excuse to put to sea in one of them. "

"Just the youngsters I was going out to try to find, " hailed GrantAndrews, foreman of the submarine construction work, as he hurriedacross the yard. "Mr. Farnum told me to get out and find you. He'dhave sent some one else, but I guess the business is rather on thequiet. "

"Is he in his office?" queried Jack. 

"Yes. "

"Thank you; we'll go right in, then. "

"Now I wonder what country it is whose agent has gotten hold of Mr. Farnum?" asked Eph, plaintively. 

"Nonsense!" mocked Jack. 

"That's what we try to tell 'em all, " mocked Eph. "But the Germans arethe hardest. "

All three of the submarine boys were laughing so heartily, as theyentered the shipbuilder's private office that Jacob Farnum, a youngishlooking man to be at the head of so large a manufacturing plant, glancedup quickly. 

"What's the joke, boys?" he asked. "I haven't had a laugh since Ipounded my thumbnail with a sledge-hammer. "

Captain Jack Benson quickly detailed the meetings with Radberg andd'Ouray. 

"The Frenchman didn't look a bit like a 'shovelee' either, " mutteredEph. "If anything, that looked more in the German's line. "

"Well, you'll have a chance to get rid of nonsense, now, for a while, "went on Mr. Farnum, after having enjoyed a few laughs with the boys. "I've some serious business in hand for you, and the time has come. "

That was like the shipbuilder. Whatever he was planning, at any time, he kept strictly to himself until the time came to put the plan intooperation. 

"There's quite an important little job for you up at Craven's Bay, "continued Mr. Farnum. "You know, there are important fortificationsthere, because the Navy people expect, in wartime, to use Craven'sBay as a possibly important naval station and shelter for vessels thathave to put in. Now, for some time the Army engineer officers have beenperfecting a system of submarine mines for the bay. The engineers havea problem on hand as to whether an enemy's submarine boats could sneakinto the bay and blow up the submarine mines before the Army woke upto the danger. "

"There's a chance that _that_ could be done, " nodded Jack, musingly. 

"Jest so, " nodded Mr. Farnum. "So I want you to go up in one of theboats. To-morrow the engineer officers at that station will test it outwith you whether a submarine can destroy the mines, or the mines couldbe made to destroy the submarine boats. "

"Then the Army engineer officers will use dummy submarine mines, I hope, "broke in Eph. 

"Oh, of course, " nodded Mr. Farnum. "Now, the trip to Craven's Bay isonly an eight-hour sail at a good gait, so you won't really need tostart until after dark to-night. "

"I believe I'd rather start now, though, and go at less speed, " suggestedJack, thoughtfully. 

"That's just as you please, of course, " nodded the shipbuilder. 

"It will take us out on the water, for one thing, " Captain Jackcontinued, "and we've been growing stale on shore, of late. " Then headded, whimsically: "Besides, if the agents of any more foreigngovernments show up, they won't find us here. "

"And there's a Jap just about due now, " grimaced Eph. 

"Take Williamson with you, for use in the engine room, " advised Mr. Farnum. "That will allow you to take the boat through with two watchesabove and below. Which boat will you take?"

"The 'Spitfire, ' unless you'd rather have us take the other one, " youngBenson replied. 

"Take the 'Spitfire, ' by all means, " nodded the owner. 

Twenty minutes later, Williamson having been found, the crew was allready for the start for Craven's Bay. 

Eph and Williamson cast off from moorings while Hal Hastings, down belowat the gasoline motors, started the twin propellers as soon as JackBenson, at the deck wheel, signaled for speed ahead. 

Right after the start, Williamson, a grown man and machinist, droppedbelow. Eph Somers stood beside the young submarine captain. 

For some minutes both boys gazed out over the waters. Then Eph remarked:

"Well, we got away without being overhauled by a Jap or a Russian, didn't we?"

"I don't know, " smiled Jack, unsuspectingly. "See that launch over toport? Hanged if she doesn't seem to be putting toward us. "

"She does, " admitted Eph, solemnly. "Oh, well, with a few more turns ofthe screw we can easily get away from that launch. "

For some moments Captain Jack paid no especial heed to the launchbearing down upon them on the port side. He noted only, at the distance, that the launch contained two men. Presently, however, as the launchcame nearer, Captain Benson made a discovery. 

"Eph, " he gasped, "look over there! Are my eyes going back on me, or isthat a Japanese in the bow of the launch?"

"Japanese?" gasped Eph Somers, in turn. "Nothing but!"

Eph made a swift dive for the box that contained the signal flags usedin the international marine signaling code. Moving swiftly, youngSomers selected the two flags representing "N" and "D. " These he strungto the halliard of the short signal mast forward. Nor was he ahead oftime, for by this time the launch had described part of a circle, andwas coming up alongside. 

In the bow of the launch stood the Japanese, smiling, and holding amegaphone in his hand. 

"Submarine, a-ho-o-o-oy!" came the hail. "Will you slow down? I havesomething to say to you. "

Up flew the signal flags, fluttering in the breeze. Then Eph snatchedup a megaphone, holding the smaller end to his mouth. 

"Launch ahoy!" he shouted back. "Just tell your folks that you sawour signal!"

The Japanese read the fluttering flags, then called back:

"N. D. ? What does that mean?"

Hoarsely Eph Somers bellowed back:

"_Nothing doing!_"

CHAPTER III

THE MAN WHO MARKED CHARTS

It was a little before midnight when the "Spitfire" came to anchor inCraven's Bay, after having been piloted to anchorage by a quartermaster'stug that put off from Fort Craven on signal. 

"Fine place, if your searchlight is keen enough, " yawned Eph, gazing offinto the darkness. 

Eph and Williamson had slept through the evening, after supper, and werenow to take the night watch tricks, the machinist's deck watchbeginning at once and lasting until four in the morning. 

About an hour after daylight, Eph Somers deserted the deck, except foroccasional intervals. After a while the odor of coffee and steak was inthe air. Then, snatching up a bugle, Somers sounded the reveilletumultuously through the small cabin of the submarine torpedo boat. 

Not long did the other members of the crew take to turn out and dress. They came out into the cabin to find Eph trotting between table andgalley, putting things on the table. 

"This seems like old times, " chuckled Williamson, as he seated himselfwith the boys. 

"Yes; because you don't have to cook, " grimaced Eph. "Wait until afterbreakfast, when you have to clear away and wash dishes!"

"Even so, I have the best of it, " laughed the machinist, good-humoredly. "I have something in my stomach to work on. "

"I always do get the tough end of any job, don't I?" grumbled Eph, resignedly, then buried his troubles under a plateful of steak andfried potatoes. 

"You hoisted the signal, 'N. D. ', yesterday afternoon, " laughed CaptainJack, laying down his coffee cup. "If you don't watch out, Eph, I'llhoist the 'N. G. ' flag over this table. "

"Breakfast no good?" demanded Eph, looking much offended. 

"No; 'N. G. ' will stand for 'no grouch. '"

Somers joined heartily in the laugh that followed. 

Just as they were finishing a really good meal, for which everybreakfaster had a royal, salt-water appetite, a steamer's whistle washeard, not far off to port. 

"I'll bet that's the Army tug!" muttered Captain Jack, rising hastilyfrom the table. "Tell you what, fellows, we've got to begin to havesomething like Navy discipline aboard this craft. In that case, we'dhave had breakfast over an hour ago. "

Jack was off up the steps as though pursued. Eph went after him as soonas that youth with the sun-kissed hair had time to pull on his visoredcap and button his blouse. No matter what the need of haste, Somersnever appeared on deck looking less natty than a veteran naval officer. 

Forward, on the tug, stood a major of engineers, a young lieutenantbeside him. 

"Good morning, Mr. Benson, " hailed Major Woodruff. "We're going to tryto come in close enough to put a gang-plank over. Can you take a bowline from us?"

"Yes, sir, " Captain Jack saluted the Army officer, and Eph hurried toreceive the line. 

In less than two minutes Major Woodruff and Lieutenant Kline were on theplatform deck of the "Spitfire. "

"This is the first one of your craft we've seen, " declared the major, asEph cast off the bow line, and the tug backed water. "Will you show usover?"

This the submarine boys gladly did, as the Army shares with the Navy inthe defense of the country. 

"You see what you have to do, Kline, " said Major Woodruff, presently. Then the older officer turned to Jack to say:

"Mr. Benson, since Mr. Farnum has been kind enough to place you and theboat at our orders, Kline is going to remain on board, today, during thetests. He will give Mr. Somers whatever orders are necessary in orderto make the tests most successful. "

"Why not give the orders to me, sir?" Jack asked. 

"Why, you see, Mr. Benson, " replied the major, "I plan for you to be onshore, out on the neck, to make certain observations regarding the workof your craft. Those observations you will turn in to me. "

"Very good, sir. The neck, I take it, is the narrow strip of land thatseparates this part of the bay from the ocean?"

"Quite right, Mr. Benson. "

It was to be observed that the major, like naval officers, addressed Jackby the title of "mister, " not "captain. " This was because, in themilitary service, Army and Navy titles are not recognized unlessconferred by government appointment or commission. Hence, though youngBenson was "captain" to his crew and to civilians, officers of theUnited Service could address, him only as "mister. "

"The neck, Mr. Benson, " continued Major Woodruff, "is the land bestsuited for watching our work from to-day. And now, I will state whatthe object of to-day's tests is. This morning our tug will be engagedin planting certain submarine mines. Mr. Somers will watch our work ofplanting. Of course the mines will contain no explosives. You youngmen have, I understand, solved the problem of leaving a submarine boatwhile it lies on the bottom? You are also able to enter the submarineagain from the surface?"

"Quite right, Major, " Jack nodded. 

"Then, if Mr. Somers watches the planting of the dummy mines, he willhave the same advantage as would the commander of an enemy's submarinein knowing where our mines are planted. We shall plant four of them, this morning, and Mr. Somers, after seeing each mine planted, will markdown its position on a chart of the bay. He will then take the boatoutside, enter under water, and, without touching any of our mines, while handling the boat, will see if he can stop close by and cut theconnecting wires. "

"If your mines contain no explosive, Major, " Eph inquired, "how are yougoing to be able to tell whether I collide gently with one of yoursubmarine mines?"

"We shall know at once, " smiled Major Woodruff. "If you should collidewith one, you will cause, a bell to be rung in the camera obscura roomover at the fort. The bell that rings will show us which one of themines you touched against. "

The "camera obscura, " as used at a modern fort, is in itself a mostinteresting contrivance. While no elaborate description of it can beattempted here, it will be enough to explain to the reader that, in thecamera room, which is darkened, is a large white table covered withwhite oil-cloth, or other white substance. On this white surface isdrawn a plan of the harbor to be defended. The position of each minesunk under the water's surface is indicated on this map against thewhite background. Each mine is numbered. Overhead is a revolvingshutter, somewhat on the plan of a camera's lens shutter. This shutter, which turns a reflecting lens on the harbor, can be turned in anydirection. Any vessel in the harbor can thus be "caught, " and itsreflection, in miniature, thrown upon the white map surface. 

Suppose an enemy's battleship to be entering the harbor. The cameraobscura shutter, in being turned about, suddenly throws upon the whitescreen-map the miniature picture of the hostile battleship. Henceforththe officer in command sees to it that the shutter is so operated asto keep the image of the battleship always upon the white screen map. Thus the course of the battleship is followed--absolutely. At anysecond the exact position of that battleship in the harbor is known. 

Let us suppose that the officer in command at the white, map-coveredtable finds that the battleship is gradually approaching the positionindicated in the harbor as mine number nineteen; as the officer watchesthe moving image of the battleship, he sees it going closer and closerto the exact spot numbered nineteen or the white map. 

"Be ready, Sergeant, " calls the officer, warningly, to a non-commissionedofficer who stands before a board on the wall on which are severalelectric push-buttons, each numbered. 

"Yes, sir, " replies the sergeant. 

At this moment the officer sees the image of the battleship passingfairly over the dot on the white map that is numbered nineteen. 

"Fire nineteen, Sergeant, " calls the Army officer in charge. 

The non-commissioned officer quickly presses electric button numberednineteen. As he does so the electric current is sent flashing, perhapsalong four or five miles of insulated wire on the bottom of the harbor. At the other end of that wire is submarine mine number nineteen. In abreathless instant the current traverses the whole length of the wire. The spark has reached the gun-cotton! There is a dull, booming sound;a great column of water shoots up from the surface. In the midst of thecommotion the enemy's battleship is rent, and all on board, perhapskilled. The cool, dry-eyed Army officer bending over the whitescreen-map sees all this scene of horror depicted under the whitesurface beneath his eyes. He knows that submarine mine number nineteen, planted out there in the harbor, has done its duty in protecting thisportion of the coast of the United States. 

Here, at Fort Craven, it was desired to find whether an enemy's submarineboat could creep in, below the surface, find the mine, whose locationwas already known through spies, and effectively cut the firing wire. If this could be done, then, in war-time, it might be that the sergeantat the wall-board would press the button in vain. No explosion wouldfollow. With the current thus cut off, the officer bending over thewhite screen would not see the miniature reproduction of the destructionof the enemy's battleship. 

A submarine torpedo boat, coming into a harbor underneath the surface, is not pictured on the white table under the camera obscura. So it wasdesired to see whether Eph could come in, knowing the exact locations ofeach of the four dummy mines, and quickly cut the firing electric wires. If this could be done, the Army would have to revise its method of firingsuch submarine mines by means of the camera obscura detection. 

As Eph listened to the explanation his mind began to revolve plansrapidly whereby he hoped to succeed in cutting the mine wires. 

"You will keep sufficiently below the surface, too, Mr. Somers, "continued Major Woodruff. "We do not want you so close to the surfaceof the water that a ripple would show on the camera obscura table. Youcannot, of course, rise and use your periscope to see where you are. Even the periscope would betray you. "

The "periscope" is a device also of the nature of a camera obscura. Inthe case of the periscope a narrow metallic tube is thrust above thewater and the shutter turned about, reflecting all the scene about on awhite-covered table in the boat's cabin. 

"I think I can beat you, Major, " smiled Eph. 

"I certainly hope you can, " replied Major Woodruff. "That is what wewant to see today. We shall watch closely, too, and see whether anyplan can be devised for beating a submarine torpedo boat at its owngame. "

Lieutenant Kline was to remain on board the "Spitfire, " both in order towatch the work and to give Eph any instructions that might be necessaryin order to make the tests more conclusive. 

"If you will come along with me, then, Mr. Benson, " suggested MajorWoodruff, "I will put you ashore on the neck. On the way over I willgive you your instructions. "

As the tug came alongside again Jack followed the major over the gangplank to the deck of the other craft. 

"Good-bye, Captain Somers, " called Jack, laughingly. "Give a fineaccount of yourself as an enemy of the United States!"

"Oh, you--" began Eph, flaring red, but wisely cutting his speechshort. 

On the way over to the strip of land known as the "neck" Major Woodruffmanaged to make his instructions wholly clear to young Benson. 

"Now, you know what to watch for, and what observations, to report tome, " finished the major of engineers, as the tug came to a stop. Asmall boat was lowered, and, in this, Captain Jack Benson was put onthe desolate shore. 

Then the tug went back over by the fort. Jack grew tired of waiting, for it was some two hours ere the tug finally left the ordinance wharfat Fort Craven. 

It was warm out there, on the low, sandy cliffs, provided one got intoa position sheltered from the ocean winds. So Jack, in the wearinessof his waiting, threw himself down in a sheltered hollow. 

Finding that the sun shone disagreeably in his eyes, the submarine boypulled his cap forward over his face. 

Then, in the course of a very few minutes, the inevitable happened. JackBenson drifted off into sleep. 

He awoke with a fearful start, for he had no idea how long he had slept. Yanking out his watch and noting the time, the submarine boy concludedthat he had not been asleep more than twenty or thirty minutes. 

"But I might just as easily have slept for hours, " Benson reproachedhimself. "Then what a hero I'd have felt. Asleep on post!"

At that moment Jack Benson heard a faraway whistle, across the bay. Showing just the top of his head above a ridge of sand, Captain Jacksaw the Army tug just pulling out from the dock across the bay. 

But Jack saw something else, too, in that brief instant. 

A slim, soldierly-looking man of perhaps thirty, tall and of naturallygood carriage, was skulking along in front of the submarine boy, yethidden from the bay by a sand ridge. 

Under one arm the stranger carried a draughtsman's board and a book. Astrap over one shoulder held a field-glass case. 

"Where in blazes have I seen that chap before?" wondered Captain JackBenson, staring hard. "For I have seen him--somewhere. I'd declarethat under oath. "

Figure, carnage and face all strangely haunted the submarine boy, whocrouched lower, watching. 

"By the great turret gun! He's skulking for a reason!" muttered Benson. "Is he spying on the mine-planting? I wonder? Yes! That must be hiswork! Long-legs, I'll keep my eyes on you!"

The stranger hastened along for perhaps a quarter of a mile further. Then he threw himself down on the sand, choosing a position in which hecould lie flat, his head fairly well hidden behind a low ridge of sand. 

Unslinging the field-glass, the stranger brought it to his eyes, closelywatching the progress of the tug. 

"Ha-ha!" muttered watchful Jack, who had followed, keeping behindanother sand ridge. "So, sir!"

The minutes passed, though Jack Benson was so absorbed in watching thislong stranger that the boy had but the vaguest notions of the flight oftime. 

The tug had halted, now. A great crane at the bow swung around, and asubmarine mine hung poised in the air. Then, with a rattle of chainsnot audible at the distance, the mine was slowly lowered until ittouched on bottom. 

While this was going on, the long-legged stranger, wholly absorbed inhis own work, made some observations and some hurried calculations. Then he pulled the drawing-board toward him, jotting down a point. 

Jack Benson, standing stealthily, got a good look, for the first time, at the top of that drawing board. 

"A chart of the bay, of course, " muttered Benson, savagely, between histeeth. "The fellow is marking down the exact position of that mine!"

Still, the submarine boy did nothing to betray his own presence. Hewatched and wondered. The thought struck him that this long-leggedone might be an officer of the Army, on observation duty like thesubmarine boy himself. 

"But that isn't right; I'm sure it isn't, " decided young Benson, quickly. "If they fellow were here on honest business, he wouldn't have sneakedout here to get in position. Besides, I have a vague remembrance ofthis fellow, and I don't connect him with anything honest!"

The Army tug, out on the bay, was now engaged in planting a second mine. Again the slim stranger was all attention. When the crane began tolower the mine, a second mark was made on the chart on the drawingboard. 

Now, once more, the fellow lay at full length, watching intently offover the bay. At his right hand lay drawing-board, the book and thefield-glasses. 

"I'll give him a little excitement!" grimaced Jack Benson, stealingsoftly forward. 

Suddenly the boy swooped down upon drawing board, book and glasses, then, with a panting whoop, wheeled and started off on a dead run. 

"Here you--stop!" yelled the slim one, hoarse with sudden anger. 

Like a flash the stranger was up and in pursuit. As he quickened inthe chase this stranger drew a revolver that glinted in the sun. 

CHAPTER IV

JACK'S QUEER LOT OF LOOT

"Stop, thief!"

Jack Benson only sped onward the faster. 

"Halt, you young rascal!" roared the long-legged one, in pursuit. 

"The fellow who can call names like that, under the circumstances, hasno sense of humor!" chuckled the submarine boy, inwardly. 

"Drop that chart and book!" panted the one in chase. "You're stealinggovernment property!"

"Yes, but which government?" Jack shot back at his pursuer. 

"Are you going to stop?"

Jack's answer was to increase his burst of speed slightly. 

"Then I'm going to fire!" came the warning. Glancing over his shoulderthe submarine boy saw the long-legged one still running after him. Atthe same time the pursuer was raising his revolver, sighting. 

Jack felt a little shiver. He had never been suspected of being acoward, yet he was willing to admit that he didn't want to feel achunk of lead plowing its way through him. 

"Last word to halt!" yelled the pursuer, in an ugly tone. 

"Fire, then!" dared Jack Benson. 

Crack! Whizz-zz! Chug! The weapon was discharged promptly. Jack, still in flight, heard the bullet whistle by him. Then it struck thesand, fifty feet ahead, throwing up a spurt of the fine particles. 

"That was for a caution. The next shot will be to hit!" panted thepursuer. 

"I wonder if you can do it?" Jack taunted backward over his shoulder. 

There was method in the submarine boy's tactics. He hoped, by makingthe stranger angry, to spoil his aim. 

Crack! The bullet sped by, fanning the fugitive's face. The closeaim, however, had the reverse of the effect expected by the marksman. It roused all the submarine boy's anger. He might be hit, but hewould stop, now, only if a bullet laid him low. 

Two more shots sped after the fugitive. Their aim was too close forcomfort, though not true enough to score a hit. Each of the shotssounded a bit further back, too. 

"He's getting winded, " gritted the running submarine boy. "With his longlegs that chap ought to get over ground faster than I. The differenceis that that fellow is out of condition, and my hard work keeps meabout up to the mark of condition all the time. He--"

Crack! Jack happened to turn, just as the fellow fired, and the boy wasable to see that the bullet struck the ground behind him. 

"Out of range!" clicked Benson. "What's the good of carrying a pocketrevolver for service work? Now, if he had a dozen shots more left hewould be wasting his cartridges to fire at me. "

In fact, it was plain enough that the pursuer had given up the chase forthe time being. Not only was he out of range of his quarry, but thelong-legged one lacked the wind to keep on on foot. 

"Say, what a fool I'd have been, to give up this plunder!" cried Jack, mockingly. "That chap couldn't catch me; he couldn't hit me. So I'vegotten away with the stuff he was so anxious to have--and which theArmy, I'll bet, would a thousand times rather he didn't have!"

"Now, how am I going to get back to the Army people?" wondered youngBenson, slowing down to a walk, though keeping a vigilant lookout tothe rear. "I don't want to walk something like a million miles to finda place from which I can get across the bay. "

It was desolate country, over here. Jack and the long-legged one, wellto his rear, now, might be the only human beings within some miles. Theoutlook was not an encouraging one. 

"Say! Wow! Whoop! Blazes!" uttered Captain Jack, suddenly. "Now, Iremember Long-legs! Millard was the name he gave when he came to us, atDunhaven, last Fall. He was the chap who wanted to work on the submarineconstruction. Said he'd do any kind of work, but Grant Andrews put himin a separate shed, sorting and counting steel rivets, and never let himget near a submarine boat. That's the same fellow--Millard. Or, atleast, that was the name he gave them. But, when Millard found he wasn'tgoing to do anything but take care of rivets, he threw up the job fourdays after. He had pretended to be mighty hard up, too, and wanted workat any sort of wages. "

Jack's face began to glow as he remembered more and more of the briefcareer of Millard at Dunhaven. 

"And Dave Pollard, when he was over in Washington later, said he ranacross Millard living at the swell Arlington Hotel! Millard had adifferent name in Washington, and refused to recognize Mr. Pollard--saidthere was some mistake. By hookey! There isn't any mistake. Millardwas trying to steal submarine secrets at Dunhaven, and now he's tryingto map out harbor defenses in Craven Bay!"

Again Captain Jack glanced backward over his shoulder, but Millard wasno longer in sight. 

"He knew me, probably, in a flash, " muttered the submarine boy. "I'msorry I didn't recognize him sooner. "

Having gotten his wind back, Jack broke into a run again. Just becauseMillard had dropped out of sight was no reason for taking chances of asudden swoop from the stranger. 

For some five minutes Jack Benson jogged along. Then he came in sightof a little semicove. Here lay a small motor launch, whose skipper, somewhat of the fisherman type, was busily engaged with the engine. 

"Say, " hailed young Benson, running down to the water's edge, "can youstart your engine at once?"

"I reckon, " nodded the fisherman, looking up. 

"Run your bow in, so I can get aboard, then, " directed Captain Jack, briskly. "I want to get over to where the Army tug is at work. Doyou know where that is--over to the southeast ward?"

"Yep, " nodded the fisherman. 

"I'll give you three dollars to take me over there in a hustle, " proposedJack. 

"You're easy enough, " grinned the man in the boat, starting the engine, then lightly driving the bow of the boat upon the sand. "But you'll payme in advance. "

"Certainly, " nodded the submarine boy, taking out the money, as hestepped into the boat, and handing it over. 

"Now, pick up that boathook, and shove off, and we'll start, " added themaster of the little launch. 

As Jack snatched up the boathook he caught, sight of Millard, threehundred yards away, just coming in sight on a run. 

"You'd better get your engine going fast, " warned Jack, "or that fellowheaded this way will make trouble for us both. He's carrying a gun. "

The skipper took just one look at Millard, who was racing along, pistolin hand, and was prepared to believe his present passenger. That littlelaunch stole out of the cover under its reverse gear until the master ofthe craft thought himself far enough from shore for him to be out ofrange of Millard's weapon. 

"Who is that feller?" asked the fisherman, when satisfied that he was ata safe distance and increasing it every instant. 

"From the way he's dancing up and down, it looks as if he were crazy, "laughed Jack, coolly. 

"What's his particular specialty in craziness?" asked the master of thelaunch, looking shrewdly at the submarine boy. 

"Now, see here, " protested Benson, good humoredly, "as I understand it, you're paid to take me over to the Army tug--not to ask questions. AmI right?"

"You're right, " nodded the fisherman, then surveyed the boy's uniformcuriously. 

"Your uniform looks like you was in the Navy?" suggested the man at thestern of the boat. 

"Does it?" queried Jack. 

"Are you in the Navy?" persisted the boat man. 

"Just now, I'm serving with the Army, " Captain Jack replied, evasively. 

"Are you--" started in the human interrogation point, anew. 

"See here, " broke in the submarine boy, "I thought we agreed you had justone job to do for me, and that questions formed no part of it. "

"That's right, " agreed the fisherman. "But say, there's just onequestion I wish you'd answer me. Are you--"

"No!" interrupted Benson, decisively. "I am not. I never was. "

"You didn't let me finish, " complained the man. 

