pointing to the “Hudson.”

“On this cruise, yes, sir,” Jack nodded.

“Maybe, if I saw the fellow in command of the gunboat, then he’d give me
an order allowing me to come on board.”

“I’m very certain the lieutenant commander wouldn’t do anything of the
sort,” Benson responded.

The stranger gave a comical sigh.

“Then I’m afraid I don’t see a submarine boat to-night—that is, any more
than I can see of it now.”

“That’s about the way it looks to me, also,” Jack answered, smiling. “Yet,
believe me, I hate awfully to seem discourteous about it.”

“Oh, all right,” muttered the stranger, nodding to the two boatmen, who
had rowed him out alongside.

“Good!” grunted Eph. “I’m glad you didn’t let him on board, Captain. On
this cruise our luck doesn’t seem to run with strangers.”

“It doesn’t, for a fact,” laughed Jack Benson.

“Hi, ho—ah, hum!” yawned young Somers, stretching. “It will be mine for
early bunk to-night, I reckon.”

At this moment a boat was observed rounding the stern of the “Hudson.” It