Chatting thus, as they strolled slowly back and forth, none of the submarine boys noted how long Radwin was gone.  As a matter of fact, that enterprising, rapidly-moving young man was away for nearly half an hour—­and he was tremendously busy on their account.

The Somerset stood on one of the older, quieter streets of Colfax.  At this time of the night there were not many passers.

“Here comes Radwin,” discovered Hal, at last.  “I had almost forgotten that he was coming back to us.”

“I thought he had forgotten,” laughed Jack.

Then all three turned to greet Mr. Radwin.

“How’s this?” he asked.  “Haven’t Mr. Rhinds and your friends come out yet?”

“They must be talking, yet, with the officers of the naval board,” suggested Eph Somers.

“They’re sure to be out presently,” nodded Radwin, after he had walked the submarine boys to the next corner.  “At least, Mr. Rhinds is, for he always takes a walk in the evening, after dinner.  Now, I’ve discovered the place where they serve the finest hot soda—­chocolate, at that.  I wanted to invite all hands there.  But I’m afraid Rhinds and your employers may come out and be looking for us.  Benson, do you feel like remaining here, to guide them along, while I take your comrades up to the place?  You can tell the older men where we are, and then Mr Rhinds will bring you all around.  He knows the place.  Come along, Somers and Hastings.  Benson, bring the older ones as soon as you see them come out of the hotel.”

“Why, say, Jack, you go along now,” urged Eph.  “You know I don’t care much about chocolate, and you do.  So run along.  I’ll stay right here until I see our people.”

“Good boy, Eph!” murmured Jack, gratefully.  “You know my weakness for hot chocolate.  I feel as if I could punish four or five of ’em right now.”

As he turned away with Jack and Hal, Mr. Radwin looked rather disappointed.  In fact, he was exceedingly disappointed, for he had hoped to leave Captain Jack Benson at this corner on the block below the hotel.

The street was practically deserted there.  Yet barely two minutes had passed when, about a block away, in the opposite direction from that of the hotel, Eph heard a quick little feminine scream.

Wheeling about, Somers saw something that aroused his blood.

A girl, or young woman, he could not tell which, at the distance, cowered back from a short, thick-set young man who had raised his hand to strike her.

The next instant Eph saw the blow fall.  Again the young woman cried out, though not very loudly.  But the brute seemed on the point of once more striking her.

“Wow!” sputtered Eph, angrily.  “We’ll see about that.”

On the run Somers went down the short block.  The bully, hearing him come, turned for a look, then darted away down the side street.

“I—­I beg your pardon,” stammered Eph, as the young woman turned, flashing a look at him through a thin veil.  “I—­I don’t want to interfere, but—­”