"Wait until I'm out of the boat, " proposed the submarine boy. "Then askall the questions you like. Maybe you're paid to ask questions, but I'mpaid to hold my mouth shut. "

It went a good deal against the submarine boy's grain to be so brusquewith an inquisitive stranger, but there seemed to be no other defense. 

"Oh, well, if you're ashamed of your business--" retorted thefisherman, falling into a sullen silence. 

This turn of affairs just suited Benson. He compressed his lips and satback, looking out across the bay at the tug, which was at work somethree miles away. 

"Can you put on a little more speed?" inquired Jack. 

"No, " answered the fisherman, sulkily. "Doin' all the gait she'llkick now. "

So Jack possessed his soul in patience until the wheezy little launchhad covered the whole distance. 

While still some two hundred yards off Jack caught sight of MajorWoodruff coming out of the after cabin of the tug. 

"Ahoy, Major!" yelled the submarine boy, holding his hands to his lips. "Perhaps you'd better stop work until I've reported. "

Then the launch ran in alongside, and Jack stepped up to the deck ofthe tug, holding tightly to the loot he had taken from Millard. 

The master of the launch manifested a disposition to hang about in thenear vicinity, until curtly ordered away by Major Woodruff. 

"I suppose you thought, Major, that I took a good deal upon myself inadvising you to suspend work, " Jack hinted. "Yet I've something toshow you, and much to tell you. And I'm wagering an anchor to afish-hook that you'll be glad you stationed me over on that neck ofsand. "

Major Woodruff led the way back into the cabin. There he examined thechart, with a start of astonishment. 

"The fellow was marking down all our mine positions, " came savagely frombetween the Army officer's teeth. 

Then he picked up the book. 

"A nice little assortment of notes on matters of military interest alongthis coast, " muttered the soldier. "Your long-legged fellow has beenbusy at other points than Craven's Bay. "

Then, closing the book with a snap, Major Woodruff looked keenly at thesubmarine boy as he remarked:

"Mr. Benson, I think our present submarine tests can be well suspended. We have a much more important task ahead of us--to catch this impudentthief of military secrets! And, in this undertaking, Benson, you can beof the greatest sort of help!"

CHAPTER V

SIGHTING THE ENEMY

"You can count on me, sir, " declared Captain Jack Benson, eagerly. 

"I can count on every one of you submarine boys, can't I?" asked MajorWoodruff, thoughtfully. 

"You can count on us, " declared Benson, earnestly, "as though every oneof us were sworn into the service and had a record of being tried andtested!"

In an instant after speaking the submarine boy realized that this musthave had a boastful sound. So he added, quickly:

"Please don't suspect me, Major, of being a braggart. But Hal, Eph andI have always taken our work with seriousness. We have always actedjust as though the Flag depended upon us for its protection. We havethe desire, every minute of our lives, to be great Americans--that is, great in our devotion to the Flag, even if we cannot be great in deeds. "

"By Jove, I believe you!" cried Major Woodruff, reaching forward andclasping Jack's hand tightly in his own. 

The major went on heartily:

"No, no, Benson, I don't consider you boastful. You're talking the wayI heard some youngsters talk when I was a boy. It's refreshing andencouraging to hear you talk that way. Do you know, boy, when we olderfellows sometimes get to thinking of the country's past glories, wewonder whether the boys of to-day are going to make such men as havecarried the United States of America forward in the past? The thoughtmakes us solemn and anxious. I suppose every man who is grown and ontoward middle life has always, in every generation, wondered whetherboys were as serious and dependable, as staunch and loyal as the boysof the day before yesterday. Look here, lad!"

Major Woodruff rose, stepping to the door aft and throwing it open. Thestern of the tug was visible. From the pole that slanted out over thestern, hung the Stars and Stripes. 

"You don't need to glance at that fine old bit of bunting more than asecond, lad, " continued the major, "before you feel all that it can evermake you feel. In your case, I believe the sight of the Flag is alwaysan inspiration to you. I pray it is so with every boy who grows up inthis country. But is it?"

Standing there before the Flag, Jack quietly doffed his cap. 

"Thank you, Benson, " acknowledged the major, also doffing his own cap. Then, closing the door, Major Woodruff stepped back to the table onwhich lay chart and book. 

"This chart, Benson, shows what the rascal Millard, has been doing outon the neck. This book proves that he has been at work at some otherpoints. The book doesn't tell much of the story, though. Of that Iam certain. Millard, if he has been at work long, has compiled othernotes in other written volumes. If so, then he has also made othercharts of our coast defenses. For what other government has he thusmarked a series of charts with our secrets? And has Millard succeededin getting other charts, and other books of notes, off to the foreigngovernment he is serving--or has he them hidden somewhere in thiscountry, awaiting his chance to take the results of his spying out ofthe United States?"

"I wish I knew!" muttered Jack. 

"I'm coming to the point, " continued Major Woodruff, briskly. "Now, ofcourse, when we discover evidence that spies of other governments are atwork along our lines of national defenses, the first thing we try to dois to catch these foreign agents and all the material they havesucceeded in getting together. "

Major Woodruff, who was becoming considerably excited, paused to lighta cigar, ere he continued, more slowly:

"Now, you and your two friends, Benson, know this fellow Millard. Youwill spot him instantly, wherever you go. I shall communicate withWashington, at once, by means of a telegram in cipher. The WarDepartment will order me to use all speed in catching Millard, and infinding out where he keeps his other stolen records. Men and money willbe used in running down this fellow. Yet you and your two chums shouldbe in the front ranks of pursuit, for you will know him the instant youlay eyes on him. "

"You want me to take my friends ashore, then, Major, and lay the'Spitfire' up?"

"By no means, " answered Major Woodruff, decisively. "In realityoperations will be suspended at this point until we have run Millarddown. Yet we must have the appearance of being as busy as ever. Thesubmarine will hover about, and this tug will be busy, apparently, inlaying the bay with mines. You have a fourth man on your boat?"

"Yes, sir; Williamson, the machinist. "

"Can he run the engines all right?"

"As well as any of us, Major. "

"Then I will put aboard a man who can steer. Thus the 'Spitfire' willbe seen moving about the bay, and apparently at work. I'll also putaboard a guard of a sergeant and three or four soldiers of the engineercorps, and they'll guard that boat from harm with their lives. Thatwill leave all three of you young officers of the 'Spitfire' free forshore duty. "

"It will, Major. And now, sir, what is that shore duty to be?"

"Simply to locate Millard. He may be at one of the hotels in Radford. "

Radford was the busy, important little port four miles farther up thebay. 

"He's likely to be somewhere in Radford, anyway, " nodded young Benson. 

"Wherever the fellow is found, he must be seized at once, " continuedMajor Woodruff, warmly. "Any policeman will seize him on your request. I will give each of you three a written statement that you have beenasked to locate Millard and have him arrested. If you run acrossMillard anywhere, turn him over to a policeman, then show my writtenauthorization. On that the police authorities will hold the scoundreland notify the military authorities. Then, once we have Millard out atFort Craven, securely under lock and key, by authority from Washington, we will make every effort under the sun to locate his charts andnotebooks. "

"Why, the work you want us to do is going to be easy enough, " murmuredCaptain Jack. 

"It is going to be easy, if you succeed in finding the fellow, and inturning him over to a policeman, " replied Major Woodruff. "And, by theway, I have just remembered that Lieutenant Ridder, of the engineercorps, reported last night from a former station in the West. No onearound here will know him. Good enough! I'll have Ridder get intocitizen's clothes and go about with you three. He can give youinstructions on any point about which you're in doubt. "

"We ought to run that rascal down, sir, " answered Jack Benson, rising. "Unless--"

"Unless what, Benson?"

"Why, sir, unless he's more clever than a rascal usually succeeds inbeing. I haven't lived so very long, Major Woodruff, but, from whatlittle I've seen of the world, it has struck me that the cleverestscoundrels are always just a little less smart, in the end, than theaverage of honest men. "

"I hope you'll prove it, in this case, " replied the major. "And now, tosignal your boat. We'll run both craft in at the ordnance dock at FortCraven. "

A couple of miles away Eph Somers was slowly running the submarine backand forth over the water in seeming aimlessness. In response to sharpblasts from the whistle of the Army tug, the "Spitfire" was seen toturn and head for the tug. 

"Mr. Somers, you will follow in our wake, " shouted Major Woodruff, whenthe two craft were within hailing distance of each other. "We willshow you where to make fast at the ordnance dock. "

"Very good, sir, " Eph responded, with a salute. 

A little later in the forenoon both boats docked at the water front ofFort Craven. 

"You'll come up to my quarters, now, and meet Lieutenant Ridder, "announced the Major, when he had gathered the submarine boys together, and when Jack had given necessary explanations to Williamson. 

"You may not see us again, for a few days, " Jack informed the machinist, in winding up. 

"That won't surprise me so very much, either, " laughed the machinist. "Things are always happening, where you are, and mysteries have ceasedto puzzle me. "

"Have you young men ever been on a military post before?" inquiredMajor Woodruff, as he led them up from the dock. 

"Never sir, " replied Jack. "We have seen considerable of Navy life, butthis is the first time we've ever been at a fort. "

"You don't see much about this place, do you, " laughed the engineerofficer, "that makes you think of a fort?"

"Not much, " Benson admitted. 

"Yet we have a fighting plant here that could prevent a big fleet, indeed, from getting far up the bay at the important cities beyond. That is, " Woodruff continued, thoughtfully, in a low voice, "if theenemy, in advance of his coming here, doesn't know all about our defensesthrough the work of spies. "

Just at the point near the dock, Fort Craven looked not unlike the yardof a big factory plant. Wagons going and coming constantly heightenedthis effect. Beyond, past the plain, on one side, Major Woodruffpointed out the barracks of the Coast Artillery, of the Engineerssoldiers, and of the Infantry. There were also laborers' quarters, several office buildings, a hospital, a chapel, and two streets ofcottages that served as quarters for the officers stationed at FortCraven. 

It was into one of these officers' streets that Major Woodruff soon ledhis three young companions. Admitting the boys to his home, the majortook them to the library on the ground floor. 

"Now, I'll telephone for Lieutenant Ridder to come over in citizen'sdress, " announced the major. "At the same time, I must advise ColonelTotten, who is commander of the post. He may come over here, or he mayorder us all over to headquarters. "

Colonel Totten elected to come over to the major's quarters. He arrivedjust after Lieutenant Ridder, who proved to be a rather boyish lookingyoung man, not long out of West Point. 

The plans were quickly laid by which Lieutenant Ridder was to take anautomobile up to Radford, going to one of the hotels and registering. 

Jack and his two chums were to make the journey in another auto. Theywould go to still other hotels, perhaps to three different ones. At anymoment when instructions were needed, any one of the three could call upLieutenant Ridder on the telephone. 

In addition, Major Woodruff gave each of the three submarine boys awritten and signed authorization for them to call upon the police toseize Millard, if found, and hold the fellow for the United Statesmilitary authorities. 

"Now, you young men may start for Radford, " continued the major. "Colonel Totten and I will busy ourselves with the despatches that mustbe sent to Washington about this affair. But I trust, lads, you willnot fail to realize the importance of prompt success. "

"It's a special duty to the Flag, sir, " Captain Jack answered, simply. 

The automobiles were waiting outside. Lieutenant Ridder was given athree minutes' start. Then the submarine boys followed after, in asecond car. 

As Radford was but four miles distant from the post the trip was not tobe a long one. 

"This is the sort of job that has me by the ears, " glowed Eph Somers, enthusiastically. "I won't be selfish enough to say I hope to be thefellow to catch Millard. But, if he does stray my way, I hope I won'tbe idiot enough to let him slip through my fingers. "

"I don't care if Lieutenant Ridder is the one who nabs him, " remarkedHal, coolly. "All that I'm particular about is to see this foreignagent nabbed before he succeeds in getting any information out of thecountry. "

The car that bore the boys was soon driving through the streets ofRadford. Jack held in his hand a list of the better grade andmiddle-class hotels that Colonel Totten had given him. 

"Which hotel are we going to first?" asked Hal. 

"I don't know, " uttered Jack, suddenly, sharply. "I know what I'm goingto do, however. "

Leaning slightly forward the young submarine captain prodded thechauffeur lightly, twice, in the back--a signal that had been agreedupon at need. 

In response, the chauffeur ran the car slowly in at the curb. 

Captain Jack, opening the tonneau door, was quickly out on the sidewalk, without any need having risen for wholly stopping the car, which thenshot forward again. 

"Now, what on earth was that for?" demanded Eph Somers, as the carsped on. 

"Don't look back, " replied Hal. 

"Why not?"

"Well, a certain party would see you looking at him. "

"Who?"

"Why, Jack had the good luck to see Millard going along on the sidewalk. We've just passed the fellow!"

"Are we going to nab him?" demanded Somers, breathlessly. 

"You'll have to leave that decision to good old Jack, " chuckled HalHastings. "He's out there, dogging Millard from the rear. It's JackBenson's affair just at this moment. "

It was mighty hard for Eph to refrain from looking back. But herestrained his curiosity. 

CHAPTER VI

FLANK MOVEMENT AND REAR ATTACK

When Jack Benson first touched the sidewalk, and the automobile glidedon, leaving him in the wake of Millard, it was the young submarinecaptain's intention to follow his instructions to the letter. 

Millard, having no especial reason of his own for feeling in danger, waswalking along at a moderate gait, occasionally glancing into shopwindows or gazing at the people whom he passed. 

He did not look behind, so it was easy for Jack, less than half a blockto the rear, and keeping close to the buildings, to follow without beingdetected. 

"Hullo, " muttered the submarine boy. "There's a policeman on thecrossing at the next corner. In another moment our long-legged one willbe safely in custody. "

Feeling in his inner coat pocket for the written authorization, Benson'sfingers touched the envelope. 

"He's easily caught;" murmured the boy. 

There is sometimes a big slip between a wish and its fulfillment. Justas Captain Jack was on the point of darting out into the street to hailthe policeman a street car whizzed by. With a flying leap the policemanlanded on the front platform and was whirled along the thoroughfare. 

"Lesson number one about being too sure, " grumbled disappointed youngBenson. "However, we'll soon come upon another policeman. "

Two blocks more were covered, however, without sighting a bluecoat. Jackeven began to wonder how it would do to leap upon Millard, calling uponpassing citizens to aid him until a policeman arrived. 

"But that would be a two-edged sword, that might cut too keenly on thewrong side, " reflected the submarine boy. "Millard would be sure toclaim that I was assaulting him. It would look like that, too, andI'd probably get a thumping from the crowd, while Millard slipped away. Then he would be warned that he was wanted, and he'd make himself mightyscarce after that. "

Still no policeman came into sight. 

"Gracious!" muttered Jack Benson, suddenly. He had just glanced into astore's show window, where a mirror was set at an angle. The submarineboy, looking into that mirror, became aware that he could see people ata considerable distance behind him down the street. 

"I wonder if Millard has been taking sights, too, and has had a peep atme, that way?" muttered the boy. 

At the next corner the long-legged one, after a brief look down the sidestreet, turned into it. 

"Now, that we're getting away from the main street there'll be far lesschance of finding a police officer, " sighed Jack, at last whollydiscontented with luck. 

Millard led without, apparently, ever thinking to glance back. Heturned a second corner, into another small street, and kept on. 

"This is getting more exciting, " muttered the young trailer. "Yet allsigns point to the fact that I've got to make the grab all by myself. I wonder if I can down that chap and get the upper hand of him? I don'tmind a thumping, but I'd be sadly ashamed of myself to let the fellowget away from me. "

Millard was walking briskly, now. Next, he turned sharply to the left. 

"Ah!" Then Jack Benson shot swiftly forward on tip-toe, trying to makeno noise as he ran. 

For the long-legged one had, to all seeming, at the distance, wheeledand gone through the wall of a brick building. 

Just an instant later, however, this impossible feat was explained. Thesubmarine boy found himself at the street-end of a narrow alley betweentwo brick buildings. 

"He has gone into the rear house, at the end of the alleyway, " decidedBenson, peering down this narrow thoroughfare. "He has left the doorpartly open, too. I'll have to have a look-in. "

As he stole down the alley-way Jack Benson was too sensible, and by thistime, too much experienced in the ways of a rougher world, not to suspectthat there might be some trap in that door partly open. "He may haveseen me, and may have left that door open on purpose, " Benson reflected. "He may be lying in wait for me, inside. Or else he may have left thatdoor open, just to make me suspect a trap and keep out. In the meantime, he may be slipping through a door on the other side of the house, andsneaking away from me. "

For a few seconds Jack Benson paused thoughtfully on the step justoutside the door that was partly ajar. 

"I may walk into a trap, by going inside, or I may be letting thatwretch walk out of one by staying out here, " wavered Benson, tornbetween two impulses. 

Then, just as suddenly, this thought flashed through his mind:

"What you're doing is for the Flag! Never mind what happens to you, Jack Benson. Just rash in and say '_here goes_'!"

There was not another second's hesitation. Jack Benson softly pushedthe door far enough open to admit him. At the back of the hallway hesaw stairs leading below. 

"Basement stairs, with a rear basement door letting out on anotheralleyway!" suspected the submarine boy. 

Though he had determined to be as reckless as seemed necessary in orderto get quickly on the trail of the vanished one, Jack moved on tip-toe. He had all but reached the head of the stairs when a ground-floor doorbehind him opened noiselessly. The long-legged one, who had an equallygood reach of arm, thrust out a noose that fell over the boy's head. 

"Ug-g-g-gh!" rattled in Jack Benson's throat, as Millard, in grimsilence, jerked the rope noose tight about the boy's neck. A sharp pull, a twist, and Millard had the boy face down in that hallway, and waskneeling on the victim's back. 

"You ought to have known enough to keep away from me, " growled thewretch, as he tightened on the noose. 

That was about the last that the young submarine captain heard or knew, just then, for things were rapidly growing black before his eyes. Jack tried to fight, but the choking was too severe. He couldn't geteven a breath of air into his lungs to give him fighting strength. 

Finding that the boy's struggles had ceased, the long-legged one easedoff on the noose. He bent Jack's arms behind him so that the wristscrossed. Then, pulling another cord from one of his pockets, thewretch tied the youngster's hands with a few deft movements. Oh, butthis rascal was an expert artist with ropes and cords. 

Jack felt himself being prodded just over the pit of the stomach, andhis senses slowly wandered back to him under the disturbing handling. He was lying on his back, when his eyes opened once more. His throatfelt sore, but he could breathe again. 

Then the submarine boy discovered that his hands and feet were securelylashed. Beyond that, he discovered Millard squatting on the floor, close by, in Japanese fashion, for the foreign agent was sitting backon his own crossed heels. 

"Feel wholly comfortable?" mockingly inquired the foreign agent, whenhe saw the boy's eyes open. 

"Not especially, thank you, " mumbled the boy, dryly. 

Jack had discovered, by this time, that he was lying on a wooden floor, very likely in the basement of the house. The room contained nofurniture, beyond an old table. Daylight was excluded by woodenshutters fastened into place over the windows. On the table a singlecandle burned in a candlestick. 

"Why didn't you bring along with you, Benson, " sneered the long fellow, "the property of mine that you stole from me?"

It was plain, then, that the foreign agent remembered the submarine boywell. 

"Why are you playing this fool trick on me?" counter-questioned CaptainJack. "You knew I didn't have the--the things with me. You could seethat. "

"I put you to this inconvenience, " replied the foreign agent, "becauseI wanted to know a few things. In the first place, why are you botheringwith me, or with my plans?"

Jack remained silent. 

"Won't talk, eh? Oh, well, then, perhaps we can find out a few thingswithout any very especial help from you. "

Millard bent over, thrusting his hand into one after another of youngBenson's pockets. In so doing he brought to light the envelope in thelad's inner coat pocket. Just an instant later, the wretch snatchedthe folded sheet from the envelope, spread the paper open and heldit up to the light. 

"Ho-ho!" sneered the rascal, "an order authorizing you to cause myarrest? This disposes of your case, then, young Mr. Benson!"

CHAPTER VII

A LESSON IN SECURITY AND INFORMATION

Despite the savageness of his utterance Millard continued to gazethoughtfully, for a few moments, at the submarine boy's face. 

As the rascal gazed, however, a grayness came into his cheeks that, somehow, smote Captain Jack with secret terror. 

"I--I don't see how it can be helped, " gasped Millard, at last, in analtered tone that came as another dash of ice water over the submarineboy. "Benson, I hate to do it. I'd hate to use a dog in such a way, but--but there's no help for it!"

A long-drawn-out sigh, a still queerer look in his face, then thescoundrel broke forth again:

"It's your own fault, after all, boy, and there's no help for it. "

"By and by I suppose you'll enlighten me as to what 'it' means?" hintedJack, trying hard to bolster up a courage that, none the less, wouldooze and drop. 

Millard's only answer was to bend over the boy and roll him somewhat inexamining the prisoner's bonds. It was through this that Jack discoveredwhat he had not known before--namely, that his wrists, besides beingbound behind his back, were also lashed fast to something in theflooring. 

There was a queer little choke in Millard's breathing as he went out ofthe room and returned with a bushel basket of shavings. These hedumped on the floor, close to a wall. Then, again, he went out. Whenhe returned he was carrying a can of coal-oil. The contents he pouredover the shavings, then against the wall. Next, over the shavings, heheaped three or four newspapers. 

Jack Benson didn't ask questions. Millard went at it all in such abusiness-like way that the submarine boy felt the words sticking inhis throat; they couldn't be uttered. 

Finally, when all else was ready, Millard took the lighted candle outof the candlestick. 

"This candle will burn for thirty minutes yet, " guessed the wretch, noting its unburned length with the air of an expert "That will be timeenough. Poor lad!"

He set the lighted candle down on top of the papers, over the pile ofoil-soaked shavings. It fitted nicely into a place that the wretchhad made ready for it. Then, without a word, the long-legged onetip-toed softly over and bent beside the submarine boy. 

"Open your mouth, " he ordered. 

Of course Captain Jack didn't propose to do anything of the sort. Withone hand, however, Millard gripped the boy's nostrils, pressing tightly. Just a little later Jack had to open his mouth for air. 

"Thank you, " mocked the other, and neatly shoved a handkerchief betweenthe boy's jaws. This he tied in place, and rising, looked down upon agagged foe. Then, with a last look over at the candle, the long-leggedone darted from the room. 

Left alone, Jack Benson watched that candle on top of the prepared heap. His eyes gleamed with the fascination of terror. When that candleburned down to the right point it would set fire to the paper, andthen--!

Try as he would to bolster his grit, Captain Jack Benson found himselfin a fearful plight. At first, he could only stare, with terror-dilatedeyes, at that candle--ever burning just a slight fraction shorter!

While the horror-laden moments were dragging by Jack heard a step onthe stairs behind his head. Then he realized that some one was lookinginto the room. Then a voice spoke. It was Millard's, though scarcelyrecognizable on account of its huskiness. 

"It's a fearful thing to do, Benson, but--but I can't help it! If youonly knew what it means to me to win!"

Then followed a moment of utter silence. Jack could hear his own heartbeating, as he fancied he could hear that of his persecutor. Thenthere was another sound, as though some light-weight metallic objecthad fallen to the floor. 

"Good-bye, old chap! I--I respect you for your calm grit--that'sall I can say. "

There was the sound of a quick turn, then soft footsteps. Jack knewthat Millard had fled. 

"He respects me for my 'calm grit'!" laughed Jack, grimly--almosthysterically. "Doesn't the scoundrel know that I'm all but frozeninto the torpor of dread?"

Then, just as suddenly, an anguished "oh!" broke from the boy's lips, tobe followed, instantly, by a tremor of hope. 

For, except at the time when interrupted by Millard's return, the youngsubmarine captain had been fighting savagely at the bonds behind hisback. Now, he fancied, he heard or felt a single strand giving way. 

"I've got to get out of this quickly, if at all!" quavered the boy, staring with wavering eyes at the ever-shortening candle-bit. "Therewon't be anything left to do--except bear it--if I'm ten minuteslonger at this all but hopeless task. "

After a few frenzied moments of struggle there was another "r-r-rip"behind him--close to his wrists. 

Now, young Benson fought with rage and frenzied strength. His gaze wasever toward the candle, burning lower. It seemed as if it mustcommunicate its flame to the paper at any instant. 

There came another ripping sound. Captain Jack Benson, though hecould not see, felt something giving around his wrists. Franticallyhe squirmed and twisted with his hands. Then, suddenly, his wristsfell apart--free!

With an exulting throb of gratitude for this well-nigh unexpected boon, Benson forced himself up into a sitting posture. He was shaking, now, from sheer nervousness. 

Swiftly, tremulously, he felt in his pockets. 

"My long-legged friend never thought to take my knife--probably becausehe hadn't the slightest idea I'd be able to use it, " thrilled thesubmarine boy, as he forced a blade open. 

It didn't seem to take an instant, now, to cut the cords and set hisfeet free. Jack staggered to his feet. The lighted candle had burneddown, now, even more perilously close to the paper--but what did thesubmarine boy care now? At the worst, he could easily run from thishouse which, he felt certain, was untenanted save for himself. 

As soon as he could steady himself well enough, Benson bent and snatchedup the burning candle from the tinder-like bed on which it stood propped. 

"Instead of destroying me, " he chuckled, "this candle will now light meon my way out. "

At the doorway at the end of the room Jack Benson, by some strangechance, happened to remember that slight metallic sound of somethingfalling to the floor while Millard was speaking. Now, Jack bent over, holding the candle to aid him in his hunt. Ah! There it was! Yet howutterly insignificant--nothing but a hairpin!

"Trifles often lead to something big, though, " muttered the submarineboy, dropping the hairpin into his pocket. "I've been too much aroundmachinery to despise small things. "

Candle in hand, Jack quickly ascended through the rest of the house, after finding, in the lower hallway, a stout stick that he picked up. With this club he felt he had a weapon to be depended upon at need. 

But there was nothing in the rest of the little three-story house tothrow any light upon the habits of Millard, or the place for whichthat worthy had departed. 

In one upper room Benson found a small mirror hung from a nail in thewall. In this same room was a small trunk, lid up and empty. 

