The Chevalier d'Ouray began to look as though he realized he had a harder
task before him than he had expected.

"So you see, sir," Jack went on, "it will not be in the least worth your
while to try to tempt us. Come what will or may, we are under the
American flag for life. You yourself, Chevalier, wouldn't leave the
French flag to serve this country, Great Britain or Germany."

"No; but zat is deeferent, for I, monsieur, am French."

"And we are American," Jack responded.

"I will leave you, now, zen, gentlemen," replied the Frenchman, in a
tone of disappointment. "But I shall not go away before to-morrow. If
you change ze mind--or weesh to hear w'at I have to mek ze offer--"

"Thank you," nodded Jack. "But don't waste any more time on us,
Chevalier. And now--good-bye!"

The Chevalier d'Ouray shook hands with them all most gallantly. Eph felt
somewhat ashamed of his late nonsense, and, to prove it, hit the
Chevalier d'Ouray a friendly slap on one shoulder that set the Frenchman
to coughing.

"Say," muttered Jack, as the three now hurried along the street, "I begin
to wish I had a good umbrella."

"Humph! You'd look great with one," retorted Hal. "You, who have stood
on the platform deck of a submarine for hours, steering unconcernedly,
when the skies were trying to drown you."