"Poor old Eph!" muttered Jack. "Tough luck, and at a bad time for us."

"We'll take you 'round to where your messmates are," volunteered the
sailor. "Hastings was particular that you come at once."

"I'll get a carriage to bring Mr. Somers home in," Jack suggested.

"Oh, your messmate, Hastings, has sent a feller for a carriage," broke
in the first sailor, hastily.

"Good enough," Jack nodded. "Then say, boys, I'll just run back to the
hotel. I left Radwin in there. I'll be right back with you. You'll
wait for me, surely, won't you?"

"Oh, sure!" chorused both sailors. Then, as Jack Benson scurried down
the street, the two supposed sailors turned to each other, chuckling
softly.

"Sure we'll waits" repeated one of the pair.

It was several minutes ere Jack returned, coming up almost breathlessly.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, boys," he spoke, hastily. "But I'm here at
last."

"Oh, that's all right, messmate. Come along and we'll pilot you straight
to your friend, Winter--"

"Somers," corrected the other sailor.