Back to the basement Jack returned. At the rear he found a small yard. Beyond that a fence, with a gate in it. The gate was unlocked. On anail at the edge of the gateway Jack found a fluttering fragment ofgray veiling. 

"A woman has left here, " thought Jack, holding the fragment of veilingin his hand. "Or else Millard got away disguised as a woman. Thattrunk may have held woman's apparel for the very purposes of such anescape. "

This rear gateway opened upon a long, narrow alley that led to a streetbeyond. 

Having satisfied himself on this point, Benson stepped back into theyard. 

"Hold on! Here's something that will help, " muttered the boy, staringdown curiously at the ground. 

It was the imprint of a foot in a wet spot on the ground. As Jack bentover it he saw the marks of diagonal criss-crossing such as is foundin the soles of rubbers. 

"The print is a fresh one. Either Millard wore rubbers away, or somewoman has been here who wore them, " Jack concluded. 

Dropping his cudgel, since he would have no use for it, Benson made hisway down the alley to the street beyond. At the corner stood a smallgrocery store, whose proprietor was in the doorway. 

"I wonder, " began Jack, "whether you saw a woman came down out of thisalley-way lately? A tall woman?"

"About twenty minutes ago I saw a tall woman, in a gray dress andwearing a gray veil, " replied the storekeeper. 

"Was she carrying anything?"

"Some sort of a grip--a suit case, I guess. "

"Did you ever see the woman before?" persisted Jack. 

The storekeeper shook his head. 

"Which way did the woman go?"

"I don't remember, particularly, but I think down that way, " replied thegrocer, pointing. 

Jack hurried along. It was a quiet part of the town. None of the peopleto whom he spoke within the next three or four minutes remembered havingseen the tall, veiled woman in gray, though some "thought" they"might have. "

"I reckon, " wisely decided Captain Jack Benson, "that I know just aboutenough to take my information to Lieutenant Ridder. "

CHAPTER VIII

EPH FEELS LIKE THIRTY TACKS

As agreed, the young West Pointer was in a room at the Grindley House. As this room was equipped with a telephone, the young Army man was intouch both with Fort Craven and with the submarine boys, should thelatter find anything to report over the talking wire. 

Here in the room Captain Jack found Ridder, for the boy had felt itbest to go direct to the hotel. 

"Surely, you haven't found out anything as quickly as this?" asked theyoung lieutenant of engineers, looking up in surprise. 

"I've learned a few things, " replied Jack, quietly. 

"Sit down, and let us hear what you've learned. "

Jack dropped to the chair, but Lieutenant Ridder, when he heard the news, was so excited that no chair could hold him. 

"Jove! and just our luck!" gasped the Army officer. "No policemanin sight! Now, if you three boys had kept together--"

"But, you see, when I dropped from the automobile, I wasn't sure it wasMillard. I had had only a glance, and his face was away from me. "

"If you see that wretch again, jump on him wherever he is. "

"I could have done it, this last time, " Benson nodded. "Yet I had anidea that, if I followed him, he might lead me to the place where hekept his maps and his other stolen information. And he did, I guess, "added Jack, with a somewhat disappointed smile. 

"Wait a moment. I'll try to get Major Woodruff over the wire, " mutteredLieutenant Ridder. "He may have some orders for us. "

Major Woodruff was at his home. He heard the message and sent hisorders crisply. 

"The major thinks we had better keep this matter from the police, yet, and do our best to find Millard, either in his own garments, or behindthat gray dress and veil, " announced the Army lieutenant. 

"Then I wish we had the other boys here, " muttered Jack, wistfully. 

At that moment the 'phone bell rang. It was Hal, reporting, andinquiring whether any word had come from his chum. 

"Mr. Benson is here, and I think you'll do well to get here as quicklyas you can, " replied Ridder. 

"Is there any word--" began Hal Hastings. 

Ting-ling-ling! The 'phone bell rang, cutting off Hal. The latter hadreceived his orders, and his next concern was to obey them. That waslesson number one in brisk Army discipline. 

Hal was on hand in five minutes. While Jack was recounting to him theadventure with Millard, Eph Somers came in. He stood in the background, listening, his jaw gradually dropping until his mouth was wide open. 

"You heard how Benson ran into the fellow?" asked Lieutenant Ridder, turning to Somers. 

"Yes, " muttered Eph, disgustedly, "and I guess I have been enjoyingthe fool's part of the adventure!"

"How so?" demanded the Army officer quickly. 

"I met that same woman, I'll bet a cookie, " growled Eph, "and--and--I--"

"Well, sir?" demanded Lieutenant Ridder, briskly. 

"I carried that bag for _her_--carried it nearly two blocks!"

"What's that?" cried Jack Benson, leaping up. "How--"

"No; I don't believe, on second thought, that I'm the prize fool. "

"Come, come, " directed Lieutenant Ridder. "Talk up quickly, young man. "

"If you want to hear what I have to say, " retorted Eph, with a slightflash of his eyes, "you'll have to wait until I get around to it. "

It was serving direct notice on Ridder that Army briskness wouldn't doin Eph's case. 

"Well, what have you to tell?" demanded the young lieutenant, impatiently. 

"I was on my way back here, " Eph continued. "Guess, maybe, I was eightblocks or so away from here. I had been to the hotels that I agreed tovisit, and--"

"Why did you go to the hotel, anyway, after you knew Benson had sightedMillard?" broke in the Army officer. 

"Because it wasn't a sure thing that Jack had seen Millard. He thoughtso, and so did we. But, after we left him, the auto ran along slowly, and we heard no row behind, so we guessed that maybe Jack had been wrongin his guess. At least, Hal and I figured it out that way. So I wentto the hotels on my list, just the same, and I guess you did, didn'tyou, Hal?"

"Yes, " nodded Hastings. 

"This isn't bringing us, very fast, to your latest adventure, " complainedyoung Ridder. 

"It's your fault, then, " continued Eph, placidly. "You asked a question, and I answered it. "

"Well, what about meeting the woman in a gray dress and veil?"

"I met her, " retorted Eph. 

"Could you see through the veil?"

"No. "

"Then how do you know it was Millard?"

"I don't know, " Eph rejoined. "But there are mighty few women as tallas Millard. Besides, this one had rather a long foot, and wore rubbers. I noticed that. Huh! This makes me feel like thirty tacks!"

"How did you meet her--or him?" asked Ridder. 

"I was crossing a street, maybe eight blocks from here, " Eph replied, "and I saw that tall woman, in gray, slip on the crossing. There wasa street car coming, and she gave a little yell. I got to 'her' justin time to pull 'her' out of the way of the trolley and to set 'her'on 'her' feet again. Then I picked up 'her' dress suit case. Itstruck me that the one I supposed to be a woman was on the point ofspeaking to me when he--she--seemed to see my uniform and then get alook at my face. Then the party, whether it was he or she, made signsto show that he, or she, was deaf and dumb. The suit case was heavy, so I offered to tote it along, as I was headed the same way. I thoughtit was the least I could do for a woman who had just had a great shock. If that was Millard--and I'd bet a torpedo boat it was--how he musthave chuckled over the idea of having one of the submarine boys carryhis bag for him. "

"How far did you go with this 'lady'?" asked the Lieutenant Ridder, witha faint touch of sarcasm. 

"Two blocks, " replied Eph. 

"And you left her--"

"At a cheap hotel where I can find her again. And I guess it's up tous to start right away. "

"Yes, " nodded Jack. "And we can't start too soon. "

It may have occurred to Lieutenant Ridder that he wasn't exactly beingconsulted. However, he saw that these submarine boys were used toacting swiftly, and he began to believe that they would work betterif left to their own devices. So he merely nodded, adding:

"I'll wait here. I'll hope to have a report before long. "

Eph led his two comrades back unerringly to the cheap hotel. They wentstraight to the hotel desk, Jack asking, bluntly, whether any verytall woman, in gray, and carrying a dress suit ease, had registeredthere. 

"No, " replied the clerk, very positively. 

Then they interviewed the porter. He remembered the "woman" havingstepped inside the hotel. She readjusted her veil in the lobby nearthe doorway. 

"Then she went outside, spoke to a driver, got into his cab, and wentaway, " continued the porter. 

"She spoke to the driver, did she?" Eph asked. 

"Of course, sir, " retorted the porter. "You didn't think she made signs, did you?"

From their talk the submarine boys were satisfied that it was the same"woman" whom Eph had so gallantly assisted. They were equally surethat this veiled "woman" in gray was none other than Millard. 

"Do you remember which driver it was whose cab she engaged?" Jack asked, turning to hand the porter a dollar. 

"Jack Medway's cab, sir, " was the quick answer. "And here it comes, now. "

The submarine boys hurried out, transferring their attention to Medway. 

"I'm just back from taking the lady, " replied the driver, after JackBenson had slipped him, also, a dollar bill. "But say--was it a lady, or a joke?"

"Why?" queried Jack Benson. 

"Well, " replied the driver, "the voice was pitched high, but there wassomething peculiar about it. I wondered, at the time, if it was a manrigged and togged out like a woman. "

"Where did she tell you to take her, " Jack Benson wanted to know. 

"To Furnam Square!"

"Did you take her to any address there?"

"No; just to the square. Then I waited to fill my pipe, and I saw thewoman, if woman it was, walk across the square and get into another cab. "

"If you haven't anything else to do, " hinted Jack, "suppose you take usto Furnam Square now. "

Within a very few minutes the three friends were gazing out of a cabwindow upon the square. It looked like a very quiet residence section. 

"There was another cab here, you say, that took your last 'fare' fromthis square?" asked Jack. 

"Yes; there is a fellow who has a regular stand here. It's his cab, "replied Medway. 

"Let us know, then, when that particular driver gets back here, " beggedJack. "We'll sit here in your rig and wait. "

Medway grinned. Waiting, as well as driving, meant money for him. 

Fully an hour and a half dragged by. Jack was beginning to wonder ifit would not be better to give up this present clue to the chase, whenMedway, leaning down from his box, called quietly. 

"That's the other fellow and his rig, coming back into the square now. "

"As soon as he stops, " directed Benson, "drive us over alongside. Don'tsay anything to him. Let me do the talking. "

In a moment more Jack was out on the sidewalk, talking earnestly withthe driver just returned. 

"You've had a long trip of it, " guessed Jack, noting the warm conditionof the horses. 

"You bet, " nodded the other driver. 

"Just got back from taking the tall woman in gray somewhere. "

"Yep. But do you call it 'somewhere'? I'd call it most anywhere. "

"How far was it?" asked Jack. 

"What do you want to know for?" demanded the Jehu, looking with suddensharpness at his questioner. 

"Because we'd like to go to the same place that you took the woman, "returned Benson, promptly. 

"Huh! I took her for three dollars. I wouldn't go over that tripagain for less'n five. "

"We'll pay the five, and be glad to, " proposed Jack Benson, displayingsome money. "More than that, if you play right fair with us, we'll putanother five on top of the first, just as a little present to yourhorses. "

"You'd better use the young gentlemen right, Jim, " advised Medway. "They're good fellows, and they pay well. "

"Why do you want to go where I took that last party?" questioned Jim, with a shrewd look. 

"One of the things that the second five-dollar note pays you for isasking no questions, " retorted Jack. "Do you want to take up ouroffer?"

"Yes; if you'll give me fifteen minutes to rest and water the horses, "agreed Jim. 

"That'll be all right, " nodded Jack. "And now, Medway, have we paidyou enough?"

"Plenty, " cheerfully responded the first driver, taking the hint andleaving. 

"Where did you take that woman?" questioned Jack, while the new drivergot out a bucket for watering his horses. 

"Away down by the sea-coast. Know where the Cobtown fishing shantiesare?"

"No. "

"Well, Cobtown is made up of three or four little villages of ricketyold houses. Some are occupied by fishermen, and some ain't. There'sthree or four coves down that way fishing craft anchor in. It's alonely, wild bit of country, and some rough characters 'mong themfishermen. "

"Did you take your fare to any particular house or shanty down atCobtown?"

"Nope; she got out on the road, in sight o' Cobtown, an' walked along, toting her old grip. "

"What kind of a 'grip' was it?"

"An old brownish suit case. "

"That's the one, " nodded Eph. 

As the driver busied himself over his team, the submarine boys drewaside to talk over their new information. 

"I reckon we're going to be too late, " grumbled Captain Jack. 

"What makes you think so?" Hal inquired. 

"Fishing villages, smacks and fishermen, " answered Jack, gloomily. "Fishermen are a daring, reckless lot of fellows. They'd take a craftanywhere, in any kind of weather, for money enough. Fellows, I'mafraid Millard has hired a smack and started up or down the coast. "

"Then we've got a craft that can chase any smack on the Atlanticcoast, " declared. Eph, stoutly. 

"Of course; if we knew which craft to overhaul, and had the authorityto do it. "

"Authority? Then what's the matter with the people at the Fort?"demanded Eph. 

"Their authority runs only on the land. Besides, by the time we gotthrough the red tape, and got started, any smart smack, in a good wind, would be forty miles the other side of the horizon. "

"Are you going to take this long drive, then?" asked Hal Hastings, rather dubiously. 

"Yes, " declared Jack Benson, promptly. "Hal, old fellow, any trail isbest where it's freshest. "

"I reckon you can git in, now, gents, if ye want, " called the driver. 

Seated in the cab the submarine boys set out to meet whatever mightbe before them in Cobtown. Had they possessed the gift of prophecy--

However, none of us possess that!

CHAPTER IX

JACK PLAYS WITH A VOLCANO

After something more than an hour's drive the Jehu pulled his horses up, got down from the box and opened one of the doors. 

"Here you are, young gents. This is the spot where I put the last faredown. An' now you know as much about her whereabouts as I do. "

The district into which the submarine boys had come was well outside ofthe city, and in a different direction from Craven's Bay and the Fort. 

It was bleak and wild here. Even the shanties of the three littlevillages, with their fish-sheds, their racks with nets spread, therickety wharves--all looked dismal. It seemed as though here must beone of the spots where only a scanty living is earned and only by thehardest kind of work. 

"Well, we're much obliged to you, driver, and here's the money promisedto you. "

"Obliged to you, gents. Will you want to be going back with me?"

"No, " Captain Jack answered. "I reckon we're going to be moored herefor a while. "

"Now, whereaway? What's the course?" demanded Eph Somers. 

Benson glanced at his watch, then up at the sun. 

"It'll be dark in about an hour and half, " he muttered. "Why not waituntil dark? We can't have been seen from any of the villages yet. Looking out over the water you don't see a craft of any sort headedaway from here. From this point, looking down, we can see if any of theboats in port get ready to put out. So Millard, if he hasn't alreadyescaped, can't get away by sea without our knowing it. If he tries toget away by land, we're right where we can see him coming. "

"Then you think we'd better wait here, keeping out of sight, untildark?" asked Hal. 

"Most decidedly. Don't you?"

"Yes, " nodded Hal. 

"But it'll be a mighty tedious wait, " growled Eph, the impatient one. 

"Well, youngster, we're not here to consult our own comfort, " retortedCaptain Jack. "There's something higher to consult--the best interestsof our country. "

"Oh, if you put it that way!" grumbled Eph, much mollified. 

The submarine boys had stepped into a little hollow, just off the road, and barely below a rise in the ground. There were trees and bushesabout to aid them in concealing themselves. If they saw anyone comingtheir way they could easily find better hiding. 

No one came, however. Dark found the boys desperately hungry. 

"Of course we didn't think to bring anything to eat, " uttered Eph, disgustedly. "What are we going to do about it?"

"We've got to each of us take a village, presently, enter it and search, "replied Captain Jack. "With only one of us to each village, it will betough luck if each one can't find some one who has enough food to sella little of it. "

"How soon are we going to start?" asked Eph, hopefully. 

"Well, supper time will be the best time to go through the villages, "decided the young submarine skipper "If Millard has taken refuge withanyone who lives in one of these villages, he'll be more likely to showhimself at supper time than at any other. "

"It won't take long to look into each of the houses, " muttered Hal. "There aren't many in any one of the villages. "

"If we don't espy our man at table, " Captain Jack went on, "we'll haveto try other means of finding him out. You two will know what to dowhen you're on the ground. If Millard is anywhere in the village thatyou go to look through, don't fail to find him--that's all. "

Jack chose, for himself, the northernmost village. Hal took the nextone, and Eph the southernmost. 

"Now, remember, fellows, " breathed Benson, sharply, as they parted, "the one great thing is not to fail!"

The night was dark and the sky overcast as the submarine boys parted togo their several ways. 

"I think I can understand how Eph feels about his stomach, " grimacedJack, as he strode along. "I don't believe I'd balk, just now, at theplainest food ever cooked. Why, I haven't eaten since this morning!"

The evening being rather warm, most of the houses, as Jack neared thevillage, proved to have open windows. Lights shone, and the fishermenand their families could be seen at table. 

No one appeared in the street, at first. Jack strolled down theprincipal street, looking into each house without much difficulty. Yetthe one face that he sought was not visible. 

Down at the further end of the street Benson came upon atumble-down-looking grocery store. 

"What kind of sandwiches can you put me up?" queried the submarineboy, casually. 

"Stranger, eh?" asked the man behind the counter, staring curiously. 

"Yes; haven't you had any other strangers here lately?"

"Not as I knows on, " replied the man, a shaggy, unkempt-looking fellowof forty. 

"None here to-day, eh?" asked Jack, taking out a half-dollar and toyingwith it on the counter. 

"Don't remember anybody very special, " replied the storekeeper. 

"You haven't answered me about the kinds of sandwiches you can put up, "Jack reminded him. 

"Not very fancy in that line, young feller. Cheese, or sardines;that's all. "

"Give me three of each, then, " begged Jack. He seized the first sandwichthat was prepared and began to eat it. 

"Hungry, eh!" asked the storekeeper. 

"Yes, " Jack admitted; "for want of anything better to do. "

"Foller the sea, don't ye?"

"Depends, " muttered Jack, his mouth half full of sandwich. "When I'mgoing before a brisk fair wind, sometimes the sea follows me. "

"'Spose so, " grinned the storekeeper, passing over the second sandwich. After that, the fellow got in slightly ahead of the submarine boy'sappetite, though Benson finished the whole meal in a few minutes. 

"Now, if you've got a bottle of soda water, to wash that all down with, "hinted Benson. It was forthcoming, also a smoky-looking glass. 

"So you haven't had any strangers here lately, " hinted Captain Jack. 

"Nope. "

"Any craft been fitting out to sail to-night or first thing in themorning?"

"Nope. "

"Gracious, but this is a dead place, " laughed Jack. "Must be a lot ofshacks for rent around here?"

"There was one place, " stated the storekeeper, "but a dude feller hiredit last week. Said some sort o' fishing club'd be down this way tofish, once in a while. That kinder minds me, " went on the storekeeper. "I guess maybe some o' that crowd are down, 'cause I saw a light upthere at the house, jest come dark. "

"If there's a fishing club down here, that ought to make business goodfor you, " suggested Captain Jack. 

"Dunno. They can start tradin' as soon as they like. I'm ready. "

"Which house has the fishing club hired?" was Jack's next question. 

"Why, I guess you can make it out from the door, " replied thestorekeeper, coming out from behind the counter and going to the frontof his establishment. "There, if yer eyes are good, you can jest makeout a building over there on the point. See it? Well, there's a littleboat wharf in front that ye can't see until you get closer. "

Jack had found out just what he wanted to know. He had the veryinformation for which he had been fishing, nor did he believe thestorekeeper suspected him of undue curiosity. 

"Well, I've got to be moving along, now I'm fed, " announced young Benson. "The yacht I belong to is some distance from here. Good night!"

Nor did Captain Jack linger in the village. Had anyone stood still inthat street and stared after Benson, he would have seen the boy vanishin the darkness. 

Captain Jack, however, had not disappeared from the scene. He wasmerely shifting to the part of it that interested him most. Cautiouslyhe stole out along the further side of a ridge of land, toward therickety old house on the point. 

"Not a sign of a light, now, " breathed the submarine boy. "If Millardwas really there, I hope he hasn't had time to get away for good. "

All was silent and dark about the old house, as Captain Jack stolecloser. At nearer range he made the circuit of the house, only tofind every window shuttered, and the place as dismal as the grave. 

"I'm afraid the game has escaped, " muttered Benson, with a sinkingfeeling at his heart. "Yet he didn't escape, by sea or land, while wewere watching outside the village. And it was just at dark that thestorekeeper saw a light here. I wonder if it would be easy to--"

Right there Jack Benson's train of thought broke off. From the oppositeside of the house came a sound exactly like that of the opening andclosing of a door. 

"Can that be our man coming out?" wondered Skipper Jack. 

He started cautiously around the house, but soon drew back around thecorner of the building. Dropping to the ground, and lying flat, thesubmarine boy allowed only the top of his head to show as he peeped. 

Glory! Jack knew, well enough, that tall figure striding off into thegloom. It was Millard, and under his left arm the fellow carried alarge package that might be a bulky portfolio well wrapped. 

"He has his drawings--his maps of American fortifications and fortifiedharbors--the very stuff that we want to get!" throbbed the boy. "Andnow--we're going to get them!"

Keeping Millard's receding figure zealously in sight, Jack, crouchinglow, started after the long-legged one as soon as the distance betweenseemed sufficient to keep Millard from guessing at pursuit. 

"Oh, how I wish Hal and Eph were here!" muttered Captain Jack, in keendisappointment. 

"I need help on this!"

Within two minutes Millard had struck into a well-beaten path that lednorthward over succeeding ridges of laud. In a way, it was easierfollowing here, for there were occasional trees and clumps of bushesbehind which the young shadow could drop at need. 

Two minutes in this path, and Jack Benson's heart gave another quickleap. Some one else was coming stealthily behind him. Jack dodgedaround a clump of bushes and waited. 

"Hal!" breathed Jack, almost wild with joy, as the two chums claspedhands fervently for one brief instant. Then:

"See here, Hal, I've got to dart forward again, or Millard will be outof sight. But I'll tell you what--while I trail Millard, you concernyourself only with following me. "

"Good enough, " whispered Hastings, nodding. "Now, you start again!"

For just an instant Millard had disappeared. However, by moving forwardquickly, Benson was soon able to make out the quarry through thedarkness. 

For some five minutes more the chase continued. Then, his long bodyrather sharply defined against the sky, Millard began the ascent of alow hill that ended in a cliff overlooking the broad ocean. 

As Millard's course forward could end only in the sea, Jack now crouchedlow, stealing along a parallel course behind a low ridge of rock. 

Then Millard suddenly stepped into a clump of tall bushes. Though hisgame was now out of sight, Jack did not lose his nerve, for he couldhear the fellow. 

Spink! spank! clank! The noise came from a shovel, vigorously used. 

"Not a hard one to guess, " throbbed Captain Jack Benson, exultantly. "He has brought his maps and his stolen records with him, and isburying them in this lonely spot until some other time when he'll feelsafe about coming back for them. Talk about luck! Why, Hal and I canpounce on this fellow, when he comes out over yonder, and, after we gethim, we can next dig up whatever it is that this foreign agent thinksis worth burying!"

Then, with a shade of curiosity, Benson added to himself:

"I don't know, yet, how it happened that Hal was on my trail. Therewasn't time for him to tell me. "

Clank! clank! But after a while the noise of the shovel ceased for awhile. Captain Jack craned his neck eagerly, trying to pierce thedarkness of the night. He could make out nothing, though he heardsome one still moving inside the clump of bushes. 

Then again the noise of the shovel on the dirt was heard. 

"He's filling in, now, beyond a doubt, " thought Captain Jack. "He isburying--what? The maps and records? Hiding them here that he maydig them up at some later date?"

Benson chuckled noiselessly. 

"If that's Millard's game I reckon some one else will do some diggingover yonder before he pays this place a second visit!"

Ah, the noise had stopped, at last. Now, Millard came out of thethicket. 

"He hasn't that bundle he brought up here!" throbbed Jack Benson. "Andhe isn't bringing a shovel out, either, so it must be hidden right handy. Great!"

Mr. Millard could depart, now, if he wanted. Jack trusted to his chum, prowling somewhere about, to have the good judgment to follow thelong-legged fellow away. As for Benson, he didn't mean to do anotherthing until he had found the shovel, and had determined just what hadbeen so carefully buried on this dark night!

So Jack watched, rather indifferently, as Millard slunk off into thedarkness. After three minutes or so had passed, Jack rose and ranstraight for the thicket. 

There it was--new ground, that had just been turned over with a shovel. There was no mound, but the fresh earth showed just where to dig. 

"Oh, this is as easy as making change for a blind man!" chuckled theyoung submarine skipper, rubbing his hands ecstatically. 

What about the shovel? Jack turned to feel around in the darkness. Really, Millard couldn't be such a very clever fellow! Jack had nodifficulty in finding the shovel. Its handle was sticking out fromunder a mass of dead brush. 

Jack Benson drew out the implement, brandishing it. 

"Hal had the good sense to shadow that chap away, " decided the youngskipper. "Otherwise, he'd have been here by this time. Goodhaul--rascal and records in the same night. For, if Hal goes onMillard's trail, then Millard is pretty sure to be a prisoner beforethe night is over. Oh, I wish Eph would turn up. "

Then Jack took a good grip on the shovel. Clank! spink! spink!

Having been so recently moved, this dirt was easy to dig. 

Yet, suddenly, there came a new note on the night air. 

"Jack, O Jack!" sounded in Hal's frantic tones. "Quick!"

"Eh?" called Captain Benson. "What's the row? Come here and see what Ican show you!"

"No! You come here--quick!"

"That's queer, " pondered Jack Benson, leaning on his shovel, trying tounderstand what it could all mean. 

Then he heard, even at the distance, the sound of Hal Hastings panting, as though engaged in hard physical effort. 

Again rose Hastings's frantic voice, though somewhat muffled in itssound. 

"If you don't hustle, it will be too late!"

Jack dropped the shovel on the ground, wheeled, and ran down the slopeto where Hal's voice sounded. 

"I'm coming, old fellow!" quivered the submarine skipper, starting torun. 

