at the
young submarine commander came upon the new steward most un expectedly,
and without being seen by the little, brown man.

"Kamanako--you scoundrel!" shouted the young captain, beside himself
with sudden wrath.

For the Japanese, wholly absorbed in his present task, had deftly
removed the gauge from the midships submergence apparatus, and was now
dissecting the gauge itself, eyeing the parts with the knowing look of
an expert.

At sound of the captain's voice Kamanako wheeled calmly about, holding
up the gauge. The smile on the face of the Japanese was childlike and
bland.

"This very queer thing," he murmured. "What for you use
it--thermometer."

"No," retorted Jack Benson, frigidly, eyeing the detected one. "It's a
barometer, and it shows which way a meddler blows in!"

"I don't understand," remarked the Japanese, looking perplexed.

"Then I'll help you to understand. First of all, put that gauge down
on the table!"

Kamanako did so, then made a little bow.

"Now," continued Jack Benson, "take cap and go up on deck."

"What shall I do there, Captain?" asked Kamanako, politely.

"Well, you'll stand there until I see if you've done anything else on
board. If you haven't, you can then take a boat to the shore--and stay
there."

"What this mean, honorable Captain?" demanded Kamanako, a look of
offense beginning to creep into his little, brown face.

"Well, if you must have it," returned Benson, coldly, "it means that
I've found you spying into our mechanisms here. Now, a spy is a
creature no one cares to have about--least of all on a warship."

"You call me spy--call me ugly name like that?" cried Kamanako, showing
his teeth.

"Get your hat and go up on deck. Do you hear me?" insisted Captain Jack.

"I hear you, but I please myself about when I do it," retorted the
Japanese, drawing himself up to his full though not very imposing height.

"Then you'll go without waiting for your hat," retorted Benson, his
patience rapidly oozing now. He started toward the Japanese, just
as Eph, hearing the sound of talking, looked in and down the staircase.

"Gunpowder and smoke!" ejaculated the carroty-topped boy. "It's little
chocolate drop!"

"Are you going up on deck quietly and in an orderly way?" demanded
Benson, a resolute glitter in his clear, blue eyes.

"I please myself," retorted Kamanako, defiantly.

At that Jack Benson promptly forgot the warning he had given Eph, and
sprang at the i