a third man, dressed in ordinary citizen attire. He was a man of about
twenty-eight, dark, smooth-faced, slender of figure, yet
broad-shouldered.

"Lieutenant Danvers," called Mr. Farnum, smiling broadly, "I want to
present my submarine boys to you. First of all, Jack Benson, our
young captain."

Realizing that his question had been overheard, Jack went forward with
a very red face, holding out his hand. With a quiet smile, Lieutenant
Frank Danvers, U.S. Navy, took the boy's hand. Then Hal and Eph were
presented.

"I see that I was mistaken about the molasses," laughed Jack.

"Nothing as sweet as all that about the Navy, eh?" smiled Mr. Danvers.
"However, my delay in getting here was due entirely to delay in official
orders. I am now on the ground, however, and ready for prompt--"

At this moment the outer door shot open with a bang. Hal looked out
into the corridor to see what had caused the disturbance.

"Look a-here!" sounded the voice of machinist Williamson, in an injured
tone. "Here I am, looking about for a quiet place for a five minutes'
smoke. Captain Benson sends me out to the 'Hastings,' telling me that
it will be all right there. So I light my pipe on the platform deck
and go below. Great Jehosh! The first thing I run on to is a couple
of torpedoes, about a mile long and two hundred yards thick, loaded up
with gun-cotton or pistol-satin enough to blow the ocean up into the
sky. And I haven't had my smoke yet!"