uttered
Eph.

Jack, none the less, decided to wait and think the matter over.

Supper over, the submarine boys, for want of anything else to do, sat
and read until about nine o'clock. Then Jack looked up.

"This is getting mighty tedious," he complained. "What do you fellows
say to getting on shore and stretching our legs in a good walk?"

"In town?" grinned Eph, slyly.

Jack flushed, then grinned.

"No!" he answered quietly; "about the Academy grounds."

"I wonder if it would be against the regulations for a lot of rank
outsiders like us to go through the grounds at this hour?"

"Rank outsiders?" mimicked Jack Benson, laughing. "You forget, Hal,
old fellow, that we're instruct--hem! civilian instructors--here."

"I wonder, though, if it would be in good taste for us to go prowling
through the grounds at this hour?" persisted Hal.

"There's one sure way to find out," proposed Benson. "We can try it,
and, if no marine sentry chases us, we can conclude that we're moving
about within our rights. Come along, fellows."

Putting on their caps, the three went up on the platform deck. The
engine room door was locked and Williamson and Truax had already turned
in. There was a shore boat at the landing. Jack sent a low-voiced
hail that brought the boat out alongside.

"Will it be proper for us to go through the Academy grounds at this
hour?" Jack inquired of the petty officer in the stern.

"Yes, sir; there's no regulation against it. And, anyway, sir, you're
all stationed here, just now."

"Thank you. Then please take us ashore."

At this hour the walks through the grounds were nearly deserted. A few
officers, and some of their ladies living at the naval station, were out.
The cadets were all in their quarters in barracks, hard at study, or
supposed to be.

For some time the submarine boys strolled about, enjoying the air and
the views they obtained of buildings and grounds. Back at Dunhaven
the air had been frosty. Here, at this more southern port, the October
night was balmy, wholly pleasant.

"I wonder if these cadets here ever have any real fun?" questioned Eph
Somers.

"I've heard--or read--that they do," laughed Hal.

"What sort of fun?"

"Well, for one thing, the cadets of the upper classes haze the plebe
cadets a good deal."

"Humph! That's fun for all but the plebes. Who are the plebes, anyway?"

"The new cadets; the youngest class at the Academy," Hal replied.

"What do they