Boom! A terrific explosion shook the ground. The air seemed full offlying fragments of rock. 

CHAPTER X

"MR. GRAY" MAKES NEW TROUBLE

Had Jack Benson started down the slope two or three seconds later hemust have been killed. 

As it was, the fearful force of concussion sent him sprawling headlongon the ground. 

A shower of small fragments of rock and of loose dirt fell about him. 

Yet Jack was up again, like a flash, never stopping to inquire whetherhe had been hurt. 

"O-oh!" came the groan, from Hal Hastings. 

"There, in a second!" panted Captain Jack, beginning to run again. 

A blow sounded, then a fall. 

Captain Jack raced into a little, bush-lined hollow, just in time tosee Millard leap up and take to his heels. 

Hal Hastings lay on the ground, as though badly hurt. 

"Oh, you would, would you?" raged Captain Jack Benson, making a swiftspurt after Millard. 

He caught the long-legged one, too, by the back of the fellow's coatcollar. 

Yank! Millard was pulled over backward. Down he went, Benson pilinga-top of him. 

"Down!" cried Skipper Jack, exultantly. He found, however, that Millardpossessed strength enough to put up a stiff fight. 

"Come on, Hal--if you can!" called Jack Benson, sharply. 

"Can't--just yet, " came, in muffled tones, from the usually prompt HalHastings. 

"Let go, you young hound!" ordered Millard, striking out savagely. 

Jack hung desperately. Yet the trouble was that the young submarineskipper had tackled a man who was at least fifty per cent. Strongerand fully as agile. 

While Hal still hung back, Millard gave a heave, then rolled himselfover on top of Jack Benson. 

"I'll give you just a short lesson!" snarled the long-legged one. 

He raised a fist, intent on bringing it down like a sledge-hammeracross Benson's face. 

That blow, however, wasn't the one that landed. Biff! whack! Twosturdy, hard fists registered on Millard's head from behind. Then aboy shot himself forward, battering-ram fashion, hurling Millard overto the ground. The boy went with the fellow, landing on top of him. 

And that boy was Eph Somers!

"Come on, Jack, if you want some of this!" offered Eph, generously. 

Truth to tell, there was need of both the submarine boys, for Millardnow fought more fiendishly than before. 

Millard was a powerful fellow, when aroused, but he had pitted againsthim two of the doughtiest, gamest boys to be found along the Atlanticcoast. He was pretty well beaten up, in fact, by the time that Hal camelimply upon the scene. 

"Want any help?" demanded Hal, in a still somewhat breathless voice. 

"Nope!" answered Eph, sturdily. "Not unless you want exercise. "

As Somers spoke he landed another blow, this against the "wind" atMillard's belt-line. In the same instant Jack Benson managed to knothis hands in the fellow's coat lapels, and to press the backs of hishands against the wretch's throat. 

"I sur--ug-g-gh!--er--render, " gurgled the long-legged one, weakly. 

"You'd better, unless you want to discover that we haven't yet startedin with rough handling, " retorted Eph valiantly. 

Young Benson eased his hold on Millard's wind-pipe. Yet all three ofthe submarine boys watched their prisoner, cat-like, for any newoutbreak. 

"Now, roll over on your face, if you want us to believe you're going tobe good, " ordered Jack. 

Though he swore, under his breath, Millard obeyed. Then somethingflashed in the night--handcuffs that Jack had brought away from hismeeting with Lieutenant Ridder at the hotel. 

Click! The steel band snapped into place around Millard's right wrist. 

"Hold on--not that!" protested the prisoner, hoarsely. 

"Yes; even that!" mocked Eph, picking up a fragment of rock. "And keepquiet, unless you want me to batter your head in!"

It was this rough, vigorous sea-talk, backed by a belief that youngSomers would prove equal to his threat, no doubt, that made Millardallow his left wrist to be brought over to meet the right. 

"You've got those things on too tight, " complained Millard, sullenly. 

"No-o-o, I don't think so, " retorted Captain Jack, after looking. "Weneed 'em as tight as we can have 'em, without causing pain, when wehave a fellow like you to deal with. Now, what was that explosion?"

"Wait a second!" broke in Eph, in a low voice. "Millard had a pal here. It was the pal I shadowed here. And that pal is running, now, with afair-sized bundle that he came here to get. "

"He was running when you jumped into this business?" demanded Benson. 

"Yes. "

"Then the pal is too far away, by this time, for us to catch him byrunning after him, " decided Skipper Jack. "Now, about that explosion!"

"This wretch had a mine planted up on the hill, " explained Hal Hastings. "I was watching, at the rear, you know, and it happened that I stoppedright close to the hollow where you found me. Then I saw Millard dropinto that hollow, and I took a look-in. I was just in time to see himbending over to reach for the handle of a magneto battery. Now, Ihappened to know that magneto batteries are made for the purpose oftouching off explosives at a safe distance. So I jumped in on him. Just at that second I heard you, Jack, old fellow, striking with theshovel up above there. I had to guess fast, so the whole thingstruck me like a flash. Millard had been digging, up there, just tolead on anyone who might be shadowing him. While you were bent overthe spot where he had been digging, he meant to touch off a mine thatmust have been planted and laid days ago. Millard, you rascal, if yoususpected that you were being watched, it was your idea to lead theshadow out here, get him over that mine and touch it off!"

The prisoner's eyes flashed. 

"That was your game, wasn't it?" demanded Benson, angrily. 

"Find out, if you can, " growled the prisoner. 

"You've guessed it, Hal, " nodded Jack, then shuddered. "Had I followedthis villain out here alone, and then gone to digging, unwarned, whereI had seen him digging, my remains would have come down in four counties. But, you mean scoundrel, you never happened to think that you'd betrailed by three different fellows, all at different points along yourtrail. "

"This is where my account comes in, " interposed Eph Somers. "Youremember the village you sent me to, Jack? Well, all I could find outwas that, a few days ago, a chap named Gray had come along and hired alittle schooner that's about twice as fast as any other sailing craftin these parts. He hired two fishermen to sail it for him--when hegot ready. His crew have been wondering, since, when he'd be ready. Since he made the deal, Gray has just been hanging around and doingnothing. "

"My informant pointed out Gray to me. Right after that, I vanished. But I kept an eye on Gray. When he left the village, so did I. Thetrail led up here. Gray went to a pile of dead brush that had beenheaped up. He prowled under the brush, brought out a wooden box thathad been hidden there, and, from the box, took a bundle. He startedoff with it. I figured that bundle was what we wanted. I didn't wantto take the chance of tackling him and having him get the best of me, so I started to follow. Just then I heard the rumpus up here. MaybeI did wrong, but I figured we could get Gray again, so I hustled uphere to help. "

"This wretch, Millard, and I had a pretty rough-and-tumble time of it, "Hal broke in. "At last, though, he gave me a blow in the wind that putme right down and out, for a little while. Then he got the handle ofthe magneto and pumped it. "

"Glad I started down the slope just when I did, " nodded Skipper Jack, dryly. "If I hadn't--well, what's the use of talking about it?"

Forcing Millard to get upon his feet, the boys inspected, first themagneto battery, to which was attached wire buried in the ground. Then up the slope they went, to find a miniature crater, some ten feetdeep and at least fourteen feet across, where the mine had beenexploded. 

"Say, it's hard, even yet, to understand why I wasn't killed, " mutteredJack Benson. "But here we are, standing here, thinking about ourselves, when that fellow, Gray, is getting away with a package that we ought tohave. Come along, fellows! And you, Millard, if you try to bold backon us, you'll learn some new things in the way of discomfort!"

Thus warned, and realizing that his determined young captors were ina savage frame of mind, the long-legged one didn't try to lag. Allfour appeared in the village in which Eph had prowled for information. The appearance of the handcuffed prisoner stirred up a lot of curiosity. Eph, however, showed his written authorization for taking Millard inthe name of the United States government, so no one offered the captiveany aid or sympathy. 

But the submarine boys met with disturbing news. They heard that alittle more than a half an hour before, Gray, still carrying a bigpackage, had embarked on his chartered schooner, and had put to sea. 

"Had we better charter something and go in chase?" wondered Hal. 

"What's the use?" demanded one of the fishermen. "The 'Juanita' isfour miles or more out to sea, by this time, and the night's dark youcouldn't see her. And there's no craft hereabouts fast enough to catchthe 'Juanita. '"

"Besides, " whispered Jack, in his chum's ear, "we have no power tooverhaul a craft at sea. "

So, making the best of the situation, the submarine boys hired a driver, horse and wagon at the village, and started on their return to town. 

CHAPTER XI

FACING THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY

Jack was the first to enter Lieutenant Ridder's room at the hotel. Theyoung engineer officer jumped up out of his chair, looking somewhatangry. 

"Look here, Benson, " expostulated the lieutenant, "what sort of way isthis to use me? Here I've been loafing about here for hours, and youhaven't sent or brought me word of any kind. You--"

"We've brought you something better, " smiled Jack Benson, throwing thedoor further open. "Here is Millard, himself. "

Millard came in, a policeman at his side, for the submarine boys hadhailed the first policeman they met inside the city limits, and hadexplained to him. 

"This man is wanted as a United States prisoner, is he, sir?" inquiredthe policeman. 

"Yes, if his name is Millard, " replied Lieutenant Ridder. 

"Oh, this is Millard, all right, " confirmed Jack Benson. 

"Then shall I leave the fellow with you, sir?" inquired the policeman. 

"Yes, of course; and thank you. "

"You'll give me a receipt for the fellow, as a United States prisoner?"hinted the policeman. 

"As a United States suspect, " corrected Lieutenant Ridder, going to atable on which were writing materials. The policeman was handed thedesired document, then withdrew. Then Ridder went to a telephone, calling up Major Woodruff. 

"The major will be here in about ten minutes, " announced Ridder, hangingup the receiver. "In the meantime we will do no talking in the presenceof this suspect. "

It was just a little less than ten minutes later when Major Woodruff, accompanied by a corporal and two private soldiers, entered the room. 

Millard was at once taken away, under guard. 

Then the boys told their stories, quickly, comprehensively. 

"I'll have to get a clear wire all the way through to Washington, "declared Major Woodruff, promptly, going to the telephone. In a minutemore he had arranged matters, and hurried to the table to write hisdespatch. Ere the major had finished writing a messenger boy was atthe door. 

"Boy, you'll find my automobile at the hotel entrance, " stated MajorWoodruff. "Give this card to my chauffeur, and he'll take you on thejump to the telegraph office. Then come back in the automobile, andwait for more work. "

"Do you expect anyone in Washington to get that message now, after teno'clock at night?" Jack asked, wonderingly. 

"To-night?" repeated Major Woodruff. "Yes, sir! You haven't much idea, I take it, Mr. Benson, how fast government business travels. Withinfive minutes the first part of my message will be ticking out on areceiver in the War Department. The Army officer in charge will getthe Secretary of War over the telephone. Why, my answer will verylikely be here inside of twenty minutes!"

It was thirty minutes, exactly, when a messenger placed a telegram inMajor Woodruff's hands. As soon as the messenger had gone outside, the major read this telegram. 

_"Keep prisoner Millard close confinement pending further orders. Have communicated Secretary of Navy. Latter official says sea chaseshall be made to catch fellow Gray on 'Juanita. ' If submarine boyswill accept sea service, briefly, for Navy Department, have them cometo-night's train and report Secretary Navy at nine to-morrow morning. Their expenses borne by government. " (Signed) "Secretary of War. "_

"What does that mean, sir, " cried Jack Benson, rising, "about _if_ wewill accept sea service, and reporting in the morning to the Secretaryof the Navy at Washington?"

"Why, I belong to the Army, " replied Major Woodruff, hauling out hiswatch, "and this is a Navy matter. However, since one of you youngstersknows Gray by sight, and you're all of you familiar with this business, I imagine the Secretary of the Navy wants to put you out to sea on oneof the country's gunboats, to aid in the chase. For any realinformation, however, you'll have to apply in person to the Secretaryof the Navy himself. Are you going to Washington?"

"Are we going--" Jack started to repeat, with mild irony, when aknock at the door interrupted him. Major Woodruff opened the door, to receive another telegram. 

"Washington wakes up quickly, " he laughed. "Here you are, Mr. Benson--adespatch from our other fighting department at the Nation's capital. "

Clearing his throat, Major Woodruff read:

_"Send description of schooner 'Juanita, ' and of suspect, Gray, asmentioned in your telegram Secretary War. Are submarine boys leavingto-night to report in morning? Secretary of Navy. "_

"Here you are, and you see you've got to make up your minds quickly, "said the major. "The night train south for Washington leaves in alittle more than an hour from now. "

"Why, there's only one answer possible, sir, " cried Captain Jack Benson, his eyes shining. "Of course we'll take to-night's train and report tothe Secretary of the Navy in the morning. When it's for the Flag Idon't even have to consult my comrades, or look their way. I knowtheir answer as well as I know my own. "

"Good enough, young man, " applauded Major Woodruff, while LieutenantRidder gave Jack a hearty slap across the shoulders. "But, to go tothe Navy Department, you'll want citizen's clothes--not your presentuniforms, which are not official. I can send my auto to your boat, andyou can be back here in forty minutes, if you dress quickly. "

"Ready for the word, 'forward, ' sir, " responded Captain Jack, saluting. Hal and Eph also raised their hands to their foreheads. 

It was a swift trip, with some hurried dressing on board the "Spitfire, "but Major Woodruff landed them at the railway station ten minutes aheadof train time. 

"Good fortune, gentlemen, " wished Major Woodruff, pressing the hand ofeach when the train was ready. "Don't be scared when you findyourselves face to face with so big a man as the Secretary. "

It is not to be wondered at if the minds of all were in a bit of a whirlas they made for their berths in a sleeping-car. 

"After all, " muttered Jack, to himself, as he undressed in his berth, "it's strange how some fellows get the cream of things. Here we getthe trip to Washington, while Lieutenant Ridder will have only the funof going out to the cliff above Cobtown to-morrow to have a look atwhat is left of Millard's mine. "

Their train brought the submarine boys into Washington just before sevenin the morning. There was time for a good breakfast. Then, beingstrangers at the national capital, the youngsters engaged a cab to takethem to the imposing building that shelters the State, War and NavyDepartments. 

Jack Benson sent in his card. Five minutes later the three submarineboys were ushered into the presence of the Secretary of the Navy. 

CHAPTER XII

NAVY OFFICERS FOR AN HOUR OR A DAY

"So you're really the three famous submarine boys?" inquired SecretarySanders, rising from his chair and extending his hand. 

"We're submarine boys; that's all I ever heard about it, Mr. Secretary, "replied Captain Jack, as he introduced his friends. 

"Now, be seated, young gentlemen, and tell me all you know about thismatter that has brought you over to Washington. "

Jack Benson acted as spokesman, telling the whole tale clearly, yetusing up no more time in talk than was absolutely necessary. It was agood, concise, business statement. 

"Now, of course, " pursued Mr. Sanders, "you wonder what the NavyDepartment wants you to do. Well, in the first place, we've beenasking, by wireless, through the night and early morning, to have allcraft on the lookout for a schooner answering to the description of the'Juanita'. "

Secretary Sanders paused, but none of the three boys asked any questions. 

"You will wonder, of course, what success we've had so far, and I maysay that our success has been ample, " resumed the Secretary of the Navy, with an amused smile. "In other words, we've been able to pick up newsof three schooners, all of which answer to the general description ofthe 'Juanita'--but it happens that that isn't the name of any one ofthe three. "

Jack Benson nodded, but did not speak. 

"Of course, " pursued the Secretary, "it may be that the skipper of the'Juanita' has tried an old trick, through the night. He may have seta man to painting another name at the schooner's stern. "

Again Skipper Jack nodded. 

"The schooner that we think most likely to be the 'Juanita' is aboutfifty miles out at sea, now, according to a report received twentyminutes ago. Evidently she is headed for one of the British WestIndies. Now, if the wind continues the same, and the suspected vesselkeeps to her present course, she will, at five this afternoon, be offthe Norfolk Navy Yard, and some sixty-two miles out at sea. Now, unless we are otherwise advised, we want a gunboat, the 'Sudbury, ' nowat Norfolk, to overhaul the suspected schooner and ascertain whether sheis really the 'Juanita, ' and whether the man, Gray, and his bundle ofdocuments are still on board. The suspected vessel is to be searched, and Gray and the documents, if found, are to be seized, and the schoonerthen released. Do you understand?"

"Perfectly, sir. " Jack answered quietly. 

"One of you young men will know Gray at a glance. The other two arefamiliar with the whole case. Otherwise, it would not have beennecessary to have called you into this matter. Yet, to overhaul avessel, or to make an arrest or a seizure, you require authority. Suchauthority can be vested only in naval officers. Hence, for the present, it will be necessary to give all three of you appointments as officersin the United States Navy. "

At this announcement Jack Benson lost, for the moment, some of hiscool composure. 

"Officers of the Navy, sir!" he gasped, but his eyes glowed at the merethought. 

"You will be officers only temporarily, " returned the Secretary. "Youare not of age, any of you, I take it. "

"We are all just about the same age, sir--seventeen, nearly eighteen, "Jack replied. 

"Just so. Now, none of you could legally bold officers' commissions, except by a special act of Congress. However, with the approval of thePresident, it is legal for me to give you special, temporary appointmentsunder which you have the title, rank, pay and command of officers. Theseappointments I am going to give and, for a brief while, though you willnot have commissions, you will nevertheless be as actually officers ofthe Navy as are any admirals on the list. "

This astonishing statement almost took away the breath of the submarineboys. 

"You are familiar with navigation, Benson, and are a capable enoughsea-pilot along this coast. I learned that much, early this morning, through Mr. Farnum's answer to my telegram. "

"Then Mr. Farnum knows what we are going to do?" asked Jack, quickly. 

"He doesn't, " replied Secretary Sanders, with a shake of his head. "Mr. Farnum knows, only, that you have a chance to be of some serviceto the Navy. He seemed to be much pleased by our inquiry. "

The Secretary had just touched an electric button on his desk. Now aclerk entered the room. 

"Telephone the secretary of the President, " directed Mr. Sanders, "andask him whether the President has examined and approved the specialappointments that I sent over a while ago. "

The clerk was quickly back, to say:

"The special appointments, Mr. Secretary, are duly approved, and arenow on their way over from the White House. "

Two minutes later, a messenger entered, handing a sealed envelope tothe Secretary of the Navy. 

Breaking the seal, Mr. Sanders drew forth three heavy, folded sheetsof parchment. 

"Here you are, Mr. Benson, " resumed the Secretary, handing over one ofthe parchments. "This document confers upon you, for the time being, the rank, pay and command of a lieutenant, junior grade, in theUnited States Navy. You, Mr. Hastings, and you, Mr. Somers, will rankas ensigns under your special appointments. "

Jack's head swam a bit as he thanked Mr. Sanders; then he started toglance over this marvelous document. 

But the Secretary of the Navy now cut in, briskly:

"That is all, gentlemen. You know your instructions, in general, Lieutenant Benson. You will now go to my chief clerk, who will swearyou into the service. He will also give you an order on a local tailorfor the uniforms of your ranks. In one hour and twenty minutes yourtrain starts south. On arrival at Norfolk you will report without aninstant's delay at the Navy Yard. Aboard the 'Sudbury' you willreceive all further instructions, wired from this Department. Goodmorning, gentlemen. "

Then, indeed, things moved fast. At the desk of the chief clerk ofthe Navy Department the three budding naval officers stood with theirright hands raised while the official at the other side of the deskadministered to them the oath binding them to loyalty to the governmentand to obedience to all lawful orders of their superiors. 

"And now, gentlemen, " continued the chief clerk, "I will send forEnsign McGrath, who is on duty here, and present you to him. He willgo with you to the tailor's, and will see that you are properly rushedto the train that you are to take. Remember, you are not to pay foryour uniforms or equipment. The bill will be sent here. "

Ensign McGrath looked sleepy, but proved to be a hustler. One of theDepartment's autos was out in the grounds, and into this McGrathbundled the three submarine boys. Five minutes later they were in thetailoring establishment, where a good many ready-made uniforms werekept for sale. 

What a whirl it was. Yet, in twenty minutes, each submarine boy foundhimself in the duty uniform of a United States junior naval officer, each uniform adorned with the insignia of the wearer's rank. In themeantime, dress-suit cases had been procured from a store near by. 

"All right and proper, " nodded Ensign McGrath. "And--I'm not throwingbouquets, gentlemen, but you really look as though you had been bornfor the uniforms. Now, only one thing is missing--the swords. "

"Are we to wear swords?" asked Jack, his face flushing with pleasure. 

"Under certain conditions, on duty, naval officers wear swords. Youwill need them as parts of your equipments. "

The dealer brought these side-arms at once. The naval sword is ahandsome one, vastly more natty than the infantry side-arm of a juniorofficer. 

What a thrill each submarine boy felt as he was shown how to adjust hissword to the belt!

"They're really nonsensical jewelry in these civilized days, " declaredEnsign McGrath, dryly. "But the regulations call for swords at sometimes. Now, gentlemen, you will need to get your uniforms off asquickly as you can, and the tailor's helpers will pack them in your suitcases. You travel in citizen's clothes, and don your uniforms as soonas you get aboard the gunboat. "

Ten minutes later each proud submarine boy picked up his suit case andsword, the latter, in each instance, being inside of a chamois-skincarrying case. 

In single file they made their way to the street. 

"Now, for the last leg of the race in Washington, " announced EnsignMcGrath, as they entered the automobile once more. 

"I wonder if it will happen on the way, or at the station?" laughed Jack, as the government gas-wagon whirled them down Pennsylvania Avenue. 

"Will what happen?" inquired McGrath. 

"Why, " laughed Benson again, "I know we've got to wake up out of thistrance, but I can't figure when it's going to happen. "

"I suppose all of you do feel excited, " nodded Ensign McGrath, understandingly. 

"Not excited, " declared Jack. "I'm just simply unprepared to believethat any part of this has really happened. "

At the railway station they were met by a messenger from the chiefclerk's office, who handed each of the submarine boys a small parcel. 

"Copy of the Regulations, sir" stated the messenger. "It is requiredthat each officer of the Navy possess a copy. "

"You'll want to scan the book good and hard most of the way down toNorfolk, " advised Ensign McGrath. "You'll find much between the coversthat you'll need to know right at the first jump-off. And now, for thetickets. "

These McGrath bought, including parlor car seats. The ensign then sawthem safely to their seats. 

"Now, you've got enough to do, reading your new books, " laughed theensign, "So I'm not going to waste your time by staying here to talkto you. It's ten minutes, yet, to the time of your departure. Good-bye, gentlemen--_and good luck!_"

When McGrath had gone Jack leaned across the aisle to whisper:

"Eph, can you get at your sword handily--to draw it, I mean?"

"What's up?" said Eph, suspiciously. 

"I want you to stick about a sixteenth of an inch of the point of yoursword into me, so I can judge how long I've been dreaming. "

"What's the matter with using your own sword?" demanded Eph, a triflegruffly. 

"That's just the trouble, " smiled Benson, plaintively. "I'm afraid I'llwake up and find I haven't any. "

Hal was leaning back in his parlor car chair, his eyes closed. He wasdreaming delicious daydreams. 

CHAPTER XIII

COMMANDER OF A U. S. GUNBOAT!

"Lieutenant Benson, sir?" inquired a coxswain, saluting. 

"Yes, " replied Jack, returning the salute. 

"The gig is waiting to take you to the 'Sudbury' sir. "

This information was punctuated by another salute which Jack, as head ofthe party of three young officers, again returned. 

"Lead the way, " directed Jack. 

For the third time saluting, the coxswain possessed himself of Jack'ssuit case and sword, then crossed the wharf to the landing stairsdown below, the gunboat's cutter waited, a natty little craft, occupiedby a bowman and four oarsmen. 

The three young officers seated themselves at the stern of the gig. 

"Cast off, " directed the coxswain. "Up oars! Let fall! Give way!"

With the long, steady, magnificent sweep of the Navy which the sailorspulled, the little gig seemed to race through the water. 

"Is that the 'Sudbury'?" inquired Jack, nodding toward a trim littlegunboat some two hundred feet long. 

"Yes, sir. "

All three of the submarine boys gazed at the gunboat with secretenthusiasm. Had it not been for the guns fore and aft, and at therail on either side, the "Sudbury" might have been mistaken for somemulti-millionaire's yacht. 

In another moment the gig was making fast at the gangway. Then JackBenson stepped out, and, heading his comrades, went up over the side. 

At the head of the gangway a corporal and four marines stood drawn up. At a low-voiced command from the corporal the marines presented arms, standing thus until the three new young officers, saluting, passed. 

Just beyond the marines, stood an officer of the Navy. He brought hishand to his cap in a smart salute. 

"Lieutenant Benson?" inquired this officer. 

"Yes. "

"I am Ensign Fullerton, executive officer of this vessel. "

They shook hands and Jack presented his comrades. 

"I think I had better show you to your cabin, sir, " suggested EnsignFullerton. 

"As you please, " nodded Jack. 

The way was actually led, however, by three of the marines, who, at aword from the corporal, had possessed themselves of the limited baggageof the new arrivals. 

In Jack's cabin was a broad double berth, two deep wardrobe closets, abook-case, desk and several chairs. 

"I had no idea junior officers had such roomy quarters, " murmured Jack. 

"They don't, usually, sir, " smiled Fullerton. "But it's different, ofcourse, in the case of the commanding officer. "

"But I'm not the commanding officer, " gasped Jack. 

"For the purposes of this cruise you are, " smiled Fullerton. "But Iforget. You haven't received your orders. There they are on your desk. They arrived less than an hour ago by wire. "

Like one in a dream young Jack Benson picked up a bulky telegraphenvelope and broke the seal. There, before his eyes, danced the wordsof the latest order from the Secretary of the Navy. 

Lieutenant Jack Benson was directed to take command of the UnitedStates gunboat, 'Sudbury, ' until further orders. Ensigns Hastings andSomers were directed to assume such duties aboard as were assigned tothem by Lieutenant Benson. 

