“What do you want to board us for?” demanded Curtis, pausing.

“We will explain when we come aboard.”

“How are you coming, aboard?  You’ve no small boat”

“We can land this submarine right up beside you,” responded the midshipman, “if you keep straight to your present course.”

“And scrape all the paint off our side,” objected Curtis.

“That has no bearing on my instructions, sir.  I direct you to keep straight to your present course.  We will come up alongside.”

“What if we don’t do it?” demanded Curtis, with sudden bluster.

“Then your danger will be divided between being shot where you stand and having your craft cut in two by the bow of our craft,” retorted Mr. Terrell.  “You will realize, I think, that there can be no parleying with our orders.”

The bearded one swore, but the corporal and his two marines stood at the rail with their rifles ready, waiting only the midshipman’s order to aim and fire.

Eph allowed the “Farnum” to fall back a little way.  Then he exerted himself to show his best in seamanship as he ran the submarine up to board the sloop by the starboard quarter.  The two boats barely touched.  Mr. Terrell, his three marines and two seamen leaped to the standing room of the yacht.  Eph, all aquiver, let the nose of the “Farnum” fall back slightly.  Then he trailed along, under bare headway.

Then a shout came from the sloop, as the two seamen reappeared, bearing the forms of Jack and Hal.

“We’ve found them aboard, Mr. Somers,” shouted Terrell.  “Drugged, I think, sir.  Will you some alongside, sir.”

Eph quickly rang the signal, then did some careful manoeuvering.  As he touched, one of the marines leaped back to the platform deck, then passed a line to Mr. Terrell.  The two craft were held together until Jack and Hal had been passed, still unconscious, over the side.  The naval party quickly followed, then cast loose from the sloop.

“This whole proceeding is high-handed,” growled Curtis, as soon as he saw that he was not to be molested.

“Oh, you shut up, and keep your tongue padlocked,” retorted Midshipman Terrell, in high disgust.  “You’re lucky as it is.  Now, Mr. Somers, are you going back to the bay, sir?”

“Aren’t you going to take those two—­body snatchers?” demanded Eph, glaring venomously at the pair on the sloop.

“My instructions don’t cover that, sir,” replied the cadet midshipman.

“Then hang your orders!” muttered young Somers, but he kept the words behind his teeth.  Eph veered off, next headed about, while the two seamen bore Jack and Hal below to their berths.

“Will you take the wheel, Mr. Terrell?” asked Eph, edging away, with one hand on the spokes.

“Yes, sir.”

Eph hurried below to the port stateroom.  Jack lay in the lower berth, Hal in the upper.  The two seamen, after feeling for pulse, stood by looking at the unconscious submarine boys.