whirled along for a mile or more.

"Why not?" Jack inquired, bluntly.

"Have you noticed how I seem to please most men?"

"I saw that several were very anxious dance with you last evening, and
that, whenever you were seated, men flocked about your chair."

"Why do you suppose they did that?" challenged Mlle. Nadiboff.

"Because you are a very handsome woman, and the men admired you," Benson
answered, plainly.

"Ah! Then you think I am handsome?"

"I haven't a doubt of it," Jack answered.

"Do you admire me?"

The challenge came plain and direct. Mlle. Nadiboff now gazed
searchingly into the submarine boy's eyes.

"I--I think you a very handsome woman to look at," Captain Jack
admitted, readily.

"Is that all you have to say?"

"I--I am afraid I do not understand you, Mademoiselle."

"You have no desire to be especially gallant to me? It would cause you
no jealousy if you, saw that I preferred the company of other men?"

Jack Benson returned her glance, almost in, bewilderment for a moment.
Then he leaned back, trying to stifle the impulse to laugh, but he did
not wholly succeed.

"You are amused?" cried the young Russian, half angry.

"Amused--yes, at the idea of my falling in love, if that was what you
meant to suggest," replied Jack, again speaking very candidly.

"And why should that amuse you, my Captain?"

"Why, do you know how old I am, Mlle. Nadiboff? Or rather, how young?
I am only sixteen. At my age, if I formed any notion of being in love,
it would be sensible to have me spanked and put on a short diet for a
few days."

He laughed merrily, now, and Mlle. Nadiboff turned away her head to
conceal the tears of vexation that started to her eyes.

"Bah!" she thought to herself. "I have been wasting time--at Lemaire's
orders. The only way to induce this boy to betray his trust will be
by offering him presents of marbles, tops, kites--bah! _Bah!_"

Mlle. Nadiboff settled back in her seat, looking straight ahead, her
attitude as frigid as could be. For some moments she did not attempt
to speak. When she did open her lips she said, icily:

"I find that I have been wasting my time."

"Wasting your time, Mademoiselle?" echoed Jack Benson, coolly, for he
was much more fully alive to the situation, thanks to Mr Graham, than
she had any chance to know. "May I ask what you have been trying to
do?"

The question made the young woman bite her lip. Mlle. Nadiboff had been
a spy quite