things, or explain them." went on Mlle. Nadiboff, resting a hand
pleadingly on his sleeve "My Captain, if need be, I shall send for you.
Do not fail me! You won't?"

It looked as though the tears lay just behind her eyes. The submarine
boy felt that the situation was becoming too interesting, so he lifted
his cap once more as he turned on his heel.

"Mlle. Nadiboff," he sent back to her, "I trust you will never want for
the most reliable friends."

He turned down the veranda to go toward the office door, when he
encountered another surprise.

Leaning against one of the posts stood Kamanako, as natty and trim as
though he had come from the tailor's.

Looking up with a most friendly smile, the little Japanese saluted.

"Why, how do you do?" Jack greeted him, halting. "I had an idea you
had left Spruce Beach."

"I should have done so, but I started too late," replied Kamanako,
still smiling. Nothing ever daunts that Japanese smile. One of these
little men, being led away to have his head chopped off, goes with
a smile on his little brown face.

"Started too late?" asked Jack. "How was that?"

"Now, you laugh at me," replied the Japanese.