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You also know that all three of us have been practicing at telegraphy a good deal during the past few weeks, because every man who follows the sea ought to know how to send and receive wireless messages at need.” “Yes; I know that, Benson.” “Well, sir, I guess that the lead has been hitting the top of the ’Farnum’s’ hull, and I’ve been tapping out the signal—”

Now, if I can only get the same chance at the ’Farnum’s’ engines!” he muttered, to himself. “If I can, I think Mr. Jack Benson will find himself out of favor with his company, for his company will be out of favor with the Navy Department at Washington!” “The submarine boats when out in the Bay will keep abreast of the ’Hudson,’ two hundred yards off on either beam.

Reaching the inside of the conning tower at a bound, the young skipper rapidly manipulated his own electric signaling control. There was a low mast on theFarnum’splatform deck, a mast that could be unstepped almost in an instant when going below surface. So Captain Jack’s counter-query beamed out in colors through the night: “What’s your draught?”

Confound that ignoramus of a boy!” muttered Mr. Mayhew, walking slowly forward. It was no pleasant situation for the lieutenant commander. Having run his vessel ashore, he knew himself likely to be facing a naval board of inquiry. Hal, finding that the shore boat was not wanted for the present, had rowed over to theFarnum’smoorings. Now Jacob Farnum came alongside in the shore boat.

Eph and the boat, both together, or I miss my guess,” Captain Jack shouted back as he halted at the water’s edge, where a rowboat lay hauled up on the shore. Jacob Farnum’s face showed suddenly pallid as he, also, reached the beach. Hal, who was in the rear, did not seem so much startled. “Do you think Eph has gone off on a cruise all alone?—that he has come to any harm?” gasped the shipbuilder.

Why, the night watchman was in the yard for a few minutes, and I got him to put me on board. I figured I could hail somebody else when I was ready to go on shore.” “But what on earth made you do such a thing?” demanded Captain Jack, in a low tone. “It’s really more than you had a right to do, Eph, without getting Mr. Farnum’s permission.”

You three are to teach the midshipmen of the United States Navy the principles on which the Pollard type of boat is run. There; I’ve told you the whole news. What do you think of it?” Mr. Farnum’s cigar having burned low, he tossed it away, then leaned back as he lighted another weed.

It looks that way, doesn’t it?” laughed the young skipper. “And you’re the captain?” “Yes; but I can’t undertake to handle Mr. Farnum’s business for him.” “You’ll let me go aboard the craft to sleep for to-night, anyway?” coaxed Truax. “Why, that’s just what I’m not at liberty to do,” replied the young submarine captain. “No; I couldn’t think of that, in the absence of Mr. Farnum’s order.”

Again Benson played see-saw with his sounding-line over the boat’s gunwale. “If my lead isn’t hitting the ’Farnum,’” declared the young skipper, positively, “then it’s the ’Farnum’s’ ghost. Hold steady, now, Hal.” Immediately afterward, Benson caused the lead fairly to dance a jig on whatever it touched at bottom. “What’s the good of that, anyway?” demanded Jacob Farnum.

The most that he actually knew was that the pain in his head was tormenting. “I’ll pick him right up in my arms and carry him,” proposed Andrews. “I’ll take him to Mr. Farnum’s office. Then I’ll get a doctor.