and, for a brief while, though you will
not have commissions, you will nevertheless be as actually officers of
the Navy as are any admirals on the list."

This astonishing statement almost took away the breath of the submarine
boys.

"You are familiar with navigation, Benson, and are a capable enough
sea-pilot along this coast. I learned that much, early this morning,
through Mr. Farnum's answer to my telegram."

"Then Mr. Farnum knows what we are going to do?" asked Jack, quickly.

"He doesn't," replied Secretary Sanders, with a shake of his head.
"Mr. Farnum knows, only, that you have a chance to be of some service
to the Navy. He seemed to be much pleased by our inquiry."

The Secretary had just touched an electric button on his desk. Now a
clerk entered the room.

"Telephone the secretary of the President," directed Mr. Sanders, "and
ask him whether the President has examined and approved the special
appointments that I sent over a while ago."

The clerk was quickly back, to say:

"The special appointments, Mr. Secretary, are duly approved, and are
now on their way over from the White House."

Two minutes later, a messenger entered, handing a sealed envelope to
the Secretary of the Navy.

Breaking the seal, Mr. Sanders drew forth three heavy, folded sheets
of parchment.

"Here you are, Mr. Benson," resumed the Secretary, handing over one of
the parchments. "This document confers upon you, for the time being,
the rank, pay and command of a lieutenant, junior grade, in the
United States Navy. You, Mr. Hastings, and you, Mr. Somers, will rank
as ensigns under your special appointments."

Jack's head swam a bit as he thanked Mr. Sanders; then he started to
glance over this marvelous document.

But the Secretary of the Navy now cut in, briskly:

"That is all, gentlemen. You know your instructions, in general,
Lieutenant Benson. You will now go to my chief clerk, who will swear
you into the service. He will also give you an order on a local tailor
for the uniforms of your ranks. In one hour and twenty minutes your
train starts south. On arrival at Norfolk you will report without an
instant's delay at the Navy Yard. Aboard the 'Sudbury' you will
receive all further instructions, wired from this Department. Good
morning, gentlemen."

Then, indeed, things moved fast. At the desk of the chief clerk of
the Navy Department the three budding naval officers stood with their
right hands raised whil