"No; 'N.G.' will stand for 'no grouch.'"

Somers joined heartily in the laugh that followed.

Just as they were finishing a really good meal, for which every
breakfaster had a royal, salt-water appetite, a steamer's whistle was
heard, not far off to port.

"I'll bet that's the Army tug!" muttered Captain Jack, rising hastily
from the table. "Tell you what, fellows, we've got to begin to have
something like Navy discipline aboard this craft. In that case, we'd
have had breakfast over an hour ago."

Jack was off up the steps as though pursued. Eph went after him as soon
as that youth with the sun-kissed hair had time to pull on his visored
cap and button his blouse. No matter what the need of haste, Somers
never appeared on deck looking less natty than a veteran naval officer.

Forward, on the tug, stood a major of engineers, a young lieutenant
beside him.

"Good morning, Mr. Benson," hailed Major Woodruff. "We're going to try
to come in close enough to put a gang-plank over. Can you take a bow
line from us?"

"Yes, sir," Captain Jack saluted the Army officer, and Eph hurried to
receive the line.

In less than two minutes Major Woodruff and Lieutenant Kline were on the