you know that?" demanded Bourne. "Shouldn't have
thought that the yarn had had time to travel very far. Hope I haven't
been boring you?"

Vernon took his courage in his hands.

"It was Ross who cut the halliards," he announced. "We were both on
board, and jumped overboard just in time, and got hold of a lifebuoy
dropped from the _Tremendous_ as she passed."

"By Jove!" ejaculated the Lieutenant. "I am surprised. I wondered
whether you were picked up. It was a jolly plucky action. But how did
you get on board the unterseeboot?"

"Aye, out with it!" added the Admiral. "I heard that you were missing,
of course, and also of your return. Truth to tell, I thought when I
got your letter that the pair of you had been acting the goat, and had
run away to sea and had thought better of it."

"We didn't run, sir, we were carried," explained Ross. "And Dr.
Ramblethorne was responsible for it."

Admiral Sir Peter Garboard was not satisfied until he had heard the
complete story of his young friends' adventures. When they had
finished he turned to his nephew.

"Young Haye and his chum came to see me on a private matter," he
remarked, "but I don't think they will object to your hearing what we
have to say."

"Are you quite sure you won't?" asked Bourne, addressing the lads.

"Both Trefusis and Haye are supposed to be going in for Sandhurst,"
continued Sir Peter. "Although, candidly speaking, I don't see why a
naval man should want to put his son in the Army."

"In my case it is only following a family precedent," said Ross. "For
generations back the eldest son has alternately been in the Navy and
Army."

"And in my case it is the force of circumstances," added Vernon. "When
I was of the age to be sent to Osborne I was a puny little chap. The
doctor wouldn't pass me."

"You've altered a bit since then, I can see," remarked Bourne. "You
look as strong as a young horse now."

"Yes, I've grown out of my early ailments, I think," said Vernon.

"Pity the doctor hadn't passed you," said Sir Peter bluntly. "Ten or
eleven is too young an age for any medical man to express a final
opinion upon. I remember a fellow in the Service who was nearly blind
on one eye and almost as deaf as a post. He got through the
medical--influence, I expect. Anyway the Navy was none the worse for
it. You'll remember him by name, Cecil: he was my secretary on the
China Station. Funny thing about him was that he couldn't see to