ite.

Neither Jack nor Hal felt like eating then. They sat by Messrs. Farnum
and Pollard, though the submarine boys contented themselves with sipping
more milk.

"That was one way of answering the enemy's threats," laughed the
shipbuilder, in an undertone.

"We don't know that Mlle. Nadiboff was in any way connected with the
threats," replied Jack, in an equally low tone.

"She belongs in the enemy's ranks," observed David Pollard, dryly.

As the quartette were leaving the table one of the negro waiters stepped
up to them.

"De lady dat was brought down outah de fiah done wanter see Marse Benson
in de parlor," announced the waiter.

"Mlle. Nadiboff?" inquired Mr. Farnum. "Then I guess we had all better
go in Jack, I'm going to keep you in my sight."

As they entered the parlor the submarine people saw three or four women
standing about a sofa on which lay the pretty Russian.

At sight of the newcomers the Russian signed to the attendants of her
own sex to raise her, and then to withdraw. Jack went forward to the
sofa, his friends taking seats on the opposite side of the room.

"Pardon my not rising, my Captain," begged Mlle. Nadiboff, as Jack
Benson left his friends to go forward and greet her. "I find I have
not my full strength yet."

Since she offered her hand, Jack, under the circumstances, took it
simply, then released it. He stood before her in the uniform that had
suffered in the fire.

"I am told that you, my Captain, nearly lost your own life in saving
my less than worthless one," continued the Russian woman. "It was a
strange thing for you to--considering. Will you believe me when I
tell you that I greatly respect your courage and your manhood?"

"Yes," bowed Jack. "Though it was nothing but a sailor's easy trick."

"You would make little of it, would you, my Captain?" smiled Mlle.
Nadiboff, plaintively. "True, you risked much for a life that has
been worth but little. Still, I sent for you to do more than assure
you of my appreciation of your generosity."

As she spoke, the young woman thrust one hand into the bosom of her
dress. She drew out a little envelope which she held in her hand for
a few moments.

"You have been threatened, my Captain?" she whispered, looking up at
him.

"Oh, ye-es," assented Captain Jack Benson, shrugging his shoulders.

"And by very desperate people."

"So far," smiled the boy, "they have injured only themselves."

"Yet you do not know how far t