"Who?" asked Jack, coolly.

"Miss Peddensen," replied Drummond, angrily.

"Oh, I guess the secret service men know what they're about," said Jack
somewhat sarcastically.

"And I know what I'm about, too!" roared the enraged Drummond, raising
his cane, wrathfully. "Benson, you young sneak, I'm going to brain you!"

CHAPTER XVII

DRUMMOND'S LITTLE SURPRISE--FOR HIMSELF

It didn't happen just that way.

As Drummond swung his cane and brought it down with crushing force, aimed
at the submarine boy's head, Jack wasn't there.

Instead, Benson sprang about two feet to one, side. It would have been
a fearful blow had Jack's head been in the way. As it was, the cane
hit the ground with such force as to be thrown from the Englishman's
hand.

With a growl, the fellow leaped forward and snatched up his stick. Jack
Benson stood leaning carelessly against a tree, in a way that enraged
Drummond all the more.

"I'll show you!" snarled the Englishman. With that he aimed a blow,
sideways, at Benson's head Jack ducked, then dodged out. The cane hit
the tree with a force that jarred the assailant and all but dislocated
his wrist. Again he dropped the stick.

Benson gave a hearty ringing laugh and this enraged the Englishman past
endurance. Then Jack added, "Is that the best you can do?"

"I'll show you!" roared the other, making a leap forward. He charged
straight at the submarine boy, who wheeled and darted on toward hotel.

"Don't run, you coward!" came the flying taunt.

Just then Jack Benson fell, though he did it on purpose. Straight in
the path of the irate Englishman the submarine boy dropped, curling
himself up.

It was too late for Drummond to halt, or to change his course. He
tripped over prostrate young Benson, then lurched forward landing on
his face.

Up sprang Jak Benson, planting two sterling good kicks.

"You beast! Wait until I get up!" roared the victim, in a voice like
a bull's bellow.

"What's the matter here?" demanded an astonished voice, and Mr. Trotter,
after a short dash, bounded through the darkness, arriving on the scene
just as Drummond was getting up.

"This fellow--" began Jack.

"'Fellow'?" broke in Drummond, angrily.

"This fellow," Jack continued, calmly, "accused me of causing Miss
Peddensen's arrest, and promised to brain me."

"Too bad you've allied yourself with that young woman," muttered Mr.
Trotter looking keenly into the Englishman's face.

"Wha