pleased for the time, went to his cabin to try to figure out
whether he were dreaming.

Quickly the "Sudbury" left her anchorage, proceeding downstream. As soon
as the start had been fairly made Ensign Fullerton reported at the
cabin of the young commanding officer. They worked out on the chart the
probable positions that the suspected schooner would take that afternoon.

"We should sight her at about five o'clock, sir, if she doesn't change
her course, and if the wind holds the same," said Ensign Fullerton.

"If we get the right craft, first off, it will be a short cruise, won't
it?" smiled Jack, rather wistfully.

"I--I--" began Ensign Fullerton, slowly, then paused.

"Well?" smiled Jack Benson.

"On second thought, I believe I had better not say what I started to
say," replied the ensign.

"Oh, go ahead, Fullerton," urged Jack. "It isn't easy to wound my
sensibilities."

"I was going to say, sir," replied the Ensign, flushing a bit, "that I
quite understand how you feel about a short cruise. The sensation of
holding a command in the United States Navy is one that you would not
care to give up too soon."

"I was thinking of something of the sort," Benson admitted. "But--see
here! On one point my orders don't quite enlighten me. If the suspected
schooner proves not to be the right are we to come back to report the
fact?"

"If you were so to order," replied Fullerton. "Yet you do not need to.
This vessel is equipped with wireless, and you are in instant
communication, at every moment of the day and night, with the Navy
Department at Washington."

"I'm glad of that," admitted Lieutenant Benson, frankly. "It will
lessen the danger of my making a fool of myself during my first and last
naval command."

"Not your last command, I hope," remarked the ensign.

"The only way I could get a permanent command," retorted Jack, "would
be to get appointed to Annapolis, if I could, and then work through the
long, long years for command rank."

"There are other ways," replied Ensign Fullerton, quietly. "And
especially, if a war should break out. Young men trained as finely as
you and your comrades, and showing as great talent, sir, would have no
difficulty in reaching important rank in a war of the future, when so
much must be risked on the submarine craft of which you young men are
masters."

"We have run a few submarine boats, I suppose," nodded Benson. "But none
of us has ever had the Annapolis train