illard close confinement pending further orders.
Have communicated Secretary of Navy. Latter official says sea chase
shall be made to catch fellow Gray on 'Juanita.' If submarine boys
will accept sea service, briefly, for Navy Department, have them come
to-night's train and report Secretary Navy at nine to-morrow morning.
Their expenses borne by government." (Signed) "Secretary of War."_

"What does that mean, sir," cried Jack Benson, rising, "about _if_ we
will accept sea service, and reporting in the morning to the Secretary
of the Navy at Washington?"

"Why, I belong to the Army," replied Major Woodruff, hauling out his
watch, "and this is a Navy matter. However, since one of you youngsters
knows Gray by sight, and you're all of you familiar with this business,
I imagine the Secretary of the Navy wants to put you out to sea on one
of the country's gunboats, to aid in the chase. For any real
information, however, you'll have to apply in person to the Secretary
of the Navy himself. Are you going to Washington?"

"Are we going--" Jack started to repeat, with mild irony, when a
knock at the door interrupted him. Major Woodruff opened the door,
to receive another telegram.

"Washington wakes up quickly," he laughed. "Here you are, Mr. Benson--a
despatch from our other fighting department at the Nation's capital."

Clearing his throat, Major Woodruff read:

_"Send description of schooner 'Juanita,' and of suspect, Gray, as
mentioned in your telegram Secretary War. Are submarine boys leaving
to-night to report in morning? Secretary of Navy."_

"Here you are, and you see you've got to make up your minds quickly,"
said the major. "The night train south for Washington leaves in a
little more than an hour from now."

"Why, there's only one answer possible, sir," cried Captain Jack Benson,
his eyes shining. "Of course we'll take to-night's train and report to
the Secretary of the Navy in the morning. When it's for the Flag I
don't even have to consult my comrades, or look their way. I know
their answer as well as I know my own."

"Good enough, young man," applauded Major Woodruff, while Lieutenant
Ridder gave Jack a hearty slap across the shoulders. "But, to go to
the Navy Department, you'll want citizen's clothes--not your present
uniforms, which are not official. I can send my auto to your boat, and
you can be back here in forty minutes, if you dress quickly."

"Ready for the word, 'forward,' sir,"