the lid on, also carefully removing the latter. Inside he discovered
a handsome bouquet of roses, with a card attached.

"Well, of all the assurance in the world?" gasped Jack Benson.

"What's the matter!" queried Farnum.

"Read what's written on this card, sir."

The inscription ran:

"Mlle. Sara Nadiboff is delighted at learning that Captain Jack Benson
has returned in safety from his long walk."

"Any answer, sah?" demanded the darkey in the boat.

"None, thank you," replied Captain Jack, in an even tone.

The boat continued on its way to the shore.

"Say, what do you think of that?" demanded Eph, after he, too, had taken
a look at the card tied to the flowers.

"It is plain enough that our charming young Russian doesn't mean to drop
Captain Benson's acquaintance just yet, if she can help it," laughed
the shipbuilder.

"What are you going to do with the flowers, old man?" asked Hal.

"Flowers should be put in water, to make them keep, shouldn't they"
queried the young submarine skipper, innocently.

"Yep," nodded Eph Somers.

"I hope these will keep fresh a long time, then," murmured Benson.

Raising the bouquet he dropped it overboard the harbor--on the side of
the boat away from the hotel.

CHAPTER XV

CAPTAIN JACK BECOMES SUSPICIOUS

So successful and enjoyable a trip did the naval officers have that, as
the "Benson" was gliding back to the harbor, Lieutenant Commander
Kimball broached a subject that had begun to interest the society
people among the winter visitors to Spruce Beach.

"Mr. Farnum," inquired the naval officer, "I have a favor to ask of you."

"You know in advance, Mr. Kimball, that it is granted."

"I hope it is, if it's a wise favor to ask," smiled the naval officer.
"In brief, the idea is this: Naturally people in this neighborhood are
all agog over this submarine craft. Some of the more daring of the
ladies have besought me to arrange for a few of them to have a trip
on board, even to running beneath the surface. Will you do that, for a
party of our friends, to-morrow afternoon?"

"We've been a good deal beset by spies lately as you have means of
knowing," replied Mr. Farnum, slowly. "You'll guarantee all of the
guests, of course."

"As a naval officer I wouldn't bring anyone aboard here whom I doubted,"
replied the lieutenant commander, flushing.

"I didn't mean to be offensive, Mr. Kimball. But I have as great a
reason as Uncle Sam can have for wanti