to puzzle me."

"Have you young men ever been on a military post before?" inquired
Major Woodruff, as he led them up from the dock.

"Never sir," replied Jack. "We have seen considerable of Navy life, but
this is the first time we've ever been at a fort."

"You don't see much about this place, do you," laughed the engineer
officer, "that makes you think of a fort?"

"Not much," Benson admitted.

"Yet we have a fighting plant here that could prevent a big fleet,
indeed, from getting far up the bay at the important cities beyond.
That is," Woodruff continued, thoughtfully, in a low voice, "if the
enemy, in advance of his coming here, doesn't know all about our defenses
through the work of spies."

Just at the point near the dock, Fort Craven looked not unlike the yard
of a big factory plant. Wagons going and coming constantly heightened
this effect. Beyond, past the plain, on one side, Major Woodruff
pointed out the barracks of the Coast Artillery, of the Engineers
soldiers, and of the Infantry. There were also laborers' quarters,
several office buildings, a hospital, a chapel, and two streets of
cottages that served as quarters for the officers stationed at Fort
Craven.

It was into one of these officers' streets that Major Woodruff soon led
his three young companions. Admitting the boys to his home, the major