"I didn't expect this, " stammered Jack. "I--I--we thought ourtemporary rank in the Navy was given us merely that we might have legalstanding in making one arrest that is wanted. "

"No one ever does know just what is wanted of him, until the ordercomes, " laughed Ensign Fullerton. "At least, that has been the casesince Mr. Sanders became Secretary of the Navy. He keeps all officerson the jump. But I guess that is what a good many of them need, sir. "

As the Ensign appeared to be at least twenty-five years old thatrespectful "sir" struck young Benson's ear queerly. 

"Pardon me, gentlemen, but be seated, " suggested Lieutenant Jack, suddenly, as he realized that his chums and this one sure-enough navalofficer were all standing. 

"You have been aboard naval vessels before, sir, haven't you?" askedEnsign Fullerton. 

"Oh, yes; but never in the present way, " smiled Benson. 

"Then, no doubt, you understand, sir, that the 'Sudbury' is under steam, only awaiting your order to put to sea. "

"The last part of these orders, " replied Jack, picking up the telegram, "advises me that sailing orders will be wired soon. "

"Then may I make a suggestion, sir?"

"Of course, " nodded young Benson. 

"At your direction I will have Mr. Hastings and Mr. Somers shown totheir cabins. Then I will send for the one other young man left ofthe gunboat's old equipment of officers, and present him to you. Afterthat I would suggest, sir, that I have the crew piped to quarters forbrief inspection by the new commanding officer. "

Hal and Eph were quickly made acquainted with their own cabins, whichwere on the port side of the gun-deck, Jack's being on the starboard. 

Ensign Fullerton brought in a slim, very erect young man in amidshipman's uniform--Mr. Drake, just out of the Naval Academy. 

"Our engineers are all warrant machinists or petty officers; nocommissioned officers among them, " stated Fullerton. "Our highestmarine officer is Sergeant Oswald. Besides the sergeant we haveeighteen other enlisted men among the marines. Here is the ship'scomplete roster, " continued the Ensign, taking a document out of apigeon-hole over the young commander's desk. "And now, sir, shall Ipass the order for piping the crew to quarters?"

"If you will be so good, " Jack nodded, rising. 

At this moment Hal and Eph appeared at the doorway. 

"Pardon me, gentlemen, for suggesting that you had better put yourswords on, " suggested Fullerton, "Inspection of crew at quarters isabout to come off. "

Hal and Eph vanished, but soon reappeared, wearing their new swordsand trying hard not to look conscious of the fact. Jack was engagedin adjusting his own side-arm to his belt. 

"I neglected to state, sir, " continued Ensign Fullerton, "that we haveno medical officer at present. A hospital steward down in sick bay isour nearest approach, at present, to a medical officer. "

"Forewarned is forearmed, " laughed Jack. "We'll try not to be ill. "

It was time, now, to proceed to the quarterdeck; for, forward, theshrill sound of the boatswain's whistle seemed to fill the air. 

Though all the crew, including the marines, had been summoned andformed at the mast, the inspection was but a matter of a moment. Itspurpose was more to give the crew a glimpse of their new officers. 

Just as the inspection was ending, a marine of the guard approached, announcing in a low tone:

"Telegram for the commanding officer, sir. "

Ensign Fullerton received it, returning the marine's salute, and passedthe envelope to Jack Benson, who opened it. 

"Our sailing orders, Mr. Fullerton, " announced Jack, as soon as theformer had dismissed the formation at the mast. "This telegram gives, as you see, the latest reported position of the schooner believed to bethe 'Juanita, ' and her course. You will get under way at once, Mr. Fullerton. Then you and I will work out the course. "

"This is the starboard watch, sir, " continued the executive officer. "Which officer is to command it?"

"Mr. Hastings. Mr. Somers will take the port watch. "

"Very good, sir. And I would suggest, sir, that Mr. Drake is anexcellent pilot between here and the sea. "

"Then direct Mr. Drake to take the bridge with the watch officer. "

"Very good, sir. "

"And, as soon as we are under way, Mr. Fullerton, come to my cabin andwe will figure out our course more in detail. "

"Very good, sir. "

It was Ensign Fullerton, who, acting as executive officer, transmittedthe needed orders to Hal, Eph and Midshipman Drake. 

The three young officers now removed their swords, sending them by amarine orderly to their respective cabins. Hal took command from thebridge, subject to Fullerton's directions, while Jack, as commandingofficer, also took his station there briefly. Eph, being free to do ashe pleased for the time, went to his cabin to try to figure outwhether he were dreaming. 

Quickly the "Sudbury" left her anchorage, proceeding downstream. As soonas the start had been fairly made Ensign Fullerton reported at thecabin of the young commanding officer. They worked out on the chart theprobable positions that the suspected schooner would take that afternoon. 

"We should sight her at about five o'clock, sir, if she doesn't changeher course, and if the wind holds the same, " said Ensign Fullerton. 

"If we get the right craft, first off, it will be a short cruise, won'tit?" smiled Jack, rather wistfully. 

"I--I--" began Ensign Fullerton, slowly, then paused. 

"Well?" smiled Jack Benson. 

"On second thought, I believe I had better not say what I started tosay, " replied the ensign. 

"Oh, go ahead, Fullerton, " urged Jack. "It isn't easy to wound mysensibilities. "

"I was going to say, sir, " replied the Ensign, flushing a bit, "that Iquite understand how you feel about a short cruise. The sensation ofholding a command in the United States Navy is one that you would notcare to give up too soon. "

"I was thinking of something of the sort, " Benson admitted. "But--seehere! On one point my orders don't quite enlighten me. If the suspectedschooner proves not to be the right are we to come back to report thefact?"

"If you were so to order, " replied Fullerton. "Yet you do not need to. This vessel is equipped with wireless, and you are in instantcommunication, at every moment of the day and night, with the NavyDepartment at Washington. "

"I'm glad of that, " admitted Lieutenant Benson, frankly. "It willlessen the danger of my making a fool of myself during my first and lastnaval command. "

"Not your last command, I hope, " remarked the ensign. 

"The only way I could get a permanent command, " retorted Jack, "wouldbe to get appointed to Annapolis, if I could, and then work through thelong, long years for command rank. "

"There are other ways, " replied Ensign Fullerton, quietly. "Andespecially, if a war should break out. Young men trained as finely asyou and your comrades, and showing as great talent, sir, would have nodifficulty in reaching important rank in a war of the future, when somuch must be risked on the submarine craft of which you young men aremasters. "

"We have run a few submarine boats, I suppose, " nodded Benson. "But noneof us has ever had the Annapolis training. "

"Not all of the best American sea-fighters have come out of Annapolis, sir, " replied Fullerton, soberly. "If a boy gets through Annapolisthere's nothing wonderful in his making a fairly good officer. Butmy cap, sir, is off to boys who can come through the ordinary machineshop and qualify themselves to command submarine boats or anything elseafloat!"

Then, dropping back to his ordinary manner, Fullerton saluted, nextleft the cabin to carry to the watch officer the orders for the course. 

Lieutenant Jack Benson, briefly of the U. S. Navy, strolled out to theafter deck for a short promenade. Here he was joined by Eph Somers, who, in his naval uniform, did not forget to salute before accosting thecommanding officer of the U. S. S. "Sudbury. "

"I'm really beginning to feel that I'm not dreaming, " confided Eph, almost in a whisper. "Whee! but it's fine to be out on a craft so bigthat you don't get a cramp in your leg from walking! Say, do you know, Jack, " he whispered, "I am almost crazy to see one of this ship's bigguns fired!"

"You may have your wish, " laughed Jack. "Who knows?"

Who knew, indeed?

How was it possible, for that matter, for any of these three youngofficers to guess what lay ahead of them?

CHAPTER XIV

THE BOW GUN BOOMS AND EPH PUTS OFF

In the nineteenth century, when a vessel left port, her destinationunknown, that craft might get away from a pursuing squadron scatteredover the seas. 

At best, knowledge of a marine fugitive's whereabouts could be gainedonly from the masters of other vessels that had sighted the fugitive. Usually, such information must be delayed until the informing master ofthe sighting ship reached port. 

In the twentieth century all is greatly changed. 

A vessel bound for parts unknown, carrying some fugitive from justice, is sighted by some steamship that is equipped with a wireless telegraphoutfit. Hours before, perhaps, the master of the steamship has beenasked to keep a weather-eye open for a vessel that answers the name ordescription of the runaway craft. Now, she is sighted by the master ofthe steamship. Ten minutes later the authorities on shore know theexact whereabouts of the fleeing craft. Should she change her coursewholly, her new whereabouts is soon after reported to land by themaster of some other wireless equipped steamship. 

Once upon a time the task of finding and overtaking a runaway vesselat sea presented innumerable difficulties. Nowadays, it is oftennecessary only that the pursuing craft possess sufficiently greaterspeed to overtake the easily located fugitive. 

As the "Sudbury" turned out into the open sea that little gunboat wasin instant communication with Washington, and also with any wirelessequipped ocean traveler up to nearly half way across the great Atlantic. 

At three o'clock the Navy Department at Washington reported to a gunboatout of sight of land that the last sighting of the supposed "Juanita"placed her on the same course as hitherto reported. 

At four o'clock came word that the Navy Department had had no new reportas to the schooner by wireless. 

At five o'clock another wireless despatch was flashed through the air. Lieutenant Jack Benson, reading, discovered that the "Juanita" hadagain been sighted on the same course, headed for some port in theBritish West Indies. 

At 5:20 Ensign Eph Somers, port watch officer of the "Sudbury, " sent amarine orderly to report to Lieutenant Benson that a schooner'stopmasts were within sight. 

Benson hurried to the bridge, but found Ensign Fullerton there justahead of him. 

"We'll shape our course in straight pursuit of the schooner, Mr. Fullerton, " decided Lieutenant Jack. 

"Very good, sir. "

As yet the schooner's topmasts were visible only from the military top. After a few minutes had passed, however, the vessel's masts were visiblefrom the bridge. 

"Does her rig look like that of the 'Juanita, ' Mr. Somers?" questionedyoung Benson. 

"I can't say, sir, " Eph replied. "I didn't see her, at Cobtown, undersail. I shall have to wait until I can make out the hull, sir, beforeI can make even a good guess. "

Smoke was pouring heavily from the "Sudbury's" two funnels by this time, for the gunboat was being pushed, under forced draught, to considerablybetter than twenty knots an hour. The schooner apparently was makingbetween seven and eight knots an hour. 

In a few minutes more the hull of the stranger began to show. Eph, with a pair of marine glasses to his eyes, studied the stranger longand carefully. Lieutenant Benson, knowing it would be folly to hastenhis comrade's judgment, waited in silent patience. 

"That craft looks very much like the 'Juanita, ' sir, " ventured Eph, atlast. "In fact, sir, I think that's our schooner. "

"Steer up to windward of her, then, Mr. Somers, " Jack directed. "Mr. Fullerton, give orders to have the port bow gun manned. When the orderis given, be prepared to fire a blank shot toward the schooner. If, after one minute, the schooner shows no signs of heaving to, then firea solid shot across her bows. "

"Very good, sir. "

Without leaving the bridge Ensign Fullerton passed the word for themanning of the gun and loading with a blank cartridge. 

There was a new, deeper glow in Eph Somers's eyes as he paced thebridge. He was to have, at last, his wish to see the "Sudbury" firea shot. 

In a few minutes more the "Sudbury" was ranging tip alongside theschooner, though a full quarter of a mile away to windward. 

"Mr. Fullerton, fire the blank shot at the stranger, " ordered LieutenantJack Benson. 

"Aye, aye, sir. "

The order was carried by a simple wave of the executive officer's hand. The petty officer in command behind the bow gun, looking for the signal, saw it and gave a low-toned order. 

_Bang!_ Eph was watching for it. His eyes danced as he heard the sharpexplosion and saw the cloud of white smoke, with the tongue of firespitting through the center of it. In most of us there is left some ofthe spirit of the old Norse pirate; Eph had a lot of it. 

"The people on the schooner act as though they were bewildered, " smiledJack, watching the schooner through his glass. "It doesn't look asthough they expected any such order from us. I wonder if they meanto obey?"

"Worse for them, if they don't, " replied Ensign Fullerton, grimly. "Asolid shot across the bows, and a shot through their rigging after that. What schooner has any chance to defy a ship of war?"

"There they go around, " cried Jack, barely above his breath, "They'llheave to. "

"Of course, " smiled Fullerton. "Your orders, sir?"

"Lower the power launch. Send a corporal and four marines, and sixsailors, armed, beside the boat-handlers. Mr. Somers will take command, as he's the only one of us who knows the fellow Gray by sight. "

Ensign Fullerton accordingly transmitted the orders, also orderingMidshipman Drake up to the bridge to serve as watch officer in Eph'sabsence. Hal Hastings was asleep in his cabin at the time. 

In the meantime the schooner continued "hove to, " several men liningher starboard rail. 

"Somehow, Mr. Fullerton, " muttered Lieutenant Jack, after Eph haddeparted in the power launch with his boarding crew, "I'm not muchinclined to think that's our schooner. "

"Somers seemed to think so. "

"Mr. Somers said it looked like the 'Juanita. ' He's too careful tocommit himself to more than that. "

"We shall soon know, sir, anyway. "

It is probable that Eph was disappointed that the schooner had beenstopped by anything less than a round shot through her rigging. Yet, as he stood up in the stern of the launch, as it bounded over the waves, he felt a heap of satisfaction in the thought that he commanded thesearching party, and that he did so by virtue of being an officer inthe United States Navy. And this, too, was a form of duty in whichEnsign Somers wore his sword at his side. 

"I hope they're preparing a surprise for us, " chuckled Eph, as helooked about him at his armed crew. "I hope the schooner's peoplewill try some mean trick for us, or attempt to put up a fight. Whee!"

Yet none of these aggressive thoughts showed in the young Ensign's face. Eph knew his place, usually, and the amount of dignity that went withany place. 

"Make fast alongside!" Eph sang out, as the launch rounded in alongsidethe schooner. 

"What's wrong with the United States Navy, Midshipman?" came the jovialquestion from a bronzed, broad-shouldered, bearded man of fifty whoappeared at the quarter rail, offering Eph a hand to aid him on board. 

But Eph, disdaining the proffered hand, seized the rail, vaulting neatlyon board. Then he straightened up. 

"I am Ensign Somers, from the gunboat 'Sudbury. '"

"Ensign, eh?" muttered the schooner's master, looking in somebewilderment at Eph's boyish face. "I beg your pardon, Mr. Somers. "

"What craft is this, sir?" Eph continued. 

"Schooner 'Varia, ' from New York, bound for Jamaica. "

"We saw 'Varia' painted on your stern, of course, " smiled Eph. "But wasthat name painted there during the night?"

"Sir?" demanded the skipper, in some astonishment. "Oh, I see, Ensign. Your commander thinks we may be sailing under false colors. Will yoube kind enough to step down into my cabin?"

Here an elderly man, in yachting dress, stepped forward out of a groupof sailors at the waist of the craft. 

"This schooner is chartered to convey--" he began, but Eph interposed, politely:

"Pardon me, sir, but I am talking with the captain only. "

Then, turning toward the launch, Ensign Somers called:

"Corporal, board with your marines, and wait further orders. "

Then Eph followed the captain below. 

"The gentleman who spoke to you, " explained Varia's master, "is Dr. Herman Barnard. He chartered the 'Varia' at New York for a West Indiancruise for himself and his family. Here are my papers, as master. Hereis the 'Varia's' license to carry passengers, and here are our clearancepapers, from New York to Jamaica. "

The papers were all in regular order. Eph looked them over, noting thatthe master's name was Walford. 

"I don't see anything wrong here, Captain Walford, " Eph continued. "Where is your list of passengers?"

"Here, sir. "

Eph glanced over the list, noting that besides Dr. Barnard, there werefive other men passengers, besides Mrs. Barnard, her two daughters andone other woman. 

"I shall have to ask you, Captain, to line your passengers up on deck, "Eph continued. 

"I had hoped to escape that annoyance, sir, " protested the schooner'smaster. "The ladies were alarmed, and took to their staterooms. "

"I am very sorry, Captain, " Eph insisted, "but I must look over thepassengers. "

"Very good, then, " sighed Captain Walford. 

"And muster the crew forward. I must see on deck every person on thiscraft. "

"Very good, sir. "

Eph returned to deck, leaning against the starboard rail of the quarterdeck. Below, he heard some sounds of remonstrance in feminine voices. Then, as a step sounded on the after companionway, and Eph straightenedup, he heard a woman's voice say:

"United States Navy? I would call this a good deal more like piracy!"

"But, mamma--"

"Hush, child!"

Mrs. Barnard, when she stepped on deck, looked as severe as her husbandappeared mild. 

Ensign Eph doffed his cap quickly to the ladies. 

"I know this does not please you, " he said, courteously, "but I will askyou to remember that I am acting under orders, and have no choice. "

"It is outrageous to stop a pleasure craft in this fashion!" declaredMrs. Barnard, haughtily. 

"Do you know why we are making this search, madam?" asked Eph, sweetly. 

"Of course I don't, " snapped the good lady. 

"Then I marvel, " replied Eph, with another bow, "that you can have anopinion of something that you don't understand. "

One of the girls was so undutiful as to snigger. Thereupon, one of theyoung men joined in the laugh, which became so general that the severeexpression on Mrs. Barnard's face softened considerably. 

"Perhaps I owe you an apology, young man, for having spoken as I did ofyou, " admitted the good lady. 

"You only called us pirates, " smiled Eph. "That wasn't much. "

"Perhaps I said more than I should have said, young man, " admitted Mrs. Barnard. 

"Mamma, wouldn't it be better to address this officer by his title?"asked the elder of the girls. Then, turning to Eph, the same speakerinquired:

"May I ask your title? Are you a captain?"

"Only an ensign, miss, " Eph replied, "and only an acting ensign at that. "

While this brief conversation had been going on, the cook, stewards andwatch below were being routed out. Now Captain Walford came aft toreport:

"All hands on board, sir, have been turned out for your inspection. "

"All?" insisted Eph. 

"All, sir. "

"Then, Captain Walford, I am going to do something that may appear veryextreme, but I regret to say that I can't help it. I must search thiscraft. If I allowed one for whom we are seeking to slip through ourfingers it would bring a lot of blame down about my head. "

Eph now stepped back to the rail, ordering six of the sailors on board. To them he gave his orders. The party spread, going below. Eph, excusing himself to the ladies, went with the sailors. 

No more thorough search could have been made. Every nook and cranny ofthe schooner was searched, but at last Eph was obliged to admit thatthe man he sought was not aboard. 

"My apologies to everyone for all trouble caused, " declared EnsignSomers. "I trust you will find it easy to believe that I have only beenfollowing my orders; and, therefore, doing my duty. "

"You couldn't have done less, Ensign, " replied Dr. Barnard, courteously. "You couldn't have been more courteous. "

"Are we at liberty to proceed on our way, sir?" asked Captain Walford, as the young acting ensign went over the side. 

"I shall have to ask you to take the signal for that from the 'Sudbury, '"Eph answered. 

On the gunboat's quarter deck, following Ensign Somers's report, therewas an anxious conference. 

"If this is the craft we've been following all the time, " mutteredJack Benson, "we've a lot of hunting yet ahead of us. "

"Shall I signal the schooner permission to proceed, sir?" asked EnsignFullerton. 

"By all means. "

Darkness came down over the ocean while Lieutenant Jack was sending awireless despatch through the air to the Navy Department. 

CHAPTER XV

"THE RIGHT BOAT AND THE RIGHT CREW!"

Three hours later, under a new order from Washington, the gunboat'slaunch stole in alongside of a second schooner that had been pursued, overhauled and brought to a standstill. 

This craft, however, proved to be a Nova Scotian vessel, with papers allright, a cargo beyond suspicion and no sign of the fugitive Gray aboard. 

When news of this second failure had been flashed to Washington, andtwenty minutes more had passed, the instructions came back out of theether:

"Cruise slowly about where you are. Await new instructions, which willgo forward to you as soon as we have fresh, reliable information fromany source. See that your own search light is freely used through thenight. "

"'Puss in the Corner, ' at sea, " muttered Lieutenant Benson. "And weain't even find a corner. "

An hour later the young commander of the "Sudbury" turned in. Hal wason the bridge. 

The gunboat cruised along lazily at about eight knots an hour. Forsome time Hal paced the bridge indolently, while the sailor lookout, forward, manipulated the searchlight, sending its beam in wide circlesover the waters. 

It was within half an hour of the time of calling the new watch, in fact, when the bow watch reported:

"Sail dead ahead, sir!"

Barely more than a topsail could be made out, even through the marineglass of the young watch officer. 

"Hold the light on her; we'll overtake and examine her, anyway, " wasEnsign Hastings's quick decision. From the bridge he gave orders forthe engine room to go ahead with increased speed. While the gunboat wasbounding off after the stranger, time came to call the port watch. EphSomers came up to the bridge, somewhat sleepy. 

"Same old story, I guess, " yawned Eph. "Have you passed the word tothe executive office?"

"Not yet, " Hal replied. "I didn't believe it worth while to break theslumber of Mr. Fullerton, or of the commander, until we got close tosee whether the stranger looks in the least like the 'Juanita. '"

"I don't believe the 'Juanita' is anywhere on this wide ocean, " mutteredEph, stifling a yawn. 

"It doesn't look that way, " smiled Hastings. 

Down before the wheelhouse a bell began to sound briskly. 

"Eight bells; your watch, Mr. Somers, " announced Hastings. "But I amgoing to remain on the bridge with you for a while. I want a look atthat mud-hooker over yonder. "

Within fifteen minutes more the gunboat was running fairly close, though off to starboard. 

"That doesn't look even a little bit like the 'Juanita, '" mutteredEnsign Eph, disgustedly. "Why, she's longer than the Cobtown schooner. Besides, the 'Juanita' is a two-sticker, while that hooker yonder hasa third mast with a yawl-rig leg-o'-mutton sail. "

Hal said nothing, but continued to study the stranger through hisnight-glass. 

"She is a queer-looking hooker, " muttered Hastings. "Say, Eph, somehowthat boat doesn't look as though she was built to fit her own rig. "

"Why not!" demanded Eph. 

"Well, look at her length. Then take a peep at the height of herdory-mast. Does it look tall enough for the length of the schooner?"

"I hadn't thought of that, " admitted Somers, also taking a careful lookthrough the nightglass. "Jove, Hal, she is an odd-looking piece ofhulk. "

Eph turned to pass the order to run in still closer to the schooner. 

"What's wrong with her stern-hull?" asked Ensign Somers, three or fourminutes later. 

"Looks like a patchwork affair, " declared Hal, more interested thanever. 

"Has she a built-on stern?" demanded Somers, half a minute later. 

"By Jove, I half believe she has. Eph, without that stern and the yawlmast, would you say the craft looks like the 'Juanita'?"

"I believe she would, " muttered young Somers, excitedly. "Marineorderly!"

A sea-soldier came quickly up the bridge stairs, saluting. 

"Mr. Somers's compliments to Mr. Fullerton, and will the executiveofficer come to the bridge?"

Again saluting the marine vanished aft. It doesn't take a naval officerlong to report, even when he has to rouse himself out of a sound sleepto do it. 

Ensign Fullerton reached the bridge rubbing his eyes, but he listenedintently to what the two younger ensigns had to say. 

"Marine orderly!" called the executive officer. "Mr. Fullerton'scompliments to the commanding officer, and will he come to the bridge?"

Barely a minute later, Jack Benson stood on the bridge, listening to hissubordinate officers and staring across the gap of water at theunknown craft. 

"Mr. Fullerton, " directed the young commander, "prepare to fire a signalshot and to lower the power launch. Make up the boarding party as usual. Mr. Somers, you will go in command of the launch. And I will accompanyyou this time. Mr. Fullerton, when I leave the bridge, you will assumecommand. "

Both officers, as they received their orders, saluted. 

Bang! The signal gun barked out, the flash from the muzzle sending along tongue of red through the darkness. 

But the stranger continued on her way through the night. EnsignFullerton regarded the young commanding officer of the gunboatexpectantly. 

"Put a solid shot across her bows, Mr. Fullerton. "

Again the order was transmitted, with little noise. The gun-crew thenawaited the signal from the executive officer. 

Bang! This time the solid shot struck the water a bare fifty feet aheadof the strange craft's bows as she forged on through the waves, her bowstirring up a gleaming white foam. 

"That ought to stop her!" muttered Lieutenant Jack Benson, impatiently. 

"I don't believe it is going to, though, sir, " reported Ensign Fullerton, studying the other vessel through his night-glass. "I don't see a signof motion on the stranger's decks. "

"Load again with solid shot, then, " directed the gunboat's youngcommander. "This time hit her square in the fore-rigging. "

"I'll step below and sight the piece myself, " replied Ensign Fullerton. 

A few moments later the executive officer reported the port bow gun inreadiness for service. 

"Fire whenever you are ready, Mr. Fullerton, " called Lieutenant Jack, ina low voice. 

Bang! barked the bow gun, a moment later. Over aboard the strangerthere was a crash, a tearing sound, and then her foretopmast toppled, hanging loosely in place by the stays. 

"That'll stop her, I reckon. " chuckled Jack Benson. 

And "stop her" it did. There was no choice but to stop. This gunboatof the United States Navy was in a position to shoot every standingstick out of the schooner, if provoked too far, and the legal right togo to such lengths existed. 

"Stranger is heaving to, sir, " reported Ensign Somers. 

"Very good, Mr. Somers. Order the power launch lowered. Put off asquickly as possible. "

"Very good, sir. "

Ensign Fullerton hastened back to the bridge, to assume command, whileHal hastings stood by him. 

Boat-handlers and armed sailors and marines scampered over the side. Down the gangway followed Jack and Eph, looking very stately as theyheld their swords clear of their legs. Busily the launch chuggedacross the intervening water gap. 

"Schooner, ahoy!" hailed Eph, as the launch ran in alongside "What craftis that?"

