,
kicking Delicate's foundations from under him, also.

The crowd yelled with laughter, and the breath went out of poor Slim
with a terrible snort, as Delicate came down squarely upon Slim's
stomach. And thus, the most ludicrous sight imaginable, they went
sliding under the tape.

"All bets are off," shouted the other man who had been boxing; "they
broke before the finish."

Side by side, too breathless to articulate, the two fat youths lay there
gasping for breath, while those gathered about them made mock gestures
of "first aid to the injured." Nobody had been hurt, however, and the
victims of the prank took it in the way it had been intended.

Delicate, whose real name was Remington Bowman, proved to be as good a
sportsman as Slim, and they went down the deck arm in arm when the mess
call was sounded. And it was evidence of the good fellowship of the
owner of the plum pudding that he did share it with both of them
directly after the meal was over.

"You fellows earned it," he said. And they agreed that they had.

* * * * *

That evening it was Joe's turn to do watch in the wireless room with
Lieutenant Mackinson until eleven o'clock, at about which time the young
officer retired to his bunk just off the operating room, and Slim came
on, to work until three a. m., when he was relieved by Jerry, who stayed
until seven o'clock, at which time the lieutenant again assumed charge
until relieved by Joe.

It was a standing order, however--at least until the younger men became
more experienced with the wireless--that Lieutenant Mackinson
immediately should be apprised of the sending or receiving of any
messages.

This first evening out the lieutenant complained of a headache, and,
acquiescing in Joe's urging, had gone upon deck to get the air. Perhaps
fifteen minutes had elapsed when Joe thought he heard someone prowling
about stealthily in the battery room.

His first thought was that the lieutenant had returned to make certain
that everything was all right, but a moment's consideration convinced
him otherwise.

Whoever was in the adjoining room was making every effort to keep his
presence there from becoming known!

It gave Joe a queer sort of feeling. What should he do? To seek the
lieutenant and bring him back might require several minutes. Meanwhile
the intruder might accomplish his object--whatever it was--and
disappear.

He decided to act upon his own initiative. Tiptoei