days--"

"Oh, I don't believe anything of that sort," broke in Hal, shaking his
head. "I don't believe any country in the world is aching to pick a
quarrel with us."

"Not while the United States pocket-book is such a fat one, and so well
built for paying war expenses," grinned Eph. Then his look became more
solemn, as he added:

"But we don't want ever to get into a naval condition where it will be
easy for some other country to snatch that fat pocket-book out of our
hands."

"Let's go along, fellows. Drowning and confusion to all possible foes
afloat," proposed Hal, the one who could never see "war" on the horizon.
"After a winter on hot sodas, it'll be a relief to know that the
druggist put in icecream soda to-day."

So the three boys turned and made their way to the drugstore. While
they were exploring with spoons the bottoms of their glasses, the
street door opened. Herr Professor Radberg looked in, then came in,
beaming condescendingly on the young men.

"Ach! You young men are just the ones I wish to see," he exclaimed,
resting one hand on Eph's shoulder, the other on Hal's.

"Lots of folks will pay for that privilege," declared Eph, solemnly.

"Yes? Well, I will pay, too--you shall see. I shall look for you at