"Schooner 'Malta, ' Cooper, master, from Sidney, N. S. , " came the reply ofa man at the after rail. 

"Seems to me I've seen you before, in Cobtown!" suddenly exclaimed EphSomers, as he leaped over the rail in advance of his marines. 

"C-Cob--town?" demanded the schooner's master, falteringly. 

"By the great Constitution! We've caught the 'Juanita' in disguise!"bellowed back Ensign Eph, turning to Jack Benson, who was just boarding. "See! There's the false stern structure. "

"You're making a huge mistake of some sort, gentlemen!" protested thevessel's master, tremulously. 

"Marines, lay aboard, " thundered Eph. "Take the deck, Corporal. Roundup all the crew you see, and make 'em stand at attention along one ofthe seams of the deck! Sailors aboard, you down any man who tries toblock or balk you. Lively, now! I've seen this master in Cobtown, andI'll take my oath this is the 'Juanita' with a pieced-out, false sternand a faked third mast!"

"We hold you responsible for the deck, Corporal, " spoke Jack, in a lowtone to the noncommissioned officer of marines. "We're going to takethe sailors and go below. "

A rush was made for the companionway leading down into the schooner'scabin. A man's white, scared face showed below, for a moment. 

"Hurrah!" yelled Eph Somers, drawing his sword and making a bound below"There's Brother Gray. Oh, we've the right boat--and the right crowd, too!"

CHAPTER XVI

THE DUEL THROUGH THE DOOR

Bang!

A stateroom door closed just before the two young officers reached it. 

Click! That told the story of a bolt shot into place. 

"You may as well open!" called Jack, coolly. "We have ample force forbreaking down that door!"

Crack! In that confined space the discharge of a pistol sounded almostdeafening. A line of red shot through the stateroom door. The bulletfrom the weapon whizzed between Jack Benson and Eph Somers, the missileburying itself in wood across the passage. 

Crack! Crack!

With that desperate fellow the other side of the door, shooting throughthe key-hole, it was worse than folly to remain in line of range. 

Yet Jack and Eph retorted coolly, with the dignity of officers. 

"My man, " requested Lieutenant Jack, turning to one of the sailors, "hand me your revolver. "

Taking the weapon, Benson glanced at it a second or two, then raised theweapon, sighting for the top of the stateroom door. 

Bang! The shot that Jack fired sent a bullet crashing through the doorclose to the upper framework. 

"You see, Gray!" Jack called coolly, "we're armed, too, and inoverpowering numbers. Resistance is worse than foolish. "

Bang! came the hostile answer. 

This shot was fired through one of the panels of the stateroomdoor--fired at an angle, too. 

Plainly the shot was intended to hit the young naval lieutenant. Itpassed Benson's right side by a margin of barely two inches. 

"Pass me another revolver, " whispered Benson, in the stillness thatfollowed. 

All through the day and evening these seamen, though outwardlyrespectful, and wholly well disciplined, had cherished a great deal ofamusement over their boyish officers. 

Now, however, these bronzed men of the deep beheld Benson and Somers atwork in a manner worthy of any product of Annapolis. 

The second revolver was handed to Jack. 

"I want to be in this, too, " muttered Ensign Eph, and held back his handfor weapons. 

"Are you going to surrender, Gray, and open that door?" demandedLieutenant Jack. 

"Never--to you, " came the ugly defiance. 

Bang! Again Gray fired, straight in the direction of the voice thebullet, crashing through a panel of the door, fanned Jack's left ear sothat he felt the breeze. 

"Open up on him, Mr. Somers, " directed Benson. "Slowly. Fire high, andfire low. Try to get him somehow. "

Two more shots came from the other side of the locked door. 

Then pop-pop-pop! began the fusilade from outside, Jack and Eph firingwith either hand as they sighted their weapons for new spots. 

R-r-rip! crash! A long enough bombardment of this sort was certain toreduce the panels to splinters and leave the way clear--if they didn'triddle Gray with bullets in the meantime. 

Pop-pop-pop! The air was becoming heavy with the white fog of smoke. Breathing was somewhat difficult, with so many shots being fired inthe confined space. 

Then both young officers stopped, passing back one revolver apiece tobe reloaded. 

Bang! came a defiant shot from inside the stateroom. The bulletstruck the cabin floor just behind Jack, having passed between his feet. 

The sailors, back where they were comparatively safe from harm, lookedon in admiration at these two grit-full young American officers. 

Pop-pop-pop! began the fusilade by Jack and Eph again. 

"Ouch!" came a sudden yell from the stateroom. 

"Hit you, did we?" called Jack, calmly. "Well, we're going to riddleyou unless you stop that nonsense. "

The answer was another shot from inside the stateroom. The bulletclipped off a stray lock of hair at the left side of Eph Somers's head. 

Both young officers fired slowly, searchingly, until their weapons wereemptied. Then they passed the hot smoking revolvers back for newloads. 

From the other side of the stateroom door came no sound. 

As soon as he and Eph had received the reloaded weapons, Jack motionedEph Somers not to fire. 

For a few moments they listened. Then Jack turned, selecting the twomost stalwart-looking of the husky sailors back by the companionway. Anod of Jack's head brought them stealthily to his side. 

"Put your shoulders to the stateroom door, and force it, " commandedLieutenant Benson. 

At the same time Jack and Eph moved up with the sailors, holding theirrevolvers ready to fire at the first sign of renewed hostilities fromwithin. 

Bump! Two pairs of sturdy shoulders went up against the door. Fromwithin there came no sign of defiance. Bump! At the second determinedassault the door flew open. 

"Step back, men! We'll go in first, " commanded Lieutenant Benson. 

Revolvers in hand, and ready, the two young officers of the "Sudbury"pressed forward into the battered-looking room. 

"Where is the rascal?" growled Eph Somers. 

"Here, hiding like a cornered rat, " replied Jack, aiming both revolversat a huddled figure well in under the lower berth. "Come out, Gray!You won't be hurt unless you try tricks on us. "

The answer was a groan. 

"Are your hurt?" inquired Lieutenant Benson. 

"Yes. "

"How badly?"

"You hit me twice. "

"Where?"

"Once in the left arm; once in the right thigh. O-o-o-h!"

Jack Benson felt a swift twinge--almost a guilty jerk of his conscience. 

To be sure, Gray had been defying properly appointed officers of thegovernment engaged in performing their sworn task. Gray had attemptedto kill or injure the young officers. 

Still, Gray was a human being. Benson, despite his fighting spirit, atneed, was not fond of gazing upon misery. 

"I guess you can get out, with a little aid, " coaxed Lieutenant Jack. 

Gray's answer was another groan. 

"We'll help you out, then, " Jack continued. "But don't you dare to openfire upon any of our party!"

"I would, if I could, " snarled the wounded man. 

"Why can't you?"

"Fired my last cartridge!" snapped the wretch, defiantly. "Else youwouldn't have got in here without losing a few men!"

Jack signed to the two men who had forced the door to lend a hand inmoving Gray out from under the berth. As they got the wounded man outon the carpet he presented a sad picture in his bloodstained clothing. 

"Will the Lieutenant pardon a suggestion?" spoke up one of the sailors, saluting. 

"Yes. "

"I have a first aid package, sir. With some help I can, bind this man'swounds until we get him over to the sick bay on the 'Sudbury. '"

"A fine idea, " agreed Lieutenant Jack. "Go ahead. "

First of all, the wounded prisoner was taken out into the passageway. Jack and Eph had yet important work to do here. For a few minutesthey searched in vain. Then, in turning over the lower berth's mattress, Eph's hand touched something hard. 

"Wait until I get my pocket-knife out, " he smiled. 

Rip! r-r-r-r-rip! As Ensign Eph tore open the mattress and thrust hishands inside, the grin on his face broadened. 

"I reckon we've got the object of the whole expedition, " he announced. 

He drew out a package wrapped in heavy paper. Jack broke the string, unwrapping, and pulling out to the light, a bundle of charts, layerupon layer. 

"Yes. Here we have what we're after, " nodded Lieutenant Benson. "Andhere are two books written chock-full of notes to go with the charts. Gracious! That fellow. Millard must have stolen plans of everyimportant fortified harbor on the Atlantic coast. And here are chartsof some of the gulf ports as well. "

Gray, his wounds bound, had been laid on the door of the stateroom, which had been taken from its hinges. On this stretcher, the prisonerwas taken over the side into the launch. 

"Who's going to pay for the damage done here, sir?" asked the skipperof the Cobtown schooner, stepping forward. 

"Hm!" muttered Jack. "It seems to me you are lucky, my man, that wedon't put a prize crew aboard this craft and take you back to Norfolk. "

"I haven't done anything, " protested the fellow, "except to stand for alot of damage on board because you're backed by sailors and marines. "

"My man, " retorted Jack, grimly, "if you think you have suffered anyunfair damage, then lay your case before the Navy Department. But myprivate advice is for you not to attract the attention of the authoritiesto you in case they seem likely to overlook you. "

"Is my vessel at liberty to proceed?" inquired the man, sullenly. 

"Yes; I have no orders to seize your craft. I'd like to, however, "Lieutenant Jack Benson added, dryly. 

CHAPTER XVII

THE LAST HOUR OF COMMAND

Through the night the "Sudbury" rolled lazily over the waves. 

A wireless message had carried the news through space to Washington. Orders had come to return to Norfolk, there turning Gray over to theUnited States authorities. 

Benson and his comrades were instructed to return to Washington withthe charts and record books. 

Down in a berth in the sick bay, lay Gray. The hospital steward hadmade the wounded man as comfortable as possible. The latter waspainfully but not seriously wounded. 

At the speed at which the gunboat was now proceeding the "Sudbury" wasdue at anchorage at six in the morning. 

Lieutenant Jack had turned in, after leaving orders that he was to becalled a few minutes before five. He wanted to be on deck to enjoythe sensations of his last hour of command on the cruise of a vesselof the United States Navy. Forward, the sailors of the watch weretalking in low tones of their very youthful officers. 

"There's the real stuff in those boy officers, mates, " grunted onesailor who had been in the boarding party. "It don't make anydifference whether they've been through Annapolis or not. Look at theway the lieutenant and Mr. Somers went up against the shooting. Keptus back, and took the medicine themselves, like real officers. "

"You'd expect it of Somers, " rejoined another sailor. "There's a bitof the bull-neck about him, and such men always fight. But thelieutenant makes a real officer that I'd be glad to foller anywhere. "

"Mr. Hastings didn't get a chance to show what was in him, " suggestedanother of Uncle Sam's old salts. 

"Oh, you leave Mr. Hastings alone for fighting, if he saw any needto, " retorted the sailor who had been the first to speak. "He's oneof your very quiet chaps. Your quiet ones always sail into a fightwhile a brawler is getting his mouth wound up to do some talking. "

"Hanged, if I don't wish them lads could remain on board!" mutteredanother old salt. 

"With the young lieutenant to command the ship?" asked another. 

"Him as well as anyone. He knows what he's doing, for which reason Idon't care for the number of the year he was born in. Why, mates, thelieutenant is the head of them submarine boys we've read so much aboutin the newspapers when layin' in port. And the other two are hismessmates. Now, I'll stand for it that the submarine boys are good forany kind of a job on salt water. I'd foller their lead on a battleship!"

It would have been fine for the three submarine boys had they been ableto know what great opinions the crew held of them. 

But Hal was again on the bridge in the last watch, and Eph had gonebelow for an hour's sleep ere he, like Jack Benson, was to be called. 

Then, at last, two sleepy-eyed boys came from their cabins, going upto the bridge for what they felt was their last hour of real sea-glory. 

Ensign Fullerton appeared half an hour before anchorage was made. 

"You have the satisfaction, sir, of knowing that your task was putthrough in record time, " said Fullerton, by way of congratulation. 

"For which I'm truly glad, " smiled Benson. "Yet I could wish ourexperience with the Navy had not ended so soon. "

"Why, it hasn't ended yet, sir, " smiled the executive officer. 

"It will, in a few minutes more, however, " sighed Jack. "My lastofficial act will be to order the gig into the water to take us onshore. We're under orders to take the next train for Washington, you know. "

"Very true, " smiled Ensign Fullerton. "But, sir, you are commandingofficer of the 'Sudbury, ' no matter where you may be, until you receivean order to relinquish command. Also, sir, your present appointments asofficers in the service run until the orders appointing you are revoked. "

"But that will all happen before the day is much older, " replied Jack, with a forced smile. 

It was going to come harder than he had thought, after this brief tasteof real naval life, to give it all up!

No sooner had the "Sudbury" let go her anchors than Jack called for thegig. He and his comrades hurried below, doffing their uniforms, whichwent back into the dress suit cases. Then, in citizen dress, withtheir precious swords again wrapped in chamois skin, the threesubmarines went over the side. 

There was the same ceremony, however, which had attended their comingaboard. The marine guard turned out, presenting arms as LieutenantJack Benson passed to the side gangway. Ensign Fullerton and Mr. Drakestood by to salute Jack, and to receive his formal acknowledgment oftheir courtesy. 

Their feet touched the bottom of the gig. They seated themselves, andthe short row to the landing stage commenced. 

On the landing stage stood an orderly, who promptly saluted. 

"The Commandant's compliments to Lieutenant Benson, and will theLieutenant and his comrades report at the Commandant's office. "

Early as the hour was, the commandant was at his desk, in uniform, andreceived the young officers most graciously. 

"Mr. Benson, and gentlemen, " declared the commandant of the navy yard, "you have done your work well, and as quickly as it could have beendone. I congratulate you. The Secretary of the Navy, I believe, willthank you personally, It was splendidly done. And now, if you willcome around to the officers' club with me, you will find that yourbreakfasts have been ordered. It will be an hour and a half, yet, before it will be necessary for me to furnish you with the carriagethat will convey you to the railway station. "

In the presence of this much older officer the lads did not attempt tomake too merry at breakfast. Seated in the dining room of theofficers' mess, they listened respectfully to whatever the commandantsaw fit to discuss. 

The meal was about over when a marine orderly entered, crossed thedining room, stopped at a respectful distance, and saluted. 

"Telegram, sir. "

The commandant received the envelope, drawing out the sheet it contained. 

"Lieutenant Benson, this will interest you and your comrades, " pursuedthe commandant. 

"The order revoking my command of the gunboat, " thought Jack. Oddlyenough, though he expected it, knew it must happen, the arrival of themoment brought a strange sinking at heart. 

"I wonder how on earth it could have happened?" pursued the commandant, his eyes again turned toward the paper. "Millard has escaped from FortCraven, and, so far, has eluded recapture!"

CHAPTER XVIII

EPH BETS AN ANCHOR AGAINST A FISH-HOOK

"The government possesses the fellow's charts and notes, anyway, "observed Jack Benson, rather proudly. 

"Yes, thanks to you, gentlemen, " nodded the commandant. "Still, I fancythe authorities, will be fearfully annoyed over this escape. "

"There are no particulars, sir, you say?" queried Jack. 

"No; the mere announcement of the fellow's escape, and a request tomilitary and naval authorities to be on the lookout for the fugitiveThe despatch also states that description will follow by wire. "

"We can give you a pretty fair word-portrait of Millard right now, sir, "offered Lieutenant Benson. 

"And I wish you would. "

Jack proceeded to do so. He had about finished, when the carriagestopped punctually before the door of the officers' club. The commandanttook cordial leave of his young guests, after which they were driven tothe railway station. Just a little later they found themselves leaningback in parlor car seats, bound for Washington. 

Most of the way back the youngsters dozed in their chairs. Now, that theexcitement was over, all felt need of rest. 

Not even at the railway station in Washington could they escape thewatchfulness of the Navy Department. The same messenger who, the daybefore, had handed them their copies of the Regulations, now metBenson with a note. 

"The Secretary will not be at his office until one o'clock thisafternoon, " announced Lieutenant Jack, looking up from the order. "Weare directed to report at that hour. "

"What shall we do until then?" demanded Eph, blankly, when the messengerhad departed. 

"Why, since we're still in the service, " laughed Jack, "and as I've heardthat the Arlington is much patronized by Navy officers, suppose we treatourselves to a carriage, go to the Arlington and register. That will bethe last grand feeling we'll get out of this. "

His comrades rather merrily agreed. So, a few minutes later, the triomarched through the lobby of the Arlington to the desk. Jack picked upa pen, and registered:

"John Benson, U. S. N. "

Hal and Eph followed suit. Then they were led to their connecting rooms. 

"We'll have luncheon at half-past eleven, " smiled Lieutenant Jack, ashe dropped into an easy chair. "In the service one never knows whenhis next meal is coming. "

"Good!" chuckled Hal, though there was a sad ring to his tone. "Keep upas long as you can, old fellow, the fiction that we're still in thenaval service. "

"Well, aren't we?" demanded Jack, stoutly. 

"Surely, " assented Hal, meekly. 

"Say, " demanded Eph, taking out notebook and pencil, "what is an ensign'spay, anyway?"

"Seventeen hundred dollars a year, " replied Benson. 

"I don't suppose the Navy Department will try to spring less than aday's pay on us, " hinted Eph. "If that's right, then the governmentnow owes me three hundred and sixty-five into seventeen hundred. Letme see--"

"Oh, cut it!" laughed Hal. 

"What? My pay?" demanded Eph, "Not much, sir! I want the only money Iever really earned. "

"One of us ought to drop Mr. Farnum a line, " hinted Jack, presently. 

"Oh, well, let Hal do it, " offered Eph. "He carries the only fountainpen in the crowd. "

Without a word Hastings crossed to a table on which were envelopes andpaper, and began to write. Perhaps he welcomed something to occupy hismind; for, truth to tell, each of these submarine boys had a woefully"blue" feeling. Though all were naval officers, still, at this moment, all realized that they would cease to be such as soon as they hadreceived the thanks of the Secretary of the Navy. However, "blue"as all three felt, none of them hung back when half-past eleven arrived. They descended to the dining room, where they refreshed themselvesheartily. 

The meal over, there was just about enough time left for them to walkcomfortably to the Navy Department. 

They had walked a couple of blocks of the way when Hal suddenly felt thestamped letter in his pocket. He drew it out, and glanced hurriedlydown the avenue. 

"I don't see a letter-box ahead, fellows, but I saw one, half-way downthe block, at the last corner we passed. You two keep right on. I'lljoin you. "

Presently Jack and Eph halted in their walk to look back. 

"Where is Hal?" demanded Somers. 

"He can't have lost us, " muttered Jack. 

"Oh, I guess he has simply taken a short cut to meet us ahead on theway. "

Yet, though they continued to look for their comrade until they hadneared the State, War and Navy Building, Hal Hastings had not againappeared in sight. 

"Say, but this is fearfully careless of good old Hal, " muttered JackBenson, uneasily, as he glanced at his watch. "We've no time to go backto look for him, either, for we've barely time to reach the Secretary'soffice. "

"We'll have to go in without Hal, then, " grumbled Eph. "It makes mefeel like a fool, too!"

Had the two lads but known it, there was still plenty of time. For theSecretary of the Navy may make an appointment with an understrapper, and then find that he must first see some more important personage. 

There were "big" callers ahead of the boys that day, so that it wasnearly two o'clock when Lieutenant Jack and Ensign Eph were admitted tothe presence that they were to leave shorn of their brief rank andcommand. 

"Good afternoon, Lieutenant Benson. Good afternoon, Mr. Somers, " wasSecretary Sanders's swift greeting. "You were most successful, and Imust congratulate you heartily. But--where is Mr. Hastings?"

"We don't know, Mr. Secretary, " Jack admitted. "He left us for a shorttime, as we thought, and, since then--"

Mr. Sanders wheeled sharply as the door opened and a clerk came in. 

"Pardon me, sir, " apologized the clerk. "But a note has just come forLieutenant Benson, sir, and the messenger was insistent that it was amost important matter--"

"You may take your note and read it, Lieutenant, " suggested the Secretaryof the Navy. 

Young Benson gave a start when he recognized, in the address, thehandwriting of Hal Hastings. 

In another instant Jack gave a much more violent start. For these werethe words that met his astounded gaze. 

_"Dear Jack: I am in a Washington police station, feeling like anumber-one idiot. Soon after leaving you I ran into Millard, face toface, There was a policeman within two hundred feet at the moment. Ilet out a full siren yell and dashed at Millard. He held on to me untilthe policeman reached the spot. I let him hold me, thinking that theeasiest way. But Millard produced a paper--a request from the militaryauthorities at Fort. Craven, to arrest and hold anyone pointed out bythe bearer. I talked--some--to that policeman, but it did no good. He took me to the station house, and here I am! Millard vanished, after saying that he'd wire the news of my arrest to Fort Craven. You'll have to explain me out of this. Yours disgustedly, Hal. "_

"May I read this to you, Mr. Secretary?" begged Jack Benson. 

"Do so, Lieutenant. "

"I will be back in a moment, " muttered the Secretary of the Navy, rising, and hastily quitting the room. 

The instant that high official was gone Eph caught at his sides with hishands. 

"Oh, wow! Woof! Umpah!" chuckled young Somers, his face distorted withglee. "Some one catch me! I'm choking! Great Scott, what wouldn't Ihave given to see that? Hal, the quiet, the dignified? Oh, dear! Oh, dear. Hal pounces on the fellow, to arrest him, and Hal is the one whogets pinched Woo-oo! I can see Hal's face right now I'll wager an anchorto a fish-hook that the astonished look is stamped on Hal's face so hardthat it won't come off for a week. Oh--woof!"

Eph was laughing so hard that the tears streamed down his face. 

"Quit that!" commanded Jack, stepping over to his comrade, his own facestern. "It's no laughing matter. "

"Why, they won't hang Hal!" sputtered Eph, as soon as he could talk. "Hal will be at liberty almost at once. But fancy the shock! Imaginethe dear old fellow's astonishment, and the jolt to his feelings. "

Again Eph Somers went off into a paroxysm of laughter. It seemeduncontrollable, for Eph had a strong sense of the ludicrous, and Hal'sface, as Somers pictured it, must have been a tremendously funny sightat the instant when Millard so neatly turned the tables. 

"Come, quit your nonsense!" grumbled Jack, disgustedly. 

"I can't, " roared Eph, going off into still another burst of laughter. 

Just at that instant Somers gave himself the lie. The door opened, admitting the Secretary of the Navy. In a fraction of a second EnsignEph had straightened up, while his face was solemn enough for an Indianchief's countenance. 

"I have just been straightening out that little matter, " explained Mr. Sanders. "I have talked with the police, and have described Hastings. The police are in deep chagrin over their blunder. Mr. Hastings is nowat liberty and on his way here. "

At a motion from Mr. Sanders the two young officers seated themselves. The Secretary turned to his desk to sign some papers. 

From Eph, suddenly, came a suppressed, explosive sound. Jack seatedbeside him on a sofa gave Somers an indignant elbow jab. The Secretaryglanced up, then resumed his writing. 

A minute later there came from Eph the sound of another smotheredexplosion. The picture of Hal Hastings's indignant astonishment hadonce more been conjured up before young Somers's face. Poor Eph wasred in the face with all the effort of keeping back his laughter. 

"I fear you must have caught some cold, standing watch on the gunboat'sbridge, " said the Secretary, sympathetically. 

That sobered Somers in an instant. The notion that he--he a sea-dogaccustomed to stand watch in all weathers, could catch cold throughexposure of the kind just mentioned made Eph feel a sense of ghastlyhumiliation. 

Five minutes later Ensign Hal Hastings was shown into the office. TheSecretary of the Navy greeted him kindly, though with a twinkle inhis eyes. 

"The paper that caused my trouble was one that was taken from Mr. Benson when he couldn't help himself, " Hal explained. "For some reason, the military authorities never discovered that Millard had that paperabout him. It was enough to save him from arrest an hour ago. "

"And Millard is still at large, " nodded Mr. Sanders. "It's a matterfor the military authorities and the Secret Service, I imagine. I don'tsee how the Navy can be drawn into it. However, I am going to ask youyoung gentlemen to retain your special appointments a little longer. Imay yet have considerable need of you in this affair. You are stoppingat the Arlington? Perhaps, for this afternoon, you would enjoy goingover to the United Service Club, where you are likely to meet a goodmany Army and Navy officers. I will send some one along with you whowill see to it that you have ten-day cards at the club. "

At any other time this all would have meant to Jack Benson that he wasstill an officer in the Navy. Just now, however, it meant that Millardwas at large, and Benson had a strong notion that it would yet fall tothe lot of the submarine boys to put that wretch where he belonged. 

CHAPTER XIX

JACK'S CALLER AT THE UNITED SERVICE CLUB

"Ho-ho! Haw-haw! Woof!"

Eph found himself started again, the very instant the boys foundthemselves in the lower corridor of the building. 

"Let him alone, " uttered Jack, scornfully. "The poor fellow had betterwork it all out of his system. "

"But, Hal, your face--when the policeman took you, on Millard'scomplaint!" sputtered Somers, next going off into another burst oflaughter. 

"It didn't seem funny, at the time, " returned Hal Hastings, quietly. 

"Ho-ho! Haw! Of course, not. Say, Hal, can you do me a tremendousfavor? Can you look, just for a moment, the way you did when thatblue-coat pinched you?"

Hal began to laugh, despite the fact that his loss of Millard stillrankled under his quiet outside. 

"Now, hush up, " warned Benson, suddenly. "Here comes Lieutenant Ulwin, who has undertaken to present us at the United Service Club. Idiots arebarred from the club, you know, Eph. "

By a great exercise of will power Eph managed to straighten his faceby the time that the lieutenant overtook them. They entered a cab. Bythis time the young naval officers were beginning to understand that itis the usual custom to go about Washington in a carriage. 

"Have you ever been at a Service Club before?" inquired their guide. 

"We breakfasted at the club at Norfolk this morning?" Jack answered. 

"Your acquaintance with our Service clubs is not very large, then?"

"We have also been at the club at Fort Craven. "

"Oh!" smiled Lieutenant Ulwin. "I guess you gentlemen have been abouta little more in the two branches of the service, than I had suspected. You have seen the officers of both the Army and the Navy at play?"

"Mostly at table, I should say, " laughed Benson. 

