The Submarine Boys and the Middies The Prize Detail at Annapolis

little stateroom aft. He had it to himself, the nurse having been put on

et. His clothes were hung neatly on nails against the wall. On

sounding unsteady. "Gracious! What could have happened?

e. He went on with his dressing. Finally, with his blouse buttoned as exactly as ever, and his c

hed the bottom of the short spiral stairway leading up into the conning tower. Up there, in the helmsman's seat, he esp

your captain, eh?" Jack called, in a

lated Hal, looking do

ton connecting with a

ere with you," J

ipper's side. True, Jack's head swam a bit dizzily as he climbed the stairs, but Eph's strong support ma

Hastings's next greeting, but Jack was looking

ly behind. About three hundred yards away, ab

e other side of the gun

a

Hal n

rew aboa

taken full possessi

this boat? Ju

rnum put Williamson, one of the machinists, aboard, also. You can se

t," nodded Jack, slowly

thing about the apparatus for submerging the boat or making it dive. But he doesn't need to. Now, Jack, old fellow, we're g

ed, with a laugh. "I'm ready, no

r more work than that. Jack, you're nothing but a fifth wheel. You're not needed; won't be al

ound myself moving along in regular formation with the United States Navy. I feel almost as if I were a Navy officer m

Hastings, his cheeks glow

new that we were practising on a boat like this as a

an't come true. Why, we haven't even a residence anywhere, fr

to be you. I wouldn't go, even as a cadet at Annapolis, and

er one of us ever will become an officer in the Navy. Let's not talk about it, Jack I've been contented enough, so far, but now it makes me almost blue, to think tha

eside his chum, for an hour. Then, disdaining aid, he crept down the stairs, stretching himself out on one of the cabin

ave a little look at the

x, an ho

You'll stay here in the engine room. Jack Be

look at him," protested Truax, moving toward the

by the sleeve of the oily jumper that

y about me?" demanded Eph,

do the

at, when I'm crossed in anything my mind's made up to, I can be tarnation ugly. I just told you I don't want the captain disturbed.

e. Yet, when he turned his head away, there was

on as Eph found him awake, that young man brought the captain a plate

cing the tray on the cabin table. "Wait a minute

ce for a fellow when he's

where your friends are," ca

warm food he felt his st

r all these hours," muttered Captain Jack, uneasily

to shift the wheel a little to port, or to starboard, just so as to keep the proper interval from the 'Dad' boat. Besides, I've been up there

, though he sa

calling the gunboat the 'Dad boat

und up Eph, glancing at his watch. "It's after half-past three at th

l, it was pleasant not to have any immediate duty, for his head th

ose?" wondered the boy. "I've had some enemies, in the past, but I don't know

worthy had come with a note from David Pollard, the inventor of

ugh he did not doze. At last, however, he heard the engine room bell sound for reduced s

rt, Hal?"

. "We'll be at anchor

slowly to the door

e shut off speed, take Truax above

rged Sam Truax. "I don't know anythi

rned Eph Somers, "if you're to

man up with you,"

und to face him with

ou heard the captain's o

of that," uttered S

t follow every order you get aboard this boat,

?" jee

first boat that

I'm on board by David P

ua

e's sole judge of everything here when this boat is cruising. If you were here by the orders of both own

mph

The signal be

skly. "I've got the engine to run

t later headway speed ahead was ordered. So on Eph went through the series of orders until the "Farnum" had been ma

w, there, to h

mson," directed Eph. "C

lliamson go,"

grily. "Hustle, too, er I'll report you to the captain for disobe

y brief battle within himself. T

ack shouted down. "We

the conning tower at the port side. A naval launch had

called briskly, "and make the

of the "Farnum," Hal sounded the engine room signals and steered until the boat had gotten close en

e "Hudson," which lay a short distance away. Jack, looking up,

k acknowledged, salut

her two submarine char

ovis, one of the town

overnight was to be r

should b

merchandise that it was hoped sailors would buy. Other boats "ran" for hotels, restaurants, drinking

sir," announced Sam Tr

a

he

ow

how l

n o'clock

replied. "If you're not, you'll fin

and put off in it. Eph watched the boat for a few

very badly about it if tha