naval officers on the deck of the "Waverly."

"There must be at least ten thousand people in that crowd," laughed
Lieutenant Featherstone. "I wonder whether they're more interested in
the boat, or its boy officers?"

"Are Captain Benson and his comrades really as clever as some of the
newspapers have made them out to be?" asked the woman doubtfully.

"Judging by letters I've had from friends who are officers at the Naval
Academy," replied Lieutenant Featherstone, "the young men must be very
well versed, indeed, in all the arts of their peculiar profession."

A cheer went up from the principal throng over at the beach. Smoke had
been sighted off on the eastern horizon, and this must come from the
long expected craft.

From boat to boat the news passed, and so it traveled to the deck of
the "Waverly," where the sailors received it with broad smiles. The
leader of the impromptu band raised his baton, rapping for attention.
But Lieutenant Featherstone, below, caught the leader's eye in time and
held up his hand for a pause.

"If you play, leader," called the officer, in a low voice that carried,
nevertheless, "don't imagine that your music is to welcome the 'Benson.'
Submarine boats don't travel under steam power. They can't."

So, too, on shore, the understanding was quickly reached that the smoke
did not indicate the whereabouts of the expected submarine. Half and
hour later it was found that the smoke came from the tug of a fruit