"The club is the only place where we can go and get away from shop-talk, "continued Ulwin. "As a rule the Army and Navy men at our club do nottalk much shop. It may be different to-day, however. "

"Why to-day?" asked Jack. 

"Because--well, you see, I am introducing three rather famous strangersto-day. "

"Meaning--" began Hal, quietly. 

"You young gentlemen, of course. The whole nation has heard much aboutthe submarine boys. Yet it is in the Army and the Navy, after all, thatthe deepest, most abiding interest in you exists. "

"This red spot on my cheek isn't a blush, " explained Ensign Eph, suddenly. "It's where a mosquito bit me. "

"I am not joking, " replied Ulwin, with a friendly smile. "All theofficers of the Navy know about you by this time. "

"They'll be greatly disappointed, when they see us, then, won't they?"laughed Hal Hastings. 

"Now, see here, " protested Eph, earnestly, "I can stand a good deal. But, if they see us walking around the club, and ask who left the lidoff the can of shrimps--I'll fight!"

Ulwin laughed heartily. 

"I shall have to pass the word to our worst jokers, " he smiled, "thatit won't be safe for the fellow who starts in to tease you young men. "

"Why, if anyone does start, we've got to keep our tongues behind ourteeth, " returned Hal. "We're only boys--kids--and we can't sayanything smart to men who have been a good many years in the service. "

"You can answer back, if anyone starts to have any fun with you, "replied Lieutenant Ulwin. "Remember, a club is where all men stand onan equal footing. If an admiral gets after you, you will do well toswallow any witticism he may try on you. But with any officer below anadmiral you don't have to be so careful. "

Eph Somers immediately began to look thoughtful. Now, Eph did know howto say caustic things when occasion seemed to demand. 

"Here we are, " announced Lieutenant Ulwin, suddenly, as the cab stoppedbefore the club building. 

Hal went in at Ulwin's side. Jack gripped Eph by the elbow, pulling theauburn-haired one back a few paces. 

"Now, see here, Eph, remember that we don't want any funny answersinside. "

"But Ulwin says--"

"You listen to what I'm saying, Eph. I've known you longer than Mr. Ulwin has. Just remember that we're boys--b-o-y-s--boys. Not one ofus is quite eighteen yet. If we've gained a little fame for fiveminutes, we mustn't begin to imagine that we're eight feet high and ona par with men forty years old. So be careful, Eph. If anyone startsto have any fun with you, come back at him a different way. "

"How?" whispered Eph. 

"Look stupid. "

"What?"

"Look stupid. "

"I don't see much in that. "

"Why, it's the funniest answer possible; and, besides, it isn't fresh orforward. "

"How do you make that out?" Eph inquired. 

"Why, Eph, boy, if you're half as famous as you may think you are, thenfolks will know you can't be stupid. So, if you pretend to be, you'llhave everyone guessing what you mean by looking that way. On the otherhand, if you look stupid, and no one is surprised, then you'lldiscover that that's just the way the crowd had you sized up inadvance. "

"I see, " nodded Eph, but it was plain that Jack's almost direct commandwas not wholly pleasing to Somers. 

The two comrades now caught up with Ulwin and Hal at the elevator. 

"We'll go up to the reading room, first, " proposed Lieutenant Ulwin. "That's where the afternoon crowd is usually found. "

Anyone who had been looking for "color" or pomp would have beendisappointed. The only uniforms in sight were those worn by two bellboys. The officers of the Army and Navy present were all in citizendress. They looked like a lot of cheerful, prosperous business men. 

"Hullo, Ulwin, what are you doing with my friends from Dunhaven?"eagerly called one young man, rising hastily and coming forward. "Benson, I'm glad to see you. And you, Hastings. And you, Somers. "

"Didn't know you knew the young gentlemen, McCrea, " broke in Ulwin. 

"Don't know them? When they made me the laughing-stock of everymess-room crowd in the Navy for months!" retorted McCrea. 

Jack, Hal and Eph were shaking hands with the speaker with a good dealof pleasure. 

It was Lieutenant McCrea, one-time watch officer on the battleship"Luzon. " At one time McCrea had doubted that submarine boats were, in all respects, as wonderful craft as was claimed. The submarineboys had paid him back in most laughable fashion. Lieutenant McCrea, at one time, had felt himself much aggrieved over the wholesome teasingof his brother officers in consequence; but he had long since learnedto accept the whole incident as a good and deserved joke. 

Now, McCrea stood wringing the hands of the boys as though he had foundlong-lost friends. 

"What are you doing these days?" McCrea wanted to know. "Anythingbesides testing new boats at Dunhaven?"

"You must greet them as comrades, McCrea, " continued Lieutenant Ulwin. 

"What? Cadets at Annapolis?"

In this case McCrea wondered at their being there, for cadets would beconsidered forward who visited an officers' club. 

"Benson is a lieutenant, his friends ensigns, " replied Ulwin. 

"Come, come!" laughed McCrea. "I'm easy--these boys know that. Butdon't tell me--"

"Fact, though, " replied Ulwin. "They hold special appointments, forsome special duty or other. I'm here, at the direction of the NavyDepartment, to introduce these young brother officers of ours, and toprocure ten-day cards for them. "

By this time the news had spread. A score of officers, young ormiddle-aged, were crowding about. Ulwin had his hands full introducingthe submarine boys. Yet they stood the ordeal well. The habit ofcommand, based on discipline, had given these boys plenty of poise andself-possession. Nor were any attempts made, at that time, to have anygood-humored fun with them. Half a dozen officers representing foreignnavies were present. These, too, came in for introductions. Theforeigners were, mainly, military or naval officers attached to foreignembassies at Washington. 

"By Jove, Benson, I've had it in mind, for some time, that I wanted tomeet you and grasp your hand, " murmured Lieutenant Abercrombie, of theBritish Navy, as he drew Lieutenant Jack to one side. "By Jove, oldfellow, I want to meet you soon and have a good old talk all byourselves. "

"That will be most agreeable to me, " nodded Jack, pleasantly. 

"And your comrades, too, " added Abercrombie. "You know, you're alreadyknown on the other side. Fact, I assure you. Only the other day Ipicked up a London magazine and read quite an account of the doings ofyou three. I was especially interested in an account of how you threediscovered a way of leaving a submarine at the bottom and swimming tothe surface; then diving and re-entering the craft while she's still onthe bottom. But your method is a secret, I suppose?"

"Yes, " smiled Jack. "At least, the American Navy alone shares thesecret with us. "

"Oh, I'm not asking it, you know, old fellow, " Lieutenant Abercrombieassured him. 

"Is Mr. Benson here?" called a bell-boy, from the doorway. 

"Very much so, " replied Lieutenant Ulwin, dryly. 

"May I give you a message, sir?" asked the bell-boy, coming closer. 

After excusing himself, Benson stepped aside with the boy. Yet thelatter spoke loudly enough for several to overhear. 

"There's a lady, downstairs at the door, would like to see you, sir. She says it is very, very important, sir. "

"Did she give any name?" inquired astonished Jack. 

"No, sir; she begged you would overlook that, sir, and just step downto the door for a few moments. "

"All right; I'll go, " nodded Benson. "But it looks queer. "

Excusing himself to his host, Ulwin, and to some of the officers withwhom he had been chatting, the leader of the submarine boys went quicklyto the coat-room for his hat, then descended in the elevator. 

"Vairee strange place, zis, for a lady to follow a zhentleman--to heesclub, " drawled a French captain. 

One or two of the others laughed, imagining that this was some flirtationin which the submarine boy had been engaged. But Eph flared up a bit, looking very red, as he muttered:

"It's only fair to tell you, gentlemen, that we submarine boys don'tappreciate jokes at the expense of the finest fellow who ever lived--Mr. Jack Benson!"

"Good boy" murmured Teal. 

Yet, when an hour had slipped by, and Benson had not returned, even hisloyal comrades began to wonder a good deal. From that frame of mindthey passed on, at the end of another hour, to worry. 

CHAPTER XX

THE GIRL IN THE CAB

As Jack reached the door of the United Service Club he found no one atthe doorway. 

"That's strange, " he muttered. 

But in another moment he looked down the street. A hundred feet awaystood a closed cab. From it a woman leaned, beckoning slightly. 

Had she been veiled, Jack would have been instantly suspicious. 

But her face showed, and it was a young, fresh, pretty and wholesomelooking face. 

"I don't know her, but she is very evidently a lady, " thought JackBenson, quickly. 

Accordingly, he stepped along the sidewalk, lifting his hat courteouslyas he neared the vehicle. 

"You are Mr. Benson?" inquired the young woman. 

"Yes, madam. "

"I trust you will pardon my calling here, and sending you a message. Butit was very urgent that I see you at once--how urgent you cannot yetunderstand. "

"I am here, madam, " Jack replied; not knowing what else to say. 

"I am going to make another strange request of you. "

"It is granted in advance, if possible. "

"Will you step inside with me, and drive a little way?" inquired theyoung woman. 

Jack glanced quickly at her. Her face was flushed; evidently she wasembarrassed. 

"Won't you tell me a little more, madam, about your reason for wishingto see me?" he suggested. 

"Yes; but not here--_please!_" she begged. "I do not want to be seenabout here. I shall not detain you long, Mr. Benson. All I ask isthat you sit here beside me, and that we drive a little way, while Isay a few words to you. "

Jack hesitated. He did not like the look of the adventure. Yet, onthe other hand, it was hard to see harm or danger in it. The youngwoman was evidently, as he had at first guessed, a lady. 

"Then you do not feel able to tell me, here, what you wish to speakwith me about?" he inquired. 

"I shall begin as soon as we start on our drive, " she promised. "Oh, please do not refuse me. You cannot imagine how much is at stake--forme!"

Though Jack Benson felt the peculiarity of the request from a stranger, he was unable to see how harm could result from his being kind. 

"Very good, then, " he agreed. "I will do my best by listening to you. "

After he had entered the cab, and had taken the seat, beside her, theyoung woman turned to look at him keenly. 

Jack, for his part, saw that she was rather better dressed than theaverage. He imagined her to be the daughter of a family in comfortablecircumstances. 

"You do not know who I am, of course?" she began. 

"No, madam. "

"But you do know one in whom I am much interested, " she continued. 

For some reason that he could not explain to himself, Jack Benson beganto feel very uncomfortable under the witching battery of her handsomeeyes. 

"Who is he?" inquired the submarine boy. 

"You know him as--"

She paused, as though stricken with sudden reluctance. 

"Well?"

"The name by which you know him is Millard. "

Had Jack Benson been lashed at that instant with a whip he could not havebeen more astounded. 

"Who?" he cried. "What? That in fam--"

He checked himself abruptly. 

"It was kind of you to stop as you did, " the young woman declared, gratefully. "The man whom you know as Millard is my promised husband. "

"I'm sor--I mean, I'm astonished, " sputtered Jack Benson. 

Then he turned to take another keen look into her face. 

"What do you want to say to me about Millard?" he demanded. 

"I ask you--I beg you--to aid him to escape from Washington--fromthe country. Yet, to do that, all he needs is to get safely out of theDistrict of Columbia. You know that he is here in Washington, or Iwould not have told you as much. "

"Does Millard find it so very difficult to get out of Washington?"queried Jack, grimly. 

"If he did not, Mr. Benson, believe me I would never come to the enemyto beseech mercy. Probably I am not telling you anything you do notalready know, " she went on, rather bitterly. "But every avenue of escapefrom Washington is blocked by Secret Service men. It is not so difficultto hide in the city, but to get out of it is impossible--to-day. "

"Madam, " Jack answered, softly, "it would be my desire to give youevery bit of aid and comfort possible. However, what you ask is simplyimpossible. For one thing, it would be in direct defiance of my--"

"Oath" he was about to add, but checked him self. On account of theirknowing that he was to be sought at the United Service Club it waspossible--even likely--that the enemy knew of his actual connectionwith the Navy. Yet, Benson did not propose to supply the other sidewith any gratis information. So he added:

"Contrary to my duty as an American. I am loyal to the Flag, madam, "the boy continued. "Do you know the nature of Millard's offense?"

"No-o-o-o; that is, not exactly. "

"Do you wish me to tell you?"

"Why--he--he--told me it was some dispute over international affairs, "stammered the young woman. 

"Do you feel yourself a loyal American?" asked Jack, looking at hercuriously. 

"Yes!" she answered, without an instant's hesitation, looking straightinto his eyes, almost defiantly. 

"And you love this man, Millard?"

"Yes!" Yet her declaration was not so emphatic as it would have been afew moments before. 

Jack Benson sighed. 

"Would you love a man who had betrayed his country's flag?" he asked, presently, in a very low voice. 

"Has Don--has the man you know as Millard offered to do that?"

It was not suspicion, but incredulity that rang in her voice. 

Jack Benson knew, now, that he was dealing with a woman who knew herselfto be a patriot--a lover of her country. 

"I don't know that I have any right to say anything, " Jack answered, evasively. "Mr. Millard is a civil engineer, isn't he?"

"Yes, and a mechanical engineer, too, " the girl admitted, withoutattempt at concealment "As you also doubtless know, he served, once, with a revolutionary army in Guatemala. It is in some sort of scrapelike this that he finds him self now. Some trouble that he has gottenhimself into with this government in order to befriend therevolutionists of some Central American republic. "

"Did Millard tell you so?" demanded Jack Benson, his eyes now very wideopen. 

"He let me believe as much, " the girl replied, one hand toying with afold of her dress, while she glanced down. "And that is the truth, is it not?"

"No!" broke, half-angrily, from young Benson. The passion would haverung in his denial, but he remembered that he was talking to this girlabout her betrothed husband. 

"You spoke of the Flag a moment ago, " cried the girl, suddenly, andgazing searchingly into the boy's eyes. "Do you mean to tell me thatDon--that Mr. Millard would be engaged in any work hostile to hisown country?"

"Is the one we call Millard an American citizen?" asked Benson. 

"Yes. "

"Then--"

Jack came to an abrupt stop after that one word. He would not tell thedreadful news to this spirited young woman. It was not necessary. 

But she became insistent

"Mr. Benson, " she cried, "this has gone too far not to have a fullexplanation. Has--has Mr. Millard done aught to betray the UnitedStates? For that matter, how could he?"

"Madam, " Benson replied, gravely, "no Central American republic wouldwant charts of our fortified harbors, or notes concerning thefortifications, the harbor mines, and so on, for the very simple reasonthat no Central American republic would ever be equal to the task ofattempting to invade the United States. "

"Did Mr. Millard steal such plans--make such notes?"

She hissed the question sharply, her face now deathly white. 

"That is the charge against him, " Jack nodded. 

"Did he do it?"

"I caught him at it, opposite Fort Craven, " young Benson answered. 

A low, smothered cry escaped the girl. Her head rested against the sideof the carriage as though her brain were reeling. But at length shespoke. 

"You--you would not deceive me, " she faltered. "Yet tell me more. "

"I can't;" answered Jack, with a shake of his head. "Further thanthat, I cannot go. "

"Oh, I see, " she nodded, "and I do not blame you. You feel that, whatever you told me, I would tell him. But I wouldn't!"

Though the girl's face was still fearfully pallid, her eyes, as sheturned to gaze into the submarine boy's face, flashed with a new fire. 

Then, after a brief pause:

"Whatever he is, or has done, I am an American, " she added, quietly. 

"This has been a miserable fifteen minutes for me. " responded JackBenson. "I have been torn between the impulse to mind my own business, and the fear that you may be throwing yourself away on a man whom youwould promptly learn to despise. "

"I shall never give Donald Graves another thought as a lover, " the girlrejoined, promptly. "Nor shall I shelter him. I am going to him now!"

"Then you have an appointment with him? You know where to find him?"

"Yes, " replied the girl, looking at the submarine boy rather queerly. "Do you care to go with me to meet Donald Graves--the one you knewas Millard? But I am stupid, or worse. That would be to run you intoneedless danger--for such a man as I now know Donald Graves to bewould be desperate. "

"I am not afraid of him, " retorted Jack quietly. "If you fear onlyfor me, I beg you to take me to him!"

CHAPTER XXI

DAISY HUSTON DECIDES FOR THE FLAG

"It is a somewhat lonely place, on the outskirts of the city, " warnedthe girl. "Mr. Graves had thought that, if no other chance offered, he might possibly get away by leaving that house and taking to thecountry roads. For he knows that, if he takes a train at any point, hewon't ride five miles before he'll find himself in the clutches of aSecret Service man. Oh, he knows how well the trains and thesteamboats will be watched. He dreads, even, that the country roadswill be watched. "

"I don't know anything about the Secret Service lines that are out, "Jack confessed, honestly. "Yet I imagine that every possible precautionhas been taken to capture Millard--or Graves. "

"You do not know my name, " cried the girl, as though struck by a suddenthought. "Mr. Benson, you have been wrapped in so much mystery, somuch deceit, so much lying and treachery that I won't even have youguess whether I am telling you the truth. Here is my card-case. Takeout a card for yourself. "

The request was so much like a command that Benson obeyed. On the card, in Old English script, he read:

"Miss Daisy Huston. "

"I thank you, Miss Huston, " he acknowledged, gravely, handing back hercard-case. 

"Will you signal the driver to stop?" she requested. They were nowdriving through the western part of Washington. 

When the driver found himself signaled he reined up, then came to thecab door. 

"You know where to go?" she said. 

"Yes, " nodded the man. 

"Drive there, then. "

The driver whipped up his horses to a better speed, the vehicle bowlingalong now. 

"I very much fear that I am running you into danger, " declared DaisyHuston, soberly. "Mr. Benson, if you decide to leave the cab, or tohave me take you back to the center of the city, I shall not imagineyou to be lacking in courage. "

"I cannot be in any greater danger than you are, Miss Huston, " Bensonventured, with a smile. 

"Oh, it is much different in my case, " argued the girl. "Donald Graveswould not attack a woman, especially the woman he had professed to love. "

"Miss Huston, do you feel like discussing this matter any further?"hazarded the young acting naval lieutenant. 

"Yes; as much as you wish. "

"I confess to being a bit curious. "

"About what?"

"Did Millard--Graves, I mean, have any great reason to need money?More, I mean, than he could earn by honest work?"

"Yes, " admitted Miss Daisy. "My mother is dead. Under her will Iinherit a considerable little fortune when I am twenty-five. But itis solely on condition that I have my father's permission to marry theman of my choice. I could remain single until twenty-five, but I amonly nineteen, and Mr. Graves complained that it would be aneternity to wait. "

"Then your father did not approve Millard? I am going to call him thatbecause the other name is unfamiliar. "

"My father feared that Donald was a fortune hunter. He said he wouldbe satisfied if Donald could show that he were rich in his own name. "

"So, then, Graves, or Millard, hit upon the plan of stealing our harborfortification secrets and selling them to another government, " saidJack, meditatingly. "Yet I am puzzled to understand how he found thechance. There are no foreigners openly engaged in buying our nationalsecrets. "

"I think I can explain all that, though it will be but guess-work, "replied Daisy Huston, thoughtfully. "My father was for some yearsminister to Sweden. He is still well acquainted among foreign diplomatshere in Washington. Some of them are often at our house. Donald musthave met one there who tempted him, or pointed the way to a fortune. Yes; I am certain that must be the answer. "

"Did--but perhaps you don't like my asking such questions?"

"No; I do not mind--now, " replied Daisy Huston. "I began to feel asthough I had been an innocent party to Donald Graves's wrongdoing. When I went to try to see you, this afternoon, I supposed only thatDonald had gotten into trouble through some filibustering expeditionto Central America. I did not look upon that as so serious, you see. But selling the national secrets is quite another matter, " she added, bitterly. "I shall never care for the man again. I have wrenchedhim from my heart in these last few minutes. So you may ask me anyquestions that will help to clear up the matter. "

"Thank you, Miss Huston. Then did Graves, or Millard, as I call him, express any hope of becoming suddenly well to do?"

"Yes; and now I can understand how he has lied to me. He let me believethat he hoped to profit through mining concessions to Americans thatwould follow the overthrow of one of the petty despots in CentralAmerica. "

"Yet Millard has been away from Washington much, has he not?"

"Most of the time during the last four months. He generally managedto get over here for one day out of the seven; sometimes two days at atime. "

"I believe the whole matter is becoming rather clear in my mind. I donot mind telling you, Miss Huston, how I first came to know thefellow. He was over at our shipyard in Dunhaven, trying to getemployment on the construction of submarine boats. But something inhis manner made us suspect him, and he didn't get near the secrets ofany of our boats. "

There was one other thing, however, that Benson felt he would like tohave cleared up. So he inquired:

"How did you know that I was at the United Service Club? Did Millardknow? Did he tell you to go there?"

"He guessed where you might be. He asked me to drive to the clubfirst; if you were not there, then I was to drive to the Arlington. Failing to find you at either place, I was to go back to the hotel inthe evening. In the event of my finding you at the hotel I was to seeyou in the ladies' parlor. But, oh! What can you think of me, Mr. Benson, to have come to you on such an errand--on a mission to save abetrayer of his Flag?"

"You came innocently, Miss Huston; that is all that I can understand. And your whole attitude, since you discovered the truth, has been thatof a loyal American girl who would crush her heart, even, for hercountry's honor. "

"It isn't going to be as hard as you think, perhaps, " she smiled, bitterly, "to cast the man out of my heart. The man that I now knowDonald Graves to be never was in my heart. There is no room, there, for a traitor. "

She glanced out of the cab at the scene through which they were passing. Jack Benson looked at the same time. 

"I am terribly uneasy, " she confessed. "Perhaps, even now, Mr. Benson, you had much better leave this carriage and let me go forward alone. Iam a woman, and therefore safe. But I fear--yes, actually fear foryour life when he finds out!"

"Don't be at all uneasy about me, Miss Huston, " begged Jack, with coolconfidence. "I have had rather a sturdy training in the art of takingcare of myself. "

Though he did not allow the girl to see the motion, Jack felt stealthilyat his right hip pocket. Yes; the loaded revolver was there. Jack didnot believe much in the practice of carrying concealed weapons. He hadgreat contempt both for the nerve and the judgment of fool boys whocarried revolvers, loaded or otherwise. But just now the situation wasdifferent. Jack Benson was an acting lieutenant in the United StatesNavy. Just before leaving the Navy Department he and his comrades hadeach been advised to take a proffered weapon and carry it against thechance that they might find Millard--or Graves--in Washington, andfind themselves under the necessity of taking him prisoner. 

"Spies and traitors are taken alive or dead, " the official had remarkedwho had handed them the weapons. 

"How much further have we to go?" Jack inquired, as the cab turned downa country lane. 

"Only a very short distance, now, " replied Daisy Huston. 

"Jove, but she's a stunning girl for nerve and principle, " thoughtLieutenant Jack, admiringly. "She's going, now, to what must be thetragedy of her plans and hopes, yet she has her color back again, and looks as composed as though out only for an airing!"

"There is the house, " almost whispered the girl, at last, resting asteady, cool hand on his arm. 

Jack looked and saw the place--a little, oldfashioned house, standingin among trees, some hundred feet from the road. In that swift glancehe also noted that there were no ether buildings near. 

Daisy Huston did not ask whether the young man at her side proposed totry to arrest the man he sought. She was too discreet to pry into hisplans. 

Up into the little yard before the house the horses trotted. Then, just as the cab was coming to a stop, the driver cracked his whip-lashtwice. 

Immediately the door flew open. Millard, as Jack Benson knew him, stepped out jauntily, a smile of delight on his face. 

"Good enough, Daisy, " he cried, as he strode toward the cab. "I seethat you have won Benson over to our side. He shall be my friend, after this. But, Daisy, _what_--"

For the girl had sprung lightly out ere Jack Benson could assist her. The girl now stood, drawn to her full height, yet without affectingany theatrical pose. But over her lips hovered a smile of cool disdainthat the look in her eyes heightened. 

"Don't lie to me any more, Donald Graves, " commanded the girl, steadily, "and don't deceive yourself. Both tasks, I know, will be hard for aman so vile that he'd sell his country's Flag!"

Millard stared at her in growing horror. Then anger rushed to his face. 

"Daisy!" he gasped. "Have you betrayed me? Have you brought Bensonhere as an enemy?"

Daisy did not answer her former lover. She continued to gaze at himwith an irony of expression that sent the hot blood mounting to hishead. 

"Can't you speak?" he demanded. "Then, Benson, why don't you talk?"

"Because, " replied Jack, "I am waiting for Miss Huston to say to youall, or as little, as she cares to say. "

"Speak, then!" commanded Millard, turning imperiously to the girl. 

"And my command to you, " retorted the girl, "is different. Silence!Never again address me, you traitor to your Flag!"

Millard was swift to realize the fullness of the girl's contempt. Heknew that everything between them was over. 

"Come, come, then, girl!" he uttered, harshly. "It is time for you tobe gone! Step to the cab and get away from here, for I would spare youwhat is to follow--my reckoning with Benson!"

He clapped his hands. The door opened, and four men stepped out. Theirtype was not hard to determine. They were of the scum ofhumanity--ready for any desperate deed. 

CHAPTER XXII

THE PART OF ABERCROMBIE, R. N. 

"Come, girl, you must go!" commanded Millard, harshly. 

"I will not, " she replied, coldly, "until my escort is ready to go withme. "

"He will not go with you, " replied Millard, significantly. "And youmust not remain. What is to be done here is no thing for a dainty womanto see. "

"Mr. Benson, " appealed the girl, "will you enter the cab first?"

"If he does, the cab will not leave, " sneered Millard. 

All this while the four men who had just come from the house werestealthily grouping themselves. Jack watched them alertly. He did notintend to be taken unawares, yet he hesitated to draw his pistol whileMiss Huston was there. 

"Go, girl!" Millard ordered again. 

"I have told you, already, that I shall go only when Mr. Benson givesthe word and accompanies me, " replied the girl, white but courageous. 

"Then we won't waste more time, " laughed the wretch, harshly. "Sinceyou will stay, then you must be a witness of what you have brought onmy worst foe! Close in, men--get him!"

