ers. "A submarine
boat could get away again, without leaving a trail. In these days no
other kind of pirate craft could long escape."

So the passengers had joked each other about the submarine boat that
would meet them, and rob the liner of its precious cargo. Bets had
laughingly been offered that the submarine pirate would be encountered
off the coast of the United States.

Now, when the little craft shot up in the path of the big one, the bow
watch of the "Greytown," and a dozen passengers standing up in the
bow, saw the little boat at the same time.

"There's the pirate!" shouted one nervous woman, leaping up and down, and
pointing. "Oh, Captain! Captain! Save us from all being murdered!"

Two or three young children, who also saw the floating, queerly-shaped
little craft dancing on the waves just off the steamship's starboard
bow, began to scream in terror.

Even several of the men, who should have known better, experienced a
shock of fright for a moment.

The "submarine pirate" that had been joked about for so many days, now
seemed a thing of reality.

Down amidships, on the main deck, a pretty girl had sat, balanced on
the rail, her stalwart brother standing by to hold her securely.

Yet, in the excitement that followed, the girl uttered a shriek and
tottered. Her brother's hold was loosened for the instant, in his
own bewilderment. Before he could recover, the girl had plunged down
toward the water. With a frantic yell, the brother leaned too far
out to seize her. He, too, plunged over the rail.

How either escaped being drawn in toward the great hull was marvelous.

But now both appeared in the foam astern, bobbing on the water, yet
far apart.

The "Farnum" was near by. Midshipman Osgoodby threw the helm over
once more, then started in to get closer to them.

At the same time he passed the word below. Captain Jack Benson was
the first to reach the tower.

In an instant the young submarine skipper threw the power off.

"We can't go closer without the danger of running 'em down," quivered
the submarine boy.

The instant he had the power off Captain Jack threw the manhole cover
of the tower open. As he bounded out on the platform deck several of
the midshipmen followed, with Ensign Trahern and others.

No sooner had his feet touched the platform deck than Jack threw down
his cap. His blouse followed, almost in the same instant. Racing to
the rail, the submarine boy calculated his