Ewald and Biffens were there, at one of the tables, but the sailors seemed to be eating in more haste than usual.  Then, as they left the dining room, they saluted the young captain and engineer.

“Hurrying back to the yard, sir?” asked Ewald.

“No,” said Jack, quietly.

“That’s queer.  Them’s our orders.  We’re going now, sir,” replied Ewald.

“You and I appear to be the only two in Dunhaven who don’t know what is up,” observed Hal Hastings, dryly.

“I don’t believe Ewald or Biffens know what is on hand,” Jack answered.  “They’ve orders to report back in haste.  That’s all.”

“Then hadn’t we better hurry back to the yard, too?” inquired Hastings.

“No; we haven’t any orders.”

“But Mr. Farnum may be wondering where we are.”

“Then the sailors can tell him; they know.”

Jack dawdled over his supper.

“Going back to the yard now?” asked Hal.

“No; to the bookstore.”

“Hm!” muttered Hal.  “I begin to think you’re going to keep Mr. Farnum guessing, to pay him back in his own coin.”

“No; I’m going up to the store to pick out a small stack of books.  Hal, I believe we’re going on a cruise, and I mean to have something to read.”

“I wonder if you know more than you’ve told me?” mused Hal, aloud.

“Not a blessed thing.  I’m on the guessinglist, and I’m doing the best I know how at guessing.”

Hal didn’t say any more, but accompanied his chum to the book-store.  There was a package for each of them to carry when they came out.  Then they headed down, toward the shipyard.

It was well on toward one o’clock by the time that the chums stepped through the gate into the yard.

“Mr. Farnum is still at his office.  That’s late for him,” remarked Hal.

“Maybe some one has him on the guessinglist, too,” laughed Benson

The night watchman came forward out of a shadow.

“Boss wants to see you young gentlemen,” announced the watchman.

So Jack and Hal turned in there.  As they entered the office a scene of “solid comfort” met their eyes.  Shipbuilder and naval officer were lounging in easy chairs, smoking Havanas until the air was thick and white with the smoke.

“Sailing orders, Jack,” announced Farnum.

“All right, sir,” nodded the young skipper, looking at his watch.  “I can pull out inside of twelve minutes.”

“But you don’t have to,” laughed Farnum.  “You have until morning.  Where do you suppose you’re going?”

“I don’t know, sir.”

“Curious, Jack?”

“I don’t care where we’re going,” Benson smiled back.  “When it’s a matter of business all parts of the earth look alike to me.”

Lieutenant Danvers laughed heartily.

“Benson, lad,” exclaimed the naval officer, “you’ve got the real make-up to serve in the Navy.  It’s a pity we had to lose you.”