ed
out into the bay.

"I hope we shan't run into a gang of hoodlums again," said the
sailorman respectfully.

"I have my revolver with me," smiled the lieutenant. "The Italian
police would feel grateful if I sank its six bullets into six bravos
of Naples."

CHAPTER XIV

DAN HAS VERY "COLD FEET"

Rap-tap!

That sound brought Dave Darrin out of a sound sleep. Dan slumbered on.

"Who's there at this hour of the night?" asked Dave, through the door,
in the best Italian he could muster.

"From the 'Hudson,'" came the answer, in a voice so low that Dave did
not recognize it.

"One minute, then."

Dave slipped back, shaking his chum to rouse him, then drew the
curtains around Dalzell's bed.

In record time Dave drew on his own shirt, slipped into trousers, put
on collar, cuffs and tie, and followed this with coat and vest.

Then he stepped to the door, opening it. Repressing his natural cry of
astonishment, Dave silently admitted his visitors, next closed and
locked the door.

"Orders from the Admiral," said Lieutenant Totten, in an undertone,
and passed over the envelope.

Stepping under the light which he had hastily turned on, Darrin read
his orders.

"Read this, Dan," said Dave, passing the letter of instructions to his
chum, who was now also fully dressed. "Then I will read it once more,
after which we will burn it."

"Suits me," commented Dan, when he had finished and was passing back
the letter. "I've always wanted to see Paris."

"You won't see much of it this time," smiled Ensign Dave. "This is
business, and nothing else."

Then Dave tore the letter into strips. Taking these to the open
fireplace he set fire to them. All three officers watched until the
letter had been completely burned.

"And now," Dave continued, "I will mix this charred paper thoroughly
with the ashes that, fortunately, are left in the grate."

When he had finished, the mixing had been done so well that they would
be keen eyes, indeed, that could note the presence of minute particles
of burned paper in the grate's contents. His next act was to telephone
the hotel clerk to send up a time-table.

"We have plenty of time, yet," smiled Darrin, glancing at his watch,
after he had finished consulting the time-table. "It won't be the
height of comfort to travel to Paris without baggage. However, when
we get there we can buy anything that we may need."

"It will be great to shop in Paris," cried Dan, his eyes gleamin