"_Don't_!" begged Hal, tensely. "For you know, old fellow, it can't
come true. Why, we haven't even a residence anywhere, from which a
Congressman could appoint one of us to annapolis!"

"_One_ of us?" muttered Jack, scornfully. "Then it would have to be
you. I wouldn't go, even as a cadet at Annapolis, and leave you
behind in just plain, ordinary life, Hal Hastings!"

"Well, it's no use thinking about it," sighed Hal, practically. "Neither
one of us is in any danger of getting appointed to Annapolis, so there's
no chance that either one of us ever will become an officer in the Navy.
Let's not talk about it, Jack I've been contented enough, so far, but
now it makes me almost blue, to think that we can only go on testing
and handling submarine craft like these, while others will be their real
officers in the Navy, and command them in any war that may come."

Though his head throbbed, and though a dizzy spell came over him every
few minutes, Jack Benson stuck it out, up there beside his chum, for
an hour. Then, disdaining aid, he crept down the stairs, stretching
himself out on one of the cabin seats. Eph brought him a pillow and a
blanket. Jack soon slept, tossing uneasily whenever pain throbbed
dully in his head.

"Guess I'll go out and have a little look at the young captain," proposed
Sam Truax, an hour later.

"Try another guess," retorted Eph, curtly. "You'll stay here in the
engine room. Jack Benson isn't going to be bothered in any way."

"I'm not going to bother him, just going to take a look at him,"