"Where are you going? Down to the yard?"

"Not yet. Mr. Farnum hasn't given us any instructions about hanging
around."

"Oh!" responded Lieutenant Danvers, with a quizzical smile. "Well, I
must be leaving you, now."

Hal gazed after the shore-bound naval officer for a few moments, then
observed, dryly:

"I'm not a bit curious. Are you, Jack?"

"Of course not," smiled the young skipper. "All I want to know is what's
in the air so suddenly."

"Going back to the yard earlier?"

"No; later," retorted Benson. "What is the use of letting folks suppose
they have our curiosity aroused?"

In fact, when evening came on, instead of going to the "Benson" for
supper, Jack and Hal stopped at the hotel.

Ewald and Biffens were there, at one of the tables, but the sailors
seemed to be eating in more haste than usual. Then, as they left the
dining room, they saluted the young captain and engineer.

"Hurrying back to the yard, sir?" asked Ewald.