"Coming, sir."

"Coming?" jeered the lieutenant "So is Christmas!"

"The 'Benson' will be here first, sir," retorted Eph, splashing, then
blowing a stream of water from his mouth. "The 'Benson,' sir, is due
here in from twenty to thirty seconds!"

"What's that?" demanded the naval officer, sharply. Then a queer look
came into his face as a suspicion of the truth flashed into his mind.
He was about to speak when his feminine companion pointed, crying:

"What can that commotion mean out there?" There was a little flurry in
the waters, then a parting as something dull-colored loomed slowly up.

Barely a hundred feet away from the port rail of the gunboat the new
submarine boat, "Benson," rose into sight.

Eph Somers had left the craft, while still below surface, by means of
the clever trick worked out by Jack Benson and his comrades, as
described in "_The Submarine Boys' Trial Trip_."

Almost instantly the manhole cover was thrown open. Jack Benson, natty
as a tailor's model, in his newest uniform, stepped out on deck, waving
his hand to the gunboat.

"You'll have to consider that we got you, won't you, sir?" shouted the
young submarine captain.