m of
each pin were inscribed the words:

_"From The Battalion of Naval Cadets In Keen Appreciation of Admirable
Instruction."_

"I do not believe," smiled Mr. Mayhew, "that anyone of you will hesitate
about wearing this pin on vest or coat lapel. The gift is a simple one,
but it practically makes you honorary members of the United States Navy
of the future, and I'm glad of it."

Jack, in a voice that was somewhat husky and shaky, expressed thanks,
as best he could, for himself and mates.

Then Lieutenant Commander Mayhew held out his hand.

"Mr. Benson, as you're leaving us, I want to express to you again my
regret at having, for a while, believed you to be very different from
the real Benson that I am now glad to know."

"Why, sir, I surely can't blame you for what you thought," smiled Jack.
"In fact, I feel that I owe a tremendous lot to you for your patience
when things looked as black against me as they did."

Jack and his friends, however, did not succeed in getting away from
Annapolis until the entire battalion had a few minutes' leisure
immediately following the noon meal.

Then the late crew of the "Farnum" had to shake hands rapidly all around.
Just before they were summoned back to their duties, the assembled
members of the battalion had time to give three rousing cheers just as
the carriage bearing our young friends to the railway station rolled
away.

It was not long after that the "Farnum" was sold to the United States
Government. Even before the sale took place, Jacob Farnum received by
express a box of handsome mementos sent to Jack Benson by Elsie
Carruthers and her brother.

The time has come, now, to leave the submarine boys, though only briefly.
We shall hear of their further doings in the next volume of this series,
under the title: "_The Submarine Boys and the Spies; Or, Dodging the
Sharks of the Deep._" This stirring tale of the ocean will deal with
the efforts of the boys to protect the secrets of the Pollard submarine
system from the foreign spies who beset them with treachery, violence,
threats and bribes. It is a narrative full of intense interest.

***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SUBMARINE BOYS AND THE MIDDIES***

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