As the men sprang to obey, and Jack dodged nimbly back, Daisy Hustonuttered a piercing scream. The next thing she did was wholly natural. Under the intense strain of her feelings the girl fainted. 

"Take her!" nodded Millard, to the driver, who was plainly one of thedesperate lot. "Take her from here as fast as you can. "

The driver, ready for his work, snatched up the girl's light form. 

"Have a care what you do--all of you!" cried Jack Benson, warningly, and now, in his hand, the revolver gleamed. 

But one of the wretches, darting in at Jack's right, from behind, aimeda blow with a cudgel at the weapon. He struck it from the younglieutenant's hand. 

Down to the ground it fell, but Lieutenant Benson was as quick asthought, now. 

He bent over, snatching up the weapon, then ducked away from a follow-upblow at his own head, and sprang back. 

"You first, then, Millard!" cried the young acting naval officer. 

Full of purpose, Lieutenant Jack pressed the trigger. It stuck. Noreport followed. That blow from the cudgel had jammed the cylinder. 

Having dropped the senseless form of Daisy Huston in the cab the driversprang to the box, lashing the horses, just as Lieutenant Bensondiscovered the uselessness of his weapon as a firearm. 

Then, indeed, young Benson knew that this must be a fight to the verydeath. Yet he was a naval officer at heart, as much as by specialappointment. At a time like this he held life cheaply. 

The first man to get within reach was laid flat by a blow with the buttof Jack's revolver. 

Instantly young Benson wheeled, to strike at another pressing foe. Instead, he received a glancing though painful blow on his own leftshoulder. Ere the assailant could recover, however, Benson leaped athim and would have felled him had not Millard himself leaped in, striking up the young naval officer's arm. 

Once more Lieutenant Jack leaped back. His whole body was alert, nervesand muscles responding magnificently. He fairly vibrated defense. 

"Close in on him, men--surround him!" snarled Millard. "You've got toget him! We haven't many minutes left. We don't know at what instantto look for interference. "

Jack landed effectively on another of the rascals. Just as he waswheeling, however, to ward off the attack of another, a stick landedagainst his left knee, partly crippling him. 

In moving backward Benson almost stumbled over a stone half the size ofhis head. 

Right there, in the same movement with which he thrust the revolver intoone of his pockets, he bent down, snatched up the heavy stone, and heldit poised over his head. 

"Now, come on! Now, close in!" cried Jack Benson, exulting. "The firstman who gets too close has his head split open! Who wants it?"

His usually, good-humored face was transformed by the fiery rage ofbattle. 

Surely there was some of the old Norseman streak left in Jack Benson'smake-up. 

As he stood there, keenly alert, ready to heave the rock, he looked likea young Thor armed with massive stone hammer. 

"Spread! Get in back of him!" yelled Millard, hoarsely. "I'll takethe position of attack in front. Down him!"

"Guess which way I'm going to heave this stone!" cried Jack, tauntingly, as he half wheeled, so as to watch those trying to steal a march inhis rear. 

"Bosh! You can soon stop that, men!" jeered Millard, suddenly. "Fallback and get a fistful of stones. Rain them in on the youngster at asafe distance. One of you will soon hit him and send him down!"

Young Benson gasped inwardly with dismay, though his face did notblanch. Millard's followers drew back to obey. 

Yes! These fellows could throw small stones from a much greater distancethan the young lieutenant could hurl the large one. They had but tokeep up this fire for a few seconds when one of them was certain to hithim in the head, putting him out of the fight. 

Jack Benson dropped the big stone, though he stood over it. Like aflash his revolver came out again. Aiming at Millard, the young navalofficer made frantic efforts to make the cylinder revolve. But theweapon proved to be hopelessly jammed. 

"Now, keep on volleying the youngster with until you have him down andwholly out!" yelled Millard, hoarsely. 

The air seemed filled with stones. Jack hopped about as nimbly aspossible, dodging all he could. Yet one part of his body after anotherwas hit. 

Rat-a-tat-tat! Jack hardly comprehended what this new noise meant whenit grew in volume. Then a horseman rode into the yard at a charge. 

"One down!" yelled the rider, with savage glee, as he drove his mountsquarely against one of the wretches, bowling him over and underfoot. 

Hardly seeming to veer, the rider made for another fellow, and barelymissed him. 

Just a second later, so it seemed, this valiant rider hauled the horseon its haunches, and swung back, heading for another wretch. 

Millard leaped at the horseman, a stone in his uplifted fist. 

But Jack Benson saw him, and a well-planted blow sent Millard to theground. 

"Bully good of you, Benson, old chap!" called a hearty voice. Then thehorseman spurred forward, running down another of Benson's lateassailants. The two remaining bolted as fast as they could, go. 

"Mr. Abercrombie!" cried Lieutenant Jack. 

"Yes, it's I: and jolly glad I got here in good time, " laughed theBritish naval officer, whom this brief rollicking battle had made asgleeful as a boy. 

"But how on earth did you happen to turn up?" asked Jack, a feeling ofmystery coming over him after he had glanced at Millard and had madesure that the latter would "sleep" for some time to come. 

"Why, I was out for my afternoon canter, dear old fellow, " bubbledLieutenant Abercrombie, R. N. "I was coming down the road at a hardtrot, don't you know, when a cab rolled by. A young woman--and adeuced pretty one--thrust her head out and shrieked at me. Whatcould I do? It was deuced extraordinary, and I had to do somethingquickly, so I rode alongside the cab and told the driver to hold up. I must have looked unusually menacing, don't you know, for, by Jove, the fellow obeyed me. Then I reached up and yanked him down off thecab. The fellow really started to blackguard me, while the youngwoman was shouting something at me at the same time I had to silencethe fellow, don't you know, so I could understand the young lady. So I struck him over the head with the butt of my riding whip. Myword, I must have hit the blackguard hard, for he just curled up andlay down. The young lady sprang out of the cab and begged me to hurrydown here. She looked able to take care of herself, so I just left myrevolver with her, and, by Jove, here I am--and deuced glad of it. Upon my word, Benson, dear old fellow, all the luck seemed to berunning against you. "

"It was, " Jack admitted, dryly. "But now I've got the man I came after. I've got to keep him, too, " added Lieutenant Benson, gravely. 

As he spoke, the submarine boy drew a pair of handcuffs from an innerpocket. 

"By Jove, do naval youngsters in this country carry such jewelry?"murmured Lieutenant Abercrombie, R. N. 

"They do, I guess, when they're engaged on work like mine at present, "smiled Lieutenant Jack, United States Navy. 

"Now, then, by Jove, I think I'd better go back to the young lady, "suddenly decided Abercrombie, for Millard still showed no signs ofrecovering his senses. One of the other two men who had been riddendown now recovered enough to begin to crawl away furtively. 

"Do you want that chap?" asked Abercrombie. 

"I have no facilities for keeping him a prisoner, " Jack answered. "For that matter, I guess he's nothing but a hired tough. TheWashington police can find and take care of him at their convenience. "

"Good enough, " nodded the British lieutenant. "And now--"

"Would you mind if I go to her, instead?" inquired Benson, hastily. 

"Not in the least, dear old fellow. And, while you're gone, I'llconstitute myself a special 'bobby' to look after this chap of yoursin the bracelets. "

So Jack hurried off up the road, wondering how Daisy Huston faredwith a revolver and a hostile cabman. 

CHAPTER XXIII

"FOREIGN TRADE" BECOMES BRISK

The cab horses were browsing quietly by the roadside. 

Miss Daisy looked anything but perturbed. 

In fact, she had passed all uneasiness of spirit on to the cab driver. That worthy had come back to his senses, but Miss Huston had compelledhim to sit on the ground, his back to a tree. She stood a few yardsaway, watching the surly fellow and holding the pistol as though it werenot the first time she had had such a weapon in her hand. 

"Oh, I'm so glad you've come, Mr. Benson!" cried the girl, with truefeminine relief. "I was so worried about you. But you're nothurt--badly. I hurried a horseman on to you. He reached you?"

"Yes, thank you, " nodded Lieutenant Benson. "And now, Miss Huston, Imust inform you that we have Millard--your Donald Graves--a prisonerand manacled. I must first find a way of getting you back into town. Then I must turn Millard over to the authorities. "

"Why can't he go back in the same cab with me?" asked Miss Huston, quickly. 

"You--could you endure that?"

"Yes, " replied the girl, bravely. "I took you to him. I sent theassistance that enabled you to take him prisoner. Do not fear for me, Mr. Benson. "

"By Jove, but you're clear grit, Miss Huston!" Lieutenant Jack cried, admiringly. 

"Clear American, I hope, " retorted the girl. "Why should men be theonly ones who can do or dare for the Flag?"

"Will you let me have the revolver, Miss Huston?"

"Gladly. "

"Thank you. Now, if you will get inside he cab again. "

"And you?"

"I'll sit with the driver and watch him, "

Jack kept his eye on the surly fellow until Miss Huston was inside thecab. 

"Now, fellow, you get up on the box, and handle the reins from the leftside, " ordered the young naval officer. 

"I always drive on the right side o' the box, " came the sulky retort. 

"Undoubtedly; but you're driving on the left side this afternoon, "returned Benson, with a look of significance. "By the way, did Imention the fact, yet, that I have an uncertain and bad temper? Now, climb up into your place, and don't you attempt to start until I'mbeside you and give the word!"

A moment later Jack Benson sat beside the driver, holding the revolverin his right hand. 

"Now, back to the house, " spoke the young naval officer. 

Without a word the driver turned his horses about, heading back. 

"Here we are!" came, cheerily, from Lieutenant Abercrombie, R. N. 

Millard was sitting up, a black scowl on his face as Jack and the othersappeared. 

"Now, I've got to get this outfit back into Washington, somehow, " musedJack, after noticing that Abercrombie had allowed the other thug tocrawl away to safety. 

"Why, of course, dear old fellow, you under stand that I'm helping, "hinted the British officer. 

"That's mighty good of you, " murmured Jack. "Then we can do it easily. "

Daisy Huston had stepped from the cab. She stood regarding the scowlingcaptive. 

"I'm glad I know you, Donald; glad I found you out in time, " she said, quietly, gazing hard at him. 

"I thought you a friend, " Millard retorted, bitterly. "Great Heavens, Daisy, if you had been on my side through thick and thin, in good reportand ill, I could have defied all these idiots in Washington. What anally you would have been! But you chose to be an enemy. "

"An enemy to my country's enemies, yes, " replied the girl, steadily. 

"Do you hate me, Daisy?"

"I don't know, " the girl answered, thoughtfully. "Do you hate me, now, Donald Graves?"

"I wish I knew, " uttered the man. "But it's hard to turn love like mineinto hate at a moment's notice. Daisy, the nights are coming when you'llwake up with a frightened start, and sob as you remember how you turnedme over to--"

"To the officers of the country that you have done your best to betray, "broke in the girl, firmly. "No, no, Donald! Do not imagine that Ishall shed any tears for you, seen or unseen. Mr. Benson, I am ready, if you wish to place--your--your--prisoner in the cab beside me. "

"It seems like a beastly outrage to do it, " muttered Jack, full ofmisgivings. 

"Not at all, " declared the girl, steadily. "I am glad to see this manon his way to the bar of justice. "

Jack assisted Daisy Huston, with the utmost deference, to a seat insidethe vehicle. Then he turned to motion to handcuffed Millard--orGraves--that he was to take the seat beside the woman he had hopedto make his wife. 

"I'll ride close alongside, to make sure there's no unpleasant conducttoward Miss Huston, " volunteered Mr. Abercrombie. 

Jack Benson again climbed to the cab box. 

"You know I have the pistol, " muttered Jack, showing the driver theweapon. "There's no need to ride through the town with the weapon inmy hand. But, if you try to cut up any tantrums, you may be sureyou'll find your own wrists inside of handcuffs. "

"I know when I ain't got no show at all, " growled the sullen driver. 

"Drive ahead, then--into Washington, and straight to policeheadquarters. "

Lieutenant Abercrombie, R. N. , jogged his own mount steadily alongside, so that he could at all times command a view of the interior. 

Millard--Donald Graves--would have opened some conversation withDaisy Huston, but the disdainful girl cut him short. 

As the cab rolled into the busier streets of Washington LieutenantAbercrombie drew a little further away from the cab, in order not toattract attention, though he still remained actively on guard. 

The prisoner's manacled hands did not show to the people passing on thesidewalks. 

So, altogether, no passersby thought to turn to look after the cab. 

Just as the little procession turned a street corner to drive directto the door of police headquarters, Abercrombie waved a hand carelesslyto three pedestrians on the sidewalk. 

"Abercrombie!" cried Lieutenant Ulwin. "And there's Benson on the boxof that hack!"

"Come right along into headquarters, " whispered Abercrombie. "Don'tmake any noise. "

Wondering until they were fairly agape, Ulwin, Hal and Eph drew up atthe cab door as Jack, after only a brief nod to them, opened the doorand handed out Miss Daisy Huston. 

Lieutenant Abercrombie, having given his horse to a boy down the streetto hold, now came forward, raising his hat, to take charge of theyoung lady. 

"Come along, Millard, " called Jack Benson, quietly, and the prisonergot out, while the British officer stepped down the street with hisfair companion to find another carriage in which she could return home. 

Inside Jack marched his prisoner up to the railing in one of the rooms. The young naval officer at once produced his credentials and displayedthem to the police official in charge. 

"Now, with your permission, sir, " Jack went on, courteously, "I willuse your telephone, and inform the Navy Department of the prisoner whoawaits their action here. "

Five minutes later this had been done. Benson turned to LieutenantAbercrombie, saying:

"I must apologize for not having thought to return your revolver assoon as we entered. "

"I would beg you to keep the weapon, dear old fellow, if it would beof any use to you, " replied the British officer. 

And now Hal and Eph found chance to explain that they, worried by JackBenson's disappearance, had at last started down to headquarters tosee if they could learn of any mishap to him, or of any other explanationfor his long absence. 

"Well, it's all over now, " muttered Hal. "Millard--or Graves--orwhatever other name the fellow may be using at this moment--is safein a cell downstairs. "

"We thought, once before, that we had him bottled up safely, " chuckledLieutenant Jack. "Mr. Abercrombie, how am I ever going to express mythanks to you?"

"I should feel extremely insulted, dear old fellow, if you thought itnecessary to thank me, " retorted the Briton, heartily. 

"It will be dark, soon, " interposed Lieutenant Ulwin. "I suggest thatthe best thing any of us can do is to turn toward the club. I feelcertain that the chef will have a famous dinner there to-night. "

"We haven't any evening clothes, either citizen or uniform, inWashington, " interposed Jack Benson, who knew something of theformalities of the service during the dinner hour. 

"Come, just the same, " begged Ulwin. "The members don't expect toomuch of fellows who are traveling. "

Jack was glad of the walk, because it helped to take the stiffness out ofthe knee that had been struck. 

"You let the cab driver go, did you!" asked Eph, as the submarine boyswalked along together. 

"Yes, " nodded Jack. "I had no orders concerning anyone like him. He'sonly some worthless character hired for the job. He didn't have anyhand in the bigger job of collecting and selling harbor defense plans, you may be sure. "

As the party re-entered the club they found a large attendance. Norwas it many moments before a be-moustached German officer approachedthe group. 

"Oh, Herr Ulwin, " he asked, "can you oblige me by excusing Herr Bensonfor a moment or two? And will you come with me, Herr Benson, to meeta friend who wishes to shake your hand?"

Jack slipped away with the German officer, who conducted him to anotherroom. 

"I think you have met my friend before, " explained the German, andwheeled the submarine boy straight up in front of Herr Professor Radberg. 

"You see, " smiled the professor, "we meet again. "

"It is a great pleasure, surely, " declared Jack, as he shook hands. Theofficer stepped a few paces away. 

"And now, when, my dear young friend, are you going to give me yourword that you and your comrades will enter the German torpedo service?I have somewhat better terms to offer you than when we last met. I havesince been authorized to promise you that you shall enter the Germanservice as commissioned officers, and that you shall all three be inline for promotion as merit earns it. So, then, it is all settled, isit not!"

Herr Professor Radberg rubbed his hands with a self-satisfied air. 

"Yes, " Lieutenant Jack admitted, "it is all settled. But not the waythat you would wish, Herr Professor Radberg. There may be soldiersof fortune who follow any flag, for hire. But we submarine boys wouldnot enter your German naval service if you created all three of ushigh admirals at the outset. "

"Admirals?" cried Herr Professor Radberg, protestingly. "Oh, but that, my dear young friend, would be quite impossible. "

"You are wasting your time with us, sir, " Jack continued, firmly. "Wemay, one of these days, be asked to enter the American servicepermanently. We would not enter any other country's service, no matterwhat the bait. Do not give the matter any further thought, please, forwe won't. "

The German officer had been standing a few paces away, twirling hismoustache and frowning. Now, he came forward. 

"Herr Benson, " he broke in, "I fear that you are so young that you donot fully understand the honor and dignity of being officers in theGerman service. "

"Very likely we do not, Captain, " Jack returned, with a bow. "And itis absolutely certain that we shall never find out from experience. "

Lieutenant Jack excused himself, turning to seek his friends. AsBenson entered the reading room once more he came upon Eph and anotherwhose face was decidedly familiar. It was the Chevalier d'Ouray. 

"Just in time, Jack, " nodded Eph. "Tell the Chev. For me, please ashe doesn't seem to understand my talk, that we wouldn't even give theslightest consideration to his idea that we should enter the Frenchnaval service in the submarine division. "

"It is quite hopeless, Chevalier, " laughed Jack Benson, shaking hishead. "The honor is quite enough to turn our heads, but we can serveonly the United States. "

The Chevalier d'Ouray made a low bow, then turned away, for otherswere approaching. 

"Where is Hal?" asked Jack. 

"Crickety! Look at him over there, talking to that little Japanese, "muttered Eph, inclining his head toward a corner. 

Hal and a Japanese were talking earnestly. At any rate, the littlebrown man was. Hal was listening, occasionally shaking his head. Then Hastings happened to espy his chums. He turned to the Japanese, to take his leave, but the little brown man followed him across thefloor, still talking in low tones. 

"Captain Nakasura has been trying to interest me in the idea that wethree go over to Japan, under a three years' contract, to act asinstructors and advisers in submarine work, " Hal told his comrades. 

"And I have high hope that you will see matter same as I do, " smiledthe Japanese attache persistently. 

"We shan't, " Jack declared, shaking his head, emphatically. "Captain, you are the third, representing also the third nation, that has justapproached us on this matter. We shall serve no other country thanour own. "

"But my government, " urged the Japanese officer, "will make you mosthandsome offer. "

"Do you remember the day when we were leaving Dunhaven, and you triedto overtake us in a gasoline launch?" asked Jack, with a smile. 

"Yes; very well, " admitted Nakasura. 

"Do you remember that we hoisted the signal, N. D. ? That meant 'nothingdoing, ' Captain. Our answer is the same, and will be, to-morrow andthe next year. "

"Ah, here you are!" cried Lieutenant Abercrombie, as he hurried up andCaptain Nakasura vanished beyond middle distance. "Benson, dear oldfellow, I want just a word with you before dinner is served, " continuedthe Briton, thrusting his arm through Jack's and drawing him away aftera nod of apology to Hal and Eph. "Benson, I've had something on my mindall day; something I have had instructions to broach to you. I havebeen waiting for the right moment. Now, I must breathe just a word ortwo, and then let you think it over during dinner, don't you know?"

"See here, " smiled Jack, standing back, sudden suspicion in his eyes. "Don't tell me you've been instructed to see whether I'll enter theBritish submarine service. "

"Just that, dear old chap!" beamed Abercrombie, enthusiastically. "Buthow could you guess? Fact, though! And not only you, but Hastingsand Somers as well, don't you know!"

"You're the fourth to spring this on us tonight, " answered Jack Benson, soberly. "And the answer will have to be the same for all of you. "

"The same for all of us, dear chap?" demanded Abercrombie. "How canthat be?"

"The answer in every case is the same, " retorted Jack. "If our owngovernment doesn't want us, no other government can have us. We standby our own Flag. "

"Eh? What is this?" muttered Lieutenant Ulwin, coming unexpectedly uponthe pair. "Foreign government competing for you lads, Benson? Thiswon't do!"

"Which is what I have just had the honor of telling Mr. Abercrombie, "smiled Jack, earnestly. 

CHAPTER XXIV

THEIR LIVES DEEDED TO THE FLAG

Secretary Sanders, Secretary of the Navy, looked up at the three youngmen who stood in line at the right-hand side of his desk. 

It was two days later; two days during which Jack, Hal and Eph had hadlittle to do except roam about Washington and see all the sights of theNational Capital. This they had varied by dropping in at the UnitedService Club. 

"Gentlemen, " remarked the Secretary of the Navy, "you have not yet beenrelieved of your detail to the gunboat 'Sudbury. '"

"It's coming now, " thought each of the three boys to himself, with agreat wave of dismay. "We are to be no longer of the Navy. "

"I will give instructions at once, " continued Secretary Sanders, "tohave orders issued relieving you from that duty. "

"Yes; it has come, " muttered Jack, drearily, to himself. "Our servicewith the Navy is over. "

"Gentlemen, " and now, for a few seconds, the voice of the Secretaryseemed far away indeed, "I am sensible of all you have done for yourcountry, and above all, of the zeal you have shown. Besides, I have inmind the fact that you have made yourselves among the most expert of allhandlers of submarine torpedo boats. If it can be arranged, I wish tokeep all three of you actively in the United States Navy. "

Jack Benson looked up with a gasp. His comrades were not less astounded. 

"I am aware, " Mr. Sanders went on, "that we could not expect you toenlist as mere apprentices. In your own particular field of submarinework you are amply fitted to hold officers' commissions. Yet, under thelaw, you cannot be granted commissions until you are twenty-one yearsof age. None of you are quite eighteen. 

"Therefore, it has occurred to me that you can be appointed, specially, with rank, command and pay, until you are twenty-one. The Presidentagrees with me in what I have to offer. You, Mr. Benson, are offereda special appointment as lieutenant, junior grade, in the United StatesNavy. You, Mr. Hastings, and you, Mr. Somers, are offered specialappointments as ensigns. You will all have the privileges of yourranks except the actual commissions. Yet you will be actual officers, and entitled to full respect. Moreover, the President promises that, when you are twenty-one years of age, you shall have regular commissionspromptly. In case the President is not re-elected to his office, heagrees to urge upon his successor in the White House the fulfilmentof the promise. So, if you accept the special appointments, now, you are absolutely certain of commissions as soon as you reach theage of twenty-one. Perhaps it is only just to add that we are awarethat all three of you have already been offered commissions in foreignnavies, and that you have refused. Both the President and myselfappreciate your loyalty to your own Flag. Now, what do you younggentlemen say to accepting special appointments to run until you areeach twenty-one?"

"Mr. Secretary, it's the brightest, the one great dream with us all, "Jack Benson replied, hoarsely. "There is just one thing that couldhold us back. We really feel in honor bound to Mr. Farnum and Mr. Pollard to stand by their interests, for they have been our bestfriends. "

"What do you say to that, Mr. Farnum?" inquired the Secretary. 

From behind a screen stepped Jacob Farnum, the Dunhaven shipbuilder. 

"Why, see here, boys, " began Farnum, a broad smile on his face, "Ireceived a long wire from Mr. Sanders yesterday. Dave Pollard and Italked this thing over, and we decided that the Pollard boat is nowan assured success. You have put the boats where we can now buildand run them without you. You are more needed in the Navy. Now, Dave and I both urge you to go where we know your hearts are--intothe Navy. And you will go with all our best wishes. The governmentneeds you, now, to handle the boats that we build up at Dunhaven, andto train war-crews for those boats. There is only one objection toyour entering the Navy, boys. You will have to pass upon our boats. We know you will do that honestly and fearlessly; yet there are manywho would sneer at having boats passed on for the government by youngofficers who hold stock in our concern. Now, the amount of stockthat each of you holds has been growing steadily with each new successthat you have won for us, which if you enter the Navy you should notown. So Dave and I offer you ten thousand dollars each for the sharesthat you hold. It is a fair valuation. "

"I know it is, if you offer it, Mr. Farnum, " Jack Benson replied, withfeeling. 

"Then you'll accept, and take your very heart's-wish--the Navy--allof you?" asked Mr. Farnum. 

"I accept both your offer, Mr. Farnum, and, the greater offer of theSecretary of the Navy, " replied Jack, his eyes becoming misty. 

"I accept, " murmured Hal. 

"So do I, " from Eph. 

"Then, sir, " declared Jacob Farnum, turning to the Secretary of theNavy, "the Flag is richer by three magnificent young followers!"

* * * * * * * * * *

Here we must leave the submarine boys for the present, for these eventshappened hardly later than yesterday, and there are no new adventuresyet to chronicle. 

Donald Graves--Millard--received a severe sentence in the penitentiary. He is still serving the sentence, of course. Gray, his accomplice, whoattempted to spirit the drawings outside of the United States, is nowlikewise serving a term. 

The trial was a swift, nearly secret one. Daisy Huston was not draggedinto the case at all. In one respect the trial failed. Neither culpritcould be forced to tell for which foreign government the dastardly workhad been attempted. The "Spitfire" returned to Dunhaven, and was latersold to the government, with several other boats. Williamson becamethe new Pollard captain. 

Several foreign governments were deeply disappointed over not being ableto secure the services of the submarine boys. 

But Jack, Hal and Eph could be happy nowhere except under their own Flag. 

They are now accepted most cordially by all their brother officers, young and old, in the United States Navy. 

For the most part, so far, the duties of our young officers have beenaboard the different boats purchased from the Pollard Company. Yet, for the sake of practice and change, they have been, at times, detailedaboard other classes of craft in the Navy. 

We shall now encounter our young acting naval officers in one of theirnew fields of special work, in the next volume of this series, whichis published under the title: "_The Submarine Boys And the Smugglers;Or, Breaking Up the New Jersey Customs Frauds_. " Here we shall find ourtalented lads engaged in doing some of their finest work for Uncle Sam'sGovernment, and under circumstances that will delight every reader.