“Several things.  The watch that’s kept aboard a Naval vessel under way, for one thing.”

“I’ll try the trick, sir, if you’ll stand for it.”

Ennerling turned to stare at the boy in amazement.

“Benson, you’ve done several clever things, but now you’re talking nonsense.”

“I don’t say I can do the thing,” rejoined Jack, “but would you like to see me try?”

“Yes, if you take no risk of ramming the war ship, or doing any other damage.”

Captain Jack instantly shut off the speed, reversing, next allowing the “Pollard” to stop and drift as she lay.

“What’s that for?” asked Commander Ennerling.

“I’m going to try,” replied Jack, with a laugh.  “Oh, Hal!”

Hastings came at once up aloft with them.  His mouth opened in a broad grin as he listened to his chum’s rapid sentences.

“And now ask Eph to come up here,” finished Jack.

As Somers reached his young chief Benson demanded: 

“Eph, see that light?  Commander Ennerling is sure it belongs to a Naval vessel.  We’re going to try to tie up to her while she’s going at cruising speed.”

“Say, that’s like you!” burst from Eph Somers, an admiring grin showing in his face.

“Eph, have you sufficient nerve to get into your bathing suit like lightning, and go overboard with a lantern and a rocket or two, with only a state-room door to float on?”

“Of course,” nodded Eph.  “The sea’s not rough, and a state-room door is big enough to ride on.  But you’re not going to leave me marooned, are you?”

“Not likely,” laughed Jack.  “You’re right in the path of the approaching vessel, Eph, and they’ll see your rockets and lantern.  They’ll pick you up.”

Eph’s face went suddenly solemn.

“Say,” he muttered, “I’ll have a real interesting time trying to make some sort of an explanation, won’t I?  What shall I tell them if they do pick me up?”

“Tell ’em anything you like, except that the ‘Pollard’ is trying to tie up,” responded Jack.

“That all?” demanded Eph, with a grin.  “If it is, I’m off to get into my traveling clothes.”

“Hurry,” nodded Jack.  “Send Hal up to the wheel, while I explain the whole thing to Mr. Farnum.  But, commander, what if that shouldn’t be a Navy vessel?”

“It is,” responded Ennerling, with emphasis.  “It’s the gunboat ‘Massapeqna.’  She’s in these waters just now.  You’ll find I’m right.”

Jacob Farnum began to laugh heartily when he caught the whole of Captain Jack Benson’s new idea of a sea joke.

Eph was quickly in his bathing suit.  He and Jack unhinged a stateroom door, carrying it up through the conning tower.  Hal, in the meantime, under orders, had attended to bringing the “Pollard’s” platform deck briefly above water.

The movements of the searchlight ahead convinced the submarine boat’s observers that the gunboat’s watch officer had not yet detected the presence of so small and unlighted an object as the “Pollard,” miles away.