the Navy, but we wear a uniform that is
very much like the uniform of a naval officer, all but the insignia
of rank. What is the consequence? Every sailor we meet sees the
uniform, and says 'sir' to us by sheer force of habit. Why, you both
know that a good many sailors who pass us give us the regular salute.
Yet these two fake sailors hailed me as 'messmate' and were as familiar
in every other way as they knew how to be."

"Gracious! When they spoke to me, I never thought of that little point,"
confessed Hal.

"So I told the pretended sailors," continued Captain Jack, "that I'd run
down to the hotel, and that I'd be right back."

"Did you tell anyone where you were going?" demanded Eph.

"No one was there that I knew. Instead, I slipped into the telephone
room, at the side of the lobby, and called up the chief of police.
I happened to get the chief himself on the wire. He thought I was a
drunken sailor, or else that I was out of my head. But he finally
agreed to have some detectives on hand to see the sailors take me away
in tow."

"Then--?" pursued Eph.

"Why, then I waited long enough to give the detectives a chance to reach
the scene. Then I went back and walked into the trap with the fake
sailors."

It was a story that was hugely enjoyed by the young submarine captain's
comrades.

"But who would put up such a queer job on us?" demanded Hal.

"It must be some one who didn't want us to man a Pollard boat in
to-morrow's speed test, of course," nodded Jack. "It seems like a mean
thing to say, and we ought to be sure, but I believe Rhinds and Radwin
are the offenders."

The more the submarine boys talked it over, the more they were inclined
to fall in line with the guess that Rhinds and Radwin had been behind
their troubles.

"Some one has got to suffer for this business, before we get through!"
cried Captain Jack, his eyes flashing ominously. "But come, now,
fellows, we must go to bed, for we must have enough sleep if we're to
be good and fit in to morrow's race."

It was rather late, that evening when Messrs. Farnum and Pollard, still
with John C. Rhinds, returned to the Somerset House.

"I don't see our youngsters about, anywhere," muttered Jacob Farnum.
"But their room keys are gone from the clerk's rack, so I guess they've
turned in, like sensible fellows."

They did not know that Radwin himself had secretly removed the keys in
order to create the impression that the boys were in bed.