l need to report back aboard,
ready for duty, by eight in the morning."

Jack thanked the naval commander, then hastened back to the "Farnum" to
communicate the news.

"Me for the shore trip," declared Eph, promptly. All the others agreed
with him.

"I'll come back by ten o'clock to-night, though," volunteered Sam Truax.
"One of the crew ought to be aboard."

"We'll stay ashore," decided Jack, "and return in the morning."

"I'm coming back to-night," retorted Truax.

"Keep still, and follow orders," muttered Eph, digging his elbow into
Truax's ribs. "The captain gives the orders here."

Jack, however, had turned away. Within five minutes a boat put off
from shore, bringing two soldiers of the marine guard alongside with
them, in the shore boat, was a corporal of the guard.

"Any of your crew coming back to-night, asked the corporal.

"None," Benson answered. "Will you instruct the sentries to see that
none of the crew are allowed aboard during the night?"

"Very good, sir."

The shore boat waited to convey them to the landing. Before going,
young Captain Benson closed and locked the manhole entrance to the
conning tower. A sullen silence had fallen over Truax. The
instructions to the corporal of the guard, and the prompt acceptance
of those instructions, told Sam, beyond any doubt, that he was not
coming back on board that night. Truax followed the others as they
passed through the Academy grounds. Beyond the large, handsome
buildings, there was not much to be seen at night. Lights shone behind
all the windows in Cadet Barracks. Nearly all of the cadets of the
United States Navy were in their quarters, hard at study. Here and
there a marine sentry paced. A few naval officers, in uniform, passed
along the walks. That was all, and the submarine party had crossed the
grounds to the gate through which they were to pass into the town of
Annapolis.

"Coming with us, Truax?" asked Williamson, as the party passed out into
a dimly lighted street.

"No," replied the fellow, sullenly. "I'll travel by myself."

"You're welcome to," muttered Eph, under his breath.

The others climbed the steps to the State Capitol grounds, continuing
until they reached one of the principal streets of the little town.

"Say, but this place must have gone to sleep before we got ashore,"
grumbled Eph. "Hanged if I don't think Dunhaven is a livelier little
place!"

"There isn't much to do, except to wander about a b