ore uproariously than ever.

Captain Jack Benson had surely chosen a dramatic manner of making his
appearance at Spruce Beach. Ten thousand tongues were set wagging all
at once. When there came a lull, a man's voice on a tug not far from
the gunboat could be heard, asserting loudly:

"Well, that's what submarines are for--to sneak in while you're wiping
a speck of dust from your eye!"

That remark, coming just as the band ceased its strains, was plainly
audible, and brought a laugh from everyone aboard the submarine,
including Eph, who was just climbing, in his bathing suit, up to the
platform deck.

Lieutenant Commander Kimball, hurrying from his cabin, had joined
Lieutenant Featherstone at the rail, the pretty girl slipping away to
join a group of civilians.

"What do you think of us?" called Jacob Farnum, a broad grin of delight
on his face.

"You'll do," admitted Kimball.

"Do you consider yourself sunk?" demanded David Pollard, laughingly.

"Theoretically, yes," assented Lieutenant Commander Kimball. "I wonder
if you could do it as well in war time?"

"Couldn't possibly do anything like it in war time," called back Captain
Jack Benson. "For, sir, you fly the Stars and, Stripes!"

That was a happy speech, delivered at just the right second. It set all
within hearing to cheering again. And then the thousands beyond caught
it up.

"I'll say this much," shouted back Lieutenant Commander Kimball, as soon
as he could make himself heard: "We'd rather have you with us, Mr.
Benson, than against us."

"You'll have your wish, sir, as long as I'm alive," Jack answered,
turning and lifting his hat in simple yet eloquent salute to the Flag
waving at the gunboat's stern.

All this time Hal Hastings stood by the deck wheel, one hand occasionally
straying to the engine room signal buttons, as he kept the "Benson" just
about a hundred feet from the gunboat and nearly abeam.

"Where shall I anchor, sir?" called Captain Jack, presently.

"Better take it about four points off our port bow and at least four
hundred feet away, Mr. Benson," called back the lieutenant commander.

"Four points off port and four hundred feet it is, sir," answered the
young submarine skipper, saluting. Then he gave the order to Hal.

"As soon as you're anchored, I'll send you over a boat to be at your
disposal this afternoon," called Lieutenant Commander Kimball.

"We'll use the boat, sir, to pay you a visit, if you permit," Jack