s no
need of talking.

From time to time, as the craft sped on down the bay, Lieutenant
Benson glanced at the chronometer beside the deck wheel.

"You don't have the ship's bell struck on this craft, sir?" inquired
Midshipman Darrin.

"Only when at anchor or in dock," replied Lieutenant Jack Benson.
"A submarine's natural mission is one of stealth, and it wouldn't
do to go about with a clanging of gongs. Now, let me have the
wheel, Mr. Darrin. You gentlemen go to the conning tower and
stand so that you can hear what goes on below."

While the three midshipmen stood as directed the speed of the
"Dodger" slackened.

Then, after a space of a full minute, the submarine returned to her
former twenty-knot speed.

"Did you hear any clanging or jangling of a signal bell or gong
when the speeds were changed?" questioned Lieutenant Benson.

"No, sir," Darrin answered.

"That was because no bells were sounded," explained Benson. "From
deck or conning tower signals can be sent that make no noise.
On a dark night, or in a fog, we could manoeuvre, perhaps, within
a stone's throw of an enemy's battleship, and the only sound that
might betray our presence would be our wash as we moved along.
Take the wheel, Mr. Farley."

Then, after giving Farley a few directions as to the course to
follow, Lieutenant Benson added:

"Take command of the deck, Mr. Farley."

"Humph!" muttered Dan. "The lieutenant doesn't seem to be afraid
that we'll run his craft into any danger."

"He knows as well as we do what would happen to me, if there were
any disaster, and I had to explain it before a court of inquiry,"
laughed Midshipman Farley. "Hello! Who slowed the boat down?"

Dan had done it, unobserved by his comrades, in an irrepressible
spirit of mischief. He had reached over, touching the indicator,
and thus directing the engine-room man to proceed at less speed.
Dalzell, however, did not answer.

"I'd like to know if the speed were slackened intentionally,"
fussed Farley. "Darry, do you mind going below and inquiring?"

"Not in the least," smiled Dave, "but is it good Naval etiquette
for one midshipman to use another midshipman as a messenger?"

"Oh, bother etiquette!" grunted Farley. "What would you really
do if you were in command of the deck---as I am---and you wanted
to ask a question, with the answer down below?"

"I'll go to the conning tower and summon a man on deck, if you
wish," Dave offered.

Farley nodded,