mployed by anyone else, you will appreciate the need of obeying an
owner's orders."

"You're under the orders of the boss of that gunboat?" asked the stranger,
pointing to the "Hudson."

"On this cruise, yes, sir," Jack nodded.

"Maybe, if I saw the fellow in command of the gunboat, then he'd give me
an order allowing me to come on board."

"I'm very certain the lieutenant commander wouldn't do anything of the
sort," Benson responded.

The stranger gave a comical sigh.

"Then I'm afraid I don't see a submarine boat to-night--that is, any more
than I can see of it now."

"That's about the way it looks to me, also," Jack answered, smiling. "Yet,
believe me, I hate awfully to seem discourteous about it."

"Oh, all right," muttered the stranger, nodding to the two boatmen, who
had rowed him out alongside.

"Good!" grunted Eph. "I'm glad you didn't let him on board, Captain. On
this cruise our luck doesn't seem to run with strangers."

"It doesn't, for a fact," laughed Jack Benson.

"Hi, ho--ah, hum!" yawned young Somers, stretching. "It will be mine for
early bunk to-night, I reckon."

At this moment a boat was observed rounding the stern of the "Hudson." It
came up alongside, landing a marine sentry.

"Anybody on the 'Farnum' want to go ashore to-night?" hailed a voice from
the gunboat's rail. "The shore boat will be ready in five minutes."

"I believe I would like to take just a run through the village," declared
Jack, turning to his chum. "Do you feel like a land-cruise with me, Hal?"

"I think I'd better go," laughed Hastings. "You seem to get into trouble
when you go alone."

"All right, then. And, Eph since you're so sleepy, you can turn in as soon
as you want. The boat will be under sufficient protection," Jack added,
nodding toward the marine slowly pacing the platform deck.

Williamson was called too, but declared that he felt like turning in
early. So, when the shore boat came, it had but two passengers to take
from the submarine. There were a few shore-leave men, however, from the
gunboat.

"This boat will return to the fleet, gentlemen, every hour up to
midnight," stated the petty officer in charge, as Jack and Hal stepped
ashore at a rickety little wharf.

"Judging from what we can see of the town from here, we'll be ready to go
back long before midnight," Jack Benson laughingly told his companion.

"All I want is to shake some of the sea-roll out of my gait," nodded
Hastings. "It surel