on board?" smiled
Captain Jack. "As you will remember, we found the shore rather too
lively the last time we were there."

"Things happened because you boys got out of our sight," chuckled the
shipbuilder, quietly. "That's the point. What you youngsters need is
a brace of guardians. So, while you're to go on shore, Dave and I will
go along, and you're not to get out of our sight. Remember that."

"We'll be safe, then," nodded Eph, sagely. "I surely do want to stretch
my legs, and take a yawn or two where a sea-gull won't flap down my
throat."

Of course, the idea of going on shore really appealed to all hands. So,
half an hour later, a shore boat put off with them all, leaving Grant
and his men still in charge.

"I wonder what the next test is going to be?" asked Jack.

"I shall have to refer you to the members of the naval board, and they
won't tell until this evening," replied Mr. Farnum. "That's one of
their rules--no news until the evening before. That prevents too much
time being spent in preparation. One of the objects of these tests is
to find out how well the different types of submarines can do things on
short notice."

"That's right," nodded Captain Jack, thoughtfully. "Really, when you
come to think of it, submarine torpedo boats are short notice craft
anyway."

"And, best of all, with no notice whatever to the enemy," broke in Eph.
"In future wars it's going to give a good deal of comfort to a fellow
to think that he serves on a submarine, instead of on a battleship."

"Where are you going to stop on shore, Jake?" inquired Pollard.

"At the Somerset," responded Mr. Farnum.

"Then we're likely to run into that Rhinds-Radwin crowd."

"We can stand it, if they can," replied Farnum, compressing his lips
grimly. "Our consciences are cleaner than theirs."

Indeed, in passing from the lobby to the breakfast room, where the
Pollard party intended to take coffee, Messrs. Rhinds and Radwin were
encountered just as they were coming out.

"Ah, good morning, gentlemen," hailed John C. Rhinds, halting and holding
out his hand. Fred Radwin, too, beamed cordially upon the enemy.

"'Morning," replied Jacob Farnum, ignoring the outstretched hand of
Rhinds. Radwin's ready-made smile, too, was overlooked, as the Pollard
submarine party filed by into the breakfast room.

"I don't believe they'll waste any make-believe cordiality on us, after
that," grimaced Mr. Pollard, as he dropped into a chair