low bow, then turned away, for others
were approaching.

"Where is Hal?" asked Jack.

"Crickety! Look at him over there, talking to that little Japanese,"
muttered Eph, inclining his head toward a corner.

Hal and a Japanese were talking earnestly. At any rate, the little
brown man was. Hal was listening, occasionally shaking his head.
Then Hastings happened to espy his chums. He turned to the Japanese,
to take his leave, but the little brown man followed him across the
floor, still talking in low tones.

"Captain Nakasura has been trying to interest me in the idea that we
three go over to Japan, under a three years' contract, to act as
instructors and advisers in submarine work," Hal told his comrades.

"And I have high hope that you will see matter same as I do," smiled
the Japanese attache persistently.

"We shan't," Jack declared, shaking his head, emphatically. "Captain,
you are the third, representing also the third nation, that has just
approached us on this matter. We shall serve no other country than
our own."

"But my government," urged the Japanese officer, "will make you most
handsome offer."

"Do you remember the day when we were leaving Dunhaven, and you tried
to overtake us in a gasoline launch?" asked Jack, with a smile.

"Yes; very well," admitted Nakasura.

"Do you remember that we hoisted the signal, N.D.? That meant 'nothing
doing,' Captain. Our answer is the same, and will be, to-morrow and
the next year."

"Ah, here you are!" cried Lieutenant Abercrombie, as he hurried up and
Captain Nakasura vanished beyond middle distance. "Benson, dear old
fellow, I want just a word with you before dinner is served," continued
the Briton, thrusting his arm through Jack's and drawing him away after
a nod of apology to Hal and Eph. "Benson, I've had something on my mind
all day; something I have had instructions to broach to you. I have
been waiting for the right moment. Now, I must breathe just a word or
two, and then let you think it over during dinner, don't you know?"

"See here," smiled Jack, standing back, sudden suspicion in his eyes.
"Don't tell me you've been instructed to see whether I'll enter the
British submarine service."

"Just that, dear old chap!" beamed Abercrombie, enthusiastically. "But
how could you guess? Fact, though! And not only you, but Hastings
and Somers as well, don't you know!"

"You're the fourth to spring this on us tonight," answered Jack Benson,
s