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Now, Eph did know how to say caustic things when occasion seemed to demand. "Here we are," announced Lieutenant Ulwin, suddenly, as the cab stopped before the club building. Hal went in at Ulwin's side. Jack gripped Eph by the elbow, pulling the auburn-haired one back a few paces. "Now, see here, Eph, remember that we don't want any funny answers inside." "But Ulwin says "
"You listen to what I'm saying, Eph. I've known you longer than Mr. Ulwin has. Just remember that we're boys b-o-y-s boys. Not one of us is quite eighteen yet. If we've gained a little fame for five minutes, we mustn't begin to imagine that we're eight feet high and on a par with men forty years old. So be careful, Eph. If anyone starts to have any fun with you, come back at him a different way."
"What are you doing these days?" McCrea wanted to know. "Anything besides testing new boats at Dunhaven?" "You must greet them as comrades, McCrea," continued Lieutenant Ulwin. "What? Cadets at Annapolis?" In this case McCrea wondered at their being there, for cadets would be considered forward who visited an officers' club. "Benson is a lieutenant, his friends ensigns," replied Ulwin.
Jack answered. "Your acquaintance with our Service clubs is not very large, then?" "We have also been at the club at Fort Craven." "Oh!" smiled Lieutenant Ulwin. "I guess you gentlemen have been about a little more in the two branches of the service, than I had suspected. You have seen the officers of both the Army and the Navy at play?" "Mostly at table, I should say," laughed Benson.
Excusing himself to his host, Ulwin, and to some of the officers with whom he had been chatting, the leader of the submarine boys went quickly to the coat-room for his hat, then descended in the elevator. "Vairee strange place, zis, for a lady to follow a zhentleman to hees club," drawled a French captain.
"If our own government doesn't want us, no other government can have us. We stand by our own Flag." "Eh? What is this?" muttered Lieutenant Ulwin, coming unexpectedly upon the pair. "Foreign government competing for you lads, Benson? This won't do!" "Which is what I have just had the honor of telling Mr. Abercrombie," smiled Jack, earnestly.
"They'll be greatly disappointed, when they see us, then, won't they?" laughed Hal Hastings. "Now, see here," protested Eph, earnestly, "I can stand a good deal. But, if they see us walking around the club, and ask who left the lid off the can of shrimps I'll fight!" Ulwin laughed heartily.
The whole nation has heard much about the submarine boys. Yet it is in the Army and the Navy, after all, that the deepest, most abiding interest in you exists." "This red spot on my cheek isn't a blush," explained Ensign Eph, suddenly. "It's where a mosquito bit me." "I am not joking," replied Ulwin, with a friendly smile. "All the officers of the Navy know about you by this time."
"Come, just the same," begged Ulwin. "The members don't expect too much of fellows who are traveling." Jack was glad of the walk, because it helped to take the stiffness out of the knee that had been struck. "You let the cab driver go, did you!" asked Eph, as the submarine boys walked along together. "Yes," nodded Jack. "I had no orders concerning anyone like him.
"Come, come!" laughed McCrea. "I'm easy these boys know that. But don't tell me " "Fact, though," replied Ulwin. "They hold special appointments, for some special duty or other. I'm here, at the direction of the Navy Department, to introduce these young brother officers of ours, and to procure ten-day cards for them." By this time the news had spread.
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