“Benson, by all that’s horrible! How did he come to be in that fearful
shape? He must have been in one of the worst resorts within miles of
Annapolis!”

“This isn’t the first time the young man has come back the worse for
wear,” the lieutenant commander continued, under his breath. “His friends
were loyal enough to him, that time. I wonder if they can be, to-day?”

One of the shore boats, waiting about in the Basin, put young Benson
aboard the “Farnum” as soon as he explained who he was. Hal and Eph stood
awaiting the coming of their young commander, their faces full of concern
and anxiety. Both gripped Jack’s hand as soon as he gained the platform
deck of the submarine.

“Come below,” whispered Hal. “We’ll talk there. You need a bath and to get
into a uniform as quickly as you can.”

This need Jack Benson proceeded to realize without an instant’s delay.
While he washed himself off, in one of the staterooms aft, he talked
through the door, which had been left ajar. He continued his story while
he dressed.

“We were fearfully anxious this morning,” Hal confessed. “I went to sleep
last night, and didn’t know of your absence until this morning. Then Eph
and I decided to come on down to the boat to see if you were here. We were
just planning to send quiet word to the Annapolis police when Eph spotted
you coming.”

“And Truax?” inquired Captain Jack.