pass above
and embark on the cutters. He remained behind long enough to say to
the three submarine boys:

"You have done splendidly, gentlemen--far better than I expected you
to do. If you manage the sea instruction as well, in the days to come,
our cadets will have a first-class idea of the handling of the Pollard
boats."

"I wish, sir," Jack replied, after thanking the officer, "that the
cadets were not required to say 'sir' to us. It sounds odd, and I am
quite certain that none of the young men like it."

"It is necessary, though," replied Mr. Mayhew. "They are required to
do it with all civilian instructors, and it would never do to draw
distinctions on account of age. Yes; it is necessary."

When the second squad of cadets arrived, in the afternoon, the three
submarine boys found themselves ready for their task without misgivings.
Eph took more part in the explanations than he had done in the forenoon.
Then came a third squad of cadets, to be taken over the same ground.
The young men of both these squads used the "sir" at once, having been
previously warned by one of the naval officers.

"That will be all for to-day, Mr. Benson, and thank you and your friends
for some excellent work," said Lieutenant Commander Mayhew, when the
third squad had filed away.

"Say, for hard work I'd like this job right along," yawned Eph Somers,
when the three were alone in the cabin. "Just talking three times a
day--what an easy way of living!"

"It's all right for a while," agreed Jack. "But it would grow tiresome
after a few weeks, anyway. Lying here in the basin, and talking like a
salesman once in a while, isn't like a life of adventure."

"Oh, you can sigh for adventure, if you wish," yawned Eph. "As for me,
I've had enough hard work to appreciate a rest once in a while. Going
into the town to-night, Jack?"

"Into town?" laughed the young skipper. "I went last night--and some
of the folks didn't do a thing to me, did they?"

"Aren't you going to report the robbery to the police?" demanded Hal,
opening his eyes in surprise.

"Not in a rush," Jack answered. "If I do, the police may start at once,
and that mulatto and his friends, being on the watch, will take the
alarm and get away. If I wait two or three days, then the mulatto's
crowd will think I've dropped the whole thing. I reckon the waiting
game will fool them more than any other."

"Yes, and all the money they got away from you will be spent," m