y ran up the spiral stairway,
admitting them.

"I'm mighty thankful to see you back, Captain," was the machinist's
greeting.

There being still nearly two hours of time to elapse before a call could
well be made aboard the gunboat, Jack and Hal threw themselves into the
berths of one of the staterooms. That brief, sound nap proved the
saving of them when, finally, with Messrs. Farnum and Pollard, they went
on board the "Waverly."

Lieutenant Commander Kimball received them in his own cabin, hearing
Jack's story with utter amazement.

"What I advise you to do, gentlemen, is to go ahead and prosecute the
fellow Gaston on the charge of felonious assault. I would, however,
try to avoid having any testimony brought out in court to-day. I will
send one of my officers to see the public prosecutor, and ask that
official to have the case continued for one week. I will also wire the
Navy Department at Washington, and await the reply of the Secretary
before taking any other steps or offering you any other advice. But do
not needlessly alarm Lemaire or the young woman away from here."

So well did the lieutenant commander accomplish his purpose that, when
Jack and Hal went to the local court that forenoon, the public
prosecutor promptly asked to have the case against the chauffeur
continued for one week, and the court as promptly assented.

Gaston was taken back to jail. Though the fellow was well supplied with
money, he did not have anywhere near enough to put up the five thousand
dollars cash bail demanded by Florida justice.

At the jail a watch was kept to see whether Gaston would have visitors,
but none came. M. Lemaire and Mlle. Nadiboff were known to be still at
the hotel, but they did not go near their man in trouble. Neither did
Lemaire or the Russian appear about the grounds of the hotel.

At noon a letter from Lieutenant Commander Kimball came aboard the
submarine, inquiring whether Captain Benson could make it convenient
to take him and several officers out to sea afternoon and give an
exhibition of the boat's diving powers.

"After we've taken the boat out ourselves, and tested her," was the
answer Captain Jack sent back. "With so many spies about we want to be
sure that the boat is in safe running order before we risk the lives of
half a dozen naval officers."

A luncheon was eaten, after which, the young submarine captain hastily
climbed the stairs to the conning tower.

"Throw on the gasoline,