yacht's captain and mate, neither of them
badly injured, had been freed.

Dry clothing had been secured for the ladies, and they were taken ashore.
Eghert Lawton was profuse in his expressions of gratitude, and declared
that he hoped to meet all hands of the submarine party again at an early
date indeed. Our friends learned, later, that the mutineers had been
sent to prison.

Now only her regular party was aboard the "Pollard." For half an hour
the little vessel had been running along, nearly submerged, and with the
searchlight not showing.

At Jack's report Commander Ennerling looked up from the compass he had
been studying by the shaded light that showed at only that point in
the tower.

"She's coming head-on toward us," said Ennerling. "Benson, Navy men are
handling that searchlight."

"You think so, sir?"

"No; I know it," was the dry rejoinder. "There's a way, in the Navy, of
swinging a searchlight; a way that no merchantman or yachtsman has ever
yet caught."

As yet the vessel behind the searchlight was not visible. Indeed, if she
were painted the dark gray color of the Navy craft, it would be some time
yet before her hull could show plainly at night.

Commander Ennerling used his glasses for some moments.

"Shall I answer with our searchlight, sir?" inquired the submarine boy.

"No, no, thank you. I'm more interested in seeing how close we can get
to that vessel, since she belongs to the Navy, before she succeeds in
picking us up with her light. It's of great practical value to know
just how close we can get to that other vessel, undiscovered, in the
night time."

"How close would you like to get to her?" inquired young Benson, a
smile playing about the corners of his mouth.

"Humph! I'd like to tie up to the other craft," muttered the Naval
officer.

"Well," propounded Jack, "what's to prevent us from doing it?"

"Several things. The watch that's kept aboard a Naval vessel under way,
for one thing."

"I'll try the trick, sir, if you'll stand for it."

Ennerling turned to stare at the boy in amazement.

"Benson, you've done several clever things, but now you're talking
nonsense."

"I don't say I can do the thing," rejoined Jack, "but would you like to
see me try?"

"Yes, if you take no risk of ramming the war ship, or doing any other
damage."

Captain Jack instantly shut off the speed, reversing, next allowing the
"Pollard" to stop and drift as she lay.

"What's that for?" a