Within fifteen minutes the craft were surrounded by small boats from shore.  Some of these contained merchandise that it was hoped sailors would buy.  Other boats “ran” for hotels, restaurants, drinking places, amusement halls, and all the varied places on shore that hope to fatten on Jack Tar’s money.

“I’d like to go ashore, sir,” announced Sam Truax, approaching Captain Jack.

“When?”

“Now.”

“For how long?”

“Until ten o’clock to-night.”

“Be back by that hour, then,” Jack replied.  “If you’re not, you’ll find everything shut tight aboard here.”

Truax quickly signaled one of the hovering boats, and put off in it.  Eph watched the boat for a few moments before he turned to Captain Jack to mutter: 

“Somehow, I wouldn’t feel very badly about it if that fellow got lost on shore!”

CHAPTER VI:  TWO KINDS OF VOODOO

On the second day of the cruise Jack Benson returned to full duty.

For four nights, in all, the submarine squadron tied up at moorings in harbors along the coast.  On the fifth night, as darkness fell, the squadron continued under way, in Chesapeake Bay, for Annapolis was but three hours away.

Immediately after supper Captain Jack took his place in the conning tower.  He concerned himself principally with the compass, his only other task being to keep the course by the “Hudson’s” lights, for the parent boat supplied in its own conduct all the navigation orders beyond the general course.  The “Farnum’s” searchlight was not used, the gunboat picking up all the coast-marks as they neared land.

“Annapolis is the place I’ve always wanted to see,” Jack declared, as Hal joined him in the conning tower.

“It’s the place where I’ve always wanted to be a cadet,” sighed Hal.  “But there’s no chance for me, I fear.  Jack, I’d rather be an officer of the Navy than a millionaire.”

“Same here,” replied Jack, steadily.  “It’s hard to have to feel that I’ll never be either.”

As she entered the mouth of the Severn River the “Hudson” signaled to the submarines to follow, in file, the “Pollard” leading.  A little later the three craft entered the Basin at the Academy.  While the gunboat anchored off the Amphitheatre, the two submarine boats were ordered to anchorage just off the Boat House.  Then a cutter came alongside.

“The lieutenant commander’s compliments to Mr. Benson.  Will Mr. Benson go aboard the ’Hudson’?” asked the young officer in command of the cutter.  Captain Jack lost no time in presenting himself before the lieutenant commander.

“Mr. Benson,” said Mr. Mayhew, after greeting the submarine boy, “your craft will be under a marine guard to-night, and at all times while here at the Naval Academy.  If you and your crew would like to spend the night ashore, in the quaint little old town of Annapolis, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t.  But you will all need to report back aboard, ready for duty, by eight in the morning.”