ly. "Oh, well, with a few more turns of
the screw we can easily get away from that launch."

For some moments Captain Jack paid no especial heed to the launch
bearing down upon them on the port side. He noted only, at the distance,
that the launch contained two men. Presently, however, as the launch
came nearer, Captain Benson made a discovery.

"Eph," he gasped, "look over there! Are my eyes going back on me, or is
that a Japanese in the bow of the launch?"

"Japanese?" gasped Eph Somers, in turn. "Nothing but!"

Eph made a swift dive for the box that contained the signal flags used
in the international marine signaling code. Moving swiftly, young
Somers selected the two flags representing "N" and "D." These he strung
to the halliard of the short signal mast forward. Nor was he ahead of
time, for by this time the launch had described part of a circle, and
was coming up alongside.

In the bow of the launch stood the Japanese, smiling, and holding a
megaphone in his hand.

"Submarine, a-ho-o-o-oy!" came the hail. "Will you slow down? I have
something to say to you."

Up flew the signal flags, fluttering in the breeze. Then Eph snatched
up a megaphone, holding the smaller end to his mouth.

"Launch ahoy!" he shouted back. "Just tell your folks that you saw
our signal!"

The Japanese read the fluttering flags, then called back:

"N.D.? What does that mean?"

Hoarsely Eph Somers bellowed back:

"_Nothing doing!_"

CHAPTER III

THE MAN WHO MARKED CHARTS

It was a little before midnight when the "Spitfire" came to anchor in
Craven's Bay, after having been piloted to anchorage by a quartermaster's
tug that put off from Fort Craven on signal.

"Fine place, if your searchlight is keen enough," yawned Eph, gazing off
into the darkness.

Eph and Williamson had slept through the evening, after supper, and were
now to take the night watch tricks, the machinist's deck watch
beginning at once and lasting until four in the morning.

About an hour after daylight, Eph Somers deserted the deck, except for
occasional intervals. After a while the odor of coffee and steak was in
the air. Then, snatching up a bugle, Somers sounded the reveille
tumultuously through the small cabin of the submarine torpedo boat.

Not long did the other members of the crew take to turn out and dress.
They came out into the cabin to find Eph trotting between table and
galley, putting things on the table.

"This se