achinists, aboard, also. You can send
Williamson back from Annapolis whenever you're through with him."

"Williamson is all right," nodded Jack, slowly. "But how about Truax?"

"I think he's going to be a useful man," Hal responded. "He seems familiar
with our type of engines. Of course, he knows nothing about the apparatus
for submerging the boat or making it dive. But he doesn't need to. Now,
Jack, old fellow, we're going along all right. Why not let Eph help you
back to your bunk, or one of the seats in the cabin, and have your sleep
out?"

"I've had it out," Benson declared, with a laugh. "I'm ready, now, to take
my trick at the wheel."

"Nonsense," retorted Hal Hastings. "I've been here a bare quarter of an
hour, and I'm good for more work than that. Jack, you're nothing but a
fifth wheel. You're not needed; won't be all day, and at night we anchor
in some harbor down the coast. Go and rest, like a good fellow."

"Can't rest, when I know I'm doing nothing," Benson retorted, stubbornly.
"Besides, this is the first time I've ever found myself moving along in
regular formation with the United States Navy. I feel almost as if I were
a Navy officer myself, and I mean to make the most of the sensation. Say,
Hal, wouldn't it be fine if we really _did_ belong to the Navy?"

"Gee-whiz!" murmured young Hastings, his cheeks glowing and his eyes
snapping.

"If we only belonged to the old Flag for life, and knew that we were
practising on a boat like this as a part of the preparation for real war
when it came?"

"_Don't!_" begged Hal, tensely. "For you know, old fellow, it can't come
true. Why, we haven't even a residence anywhere, from which a Congressman
could appoint one of us to Annapolis!"

"_One_ of us?" muttered Jack, scornfully. "Then it would have to be you.
_I_ wouldn't go, even as a cadet at Annapolis, and leave you behind in
just plain, ordinary life, Hal Hastings!"

"Well, it's no use thinking about it," sighed Hal, practically. "Neither
one of us is in any danger of getting appointed to Annapolis, so there's
no chance that either one of us ever will become an officer in the Navy.
Let's not talk about it, Jack. I've been contented enough, so far, but now
it makes me almost blue, to think that we can only go on testing and
handling submarine craft like these, while others will be their real
officers in the Navy, and command them in any war that may come."

Though his head throbbed, and though a dizzy spe