There was a light in the office, so Jack’s party went inside.  There they found Jacob Farnum at his desk, putting the finishing touches to a telegram.

“By Jove, I’m glad we went out after the poor fellows of the ’Mary Bond,’” cried Mr. Farnum, wheeling around.  “We found them in sore straits, in two small boats, with only a pair of oars to each boat, and the sea roughening up every minute.  They lost their fishing smack.  Their boat struck on the stump of a mast of a sunken derelict.  The smack sprung a big leak, this morning, and went down.  I’ve just written a telegram to the Navy Department, Mr. Danvers, advising them of the location of the derelict as well as I could gather it from the captain of the late ‘Mary Bond.’” With this, he handed Danvers the telegram he had written.

Lieutenant Danvers glanced at the telegram, and then handed it back with a smile.

“What do you mean, sir?” demanded Jacob Farnum, wonderingly.

“The telegram isn’t necessary—­that’s all,” replied the naval officer, with a smile.  “We encountered that same sunken derelict—­and Jack Benson blew her to smithereens!”

CHAPTER V

THE MYSTERIOUS ORDER COMES

That night a machinist was stationed aboard the “Hastings” to watch the in-coming of water through the slight leak, and to apply the pump occasionally.

In the morning the submarine was hauled up into an improvised drydock and her hull plates examined.  It was Lieutenant Danvers’s first chance to realize how superbly these Pollard boats were built and put together.  He examined the hull with unbounded enthusiasm.  Then a gang of workmen started in to replace the two injured plates.

For the next three days the “Benson” was used in target practice.  Jacob Farnum scurried up and down the coast, finding and buying suitable old craft for targets.

All three of the submarine boys had ample practice in the firing of torpedoes.  After it was all over there were but four of the loaded torpedoes left in the shed labeled “Danger.”

“If you could only have a little more practice,” grumbled Williamson, good-humoredly, “this would soon be a safe town for a fellow to take a quiet smoke in.”

The “Hastings” was now in the water once more, as sound and staunch as on the first day she was launched.

Then came a few days of idleness.  Lieutenant Danvers left Dunhaven, intending apparently to return soon.  Ewald and Biffens, the two sailors, were quartered at the hotel at government expense, and were likely to enjoy themselves until orders came.

Eph went home for two or three days.  Jack and Hal slept on board the “Benson,” while Williamson quartered himself aboard the “Hastings,” which craft no longer carried any torpedoes.

One afternoon, as Jack Benson was strolling through the shipyard, Jacob Farnum, in the doorway of the office building, called to the young skipper.