“We have also been at the club at Fort Craven.”

“Oh!” smiled Lieutenant Ulwin.  “I guess you gentlemen have been about a little more in the two branches of the service, than I had suspected.  You have seen the officers of both the Army and the Navy at play?”

“Mostly at table, I should say,” laughed Benson.

“The club is the only place where we can go and get away from shop-talk,” continued Ulwin.  “As a rule the Army and Navy men at our club do not talk much shop.  It may be different to-day, however.”

“Why to-day?” asked Jack.

“Because—­well, you see, I am introducing three rather famous strangers to-day.”

“Meaning—­” began Hal, quietly.

“You young gentlemen, of course.  The whole nation has heard much about the submarine boys.  Yet it is in the Army and the Navy, after all, that the deepest, most abiding interest in you exists.”

“This red spot on my cheek isn’t a blush,” explained Ensign Eph, suddenly.  “It’s where a mosquito bit me.”

“I am not joking,” replied Ulwin, with a friendly smile.  “All the officers of the Navy know about you by this time.”

“They’ll be greatly disappointed, when they see us, then, won’t they?” laughed Hal Hastings.

“Now, see here,” protested Eph, earnestly, “I can stand a good deal.  But, if they see us walking around the club, and ask who left the lid off the can of shrimps—­I’ll fight!”

Ulwin laughed heartily.

“I shall have to pass the word to our worst jokers,” he smiled, “that it won’t be safe for the fellow who starts in to tease you young men.”

“Why, if anyone does start, we’ve got to keep our tongues behind our teeth,” returned Hal.  “We’re only boys—­kids—­and we can’t say anything smart to men who have been a good many years in the service.”

“You can answer back, if anyone starts to have any fun with you,” replied Lieutenant Ulwin.  “Remember, a club is where all men stand on an equal footing.  If an admiral gets after you, you will do well to swallow any witticism he may try on you.  But with any officer below an admiral you don’t have to be so careful.”

Eph Somers immediately began to look thoughtful.  Now, Eph did know how to say caustic things when occasion seemed to demand.

“Here we are,” announced Lieutenant Ulwin, suddenly, as the cab stopped before the club building.

Hal went in at Ulwin’s side.  Jack gripped Eph by the elbow, pulling the auburn-haired one back a few paces.

“Now, see here, Eph, remember that we don’t want any funny answers inside.”

“But Ulwin says—­”

“You listen to what I’m saying, Eph.  I’ve known you longer than Mr. Ulwin has.  Just remember that we’re boys—­b-o-y-s—­boys.  Not one of us is quite eighteen yet.  If we’ve gained a little fame for five minutes, we mustn’t begin to imagine that we’re eight feet high and on a par with men forty years old.  So be careful, Eph.  If anyone starts to have any fun with you, come back at him a different way.”