rson. New York.

"Huh!" said the chief operator sleepily. "Ring for a cabin boy and send
it up to the bridge. Sign your own initials. G-good-night."

CHAPTER XXI

INTO THE DANGER ZONE

There was one part of the ship forbidden to passengers and all but
forbidden to crew, where Archibald Archer disported and which was a spot
of fascination to Tom in his numerous leisure hours. This was the
railed-off stretch of deck astern where Billy Sunday and the gun crew
held constant vigil. This enticing spot was irresistible to the ship's
boys, and they lingered at the railing of the hallowed precinct, the
bolder among them, such as Archer, making flank movements and sometimes
grand drives through the rope fence, there to stand and chat until they
were discovered by the second officer on his rounds.

The members of the gun crew who were not occupied in scanning the water
with their glasses were glad enough to beguile the tedium of the days
before the danger zone was reached in banter with these youngsters.

The next day after Tom's promotion Archibald Archer came running
pell-mell to the wireless room where he was reading in the berth.

"A submarine! A submarine!" he shouted at the top of his voice. "Come
ahead, Slady!"

The regular operator did not seem in the least concerned, but Tom,
roused out of his usual calm, followed Archer up the steps and to the
rope railing where several of the ship's boys were congregated.

"Let him see," commanded Archer.

Tommy Walters handed the marine glass to Tom. "Over there to the west,"
he said.

"It's just a periscope," said Archer. "See? See it sticking up?"

Looking far out over the water, Tom could see through the long glass a
dark, thin upright object which seemed to move as he looked at it.

"O-o-oh, ye-e-es!" he exclaimed, gazing intently. "It's a periscope,
sure!"

"Look over there to the west!" shouted Archer suddenly. "Is that another
one?"

Tom turned the glass to the westward, and sure enough, there was another
one.

"We're surrounded! There's a whole fleet of 'em! Oh, joy!" exclaimed
Archer. "Look there to the south!"

Tom looked, and to his great excitement there was another periscope.

"Now turn the glass upside down," said Archer.

Tom did so, and perceived to his amazement that the periscope stuck out
of the sky instead of out of the water.

By this time everybody was laughing, and Tommy Walters leaned against
the gun, shaking with glee.

"Now