n of the Navy
Department, to introduce these young brother officers of ours, and to
procure ten-day cards for them."

By this time the news had spread. A score of officers, young or
middle-aged, were crowding about. Ulwin had his hands full introducing
the submarine boys. Yet they stood the ordeal well. The habit of
command, based on discipline, had given these boys plenty of poise and
self-possession. Nor were any attempts made, at that time, to have any
good-humored fun with them. Half a dozen officers representing foreign
navies were present. These, too, came in for introductions. The
foreigners were, mainly, military or naval officers attached to foreign
embassies at Washington.

"By Jove, Benson, I've had it in mind, for some time, that I wanted to
meet you and grasp your hand," murmured Lieutenant Abercrombie, of the
British Navy, as he drew Lieutenant Jack to one side. "By Jove, old
fellow, I want to meet you soon and have a good old talk all by
ourselves."

"That will be most agreeable to me," nodded Jack, pleasantly.

"And your comrades, too," added Abercrombie. "You know, you're already
known on the other side. Fact, I assure you. Only the other day I
picked up a London magazine and read quite an account of the doings of
you three. I was especially interested in an account of how you three
discovered a way of leaving a submarine at the bottom and swimming to
the surface; then diving and re-entering the craft while she's still on
the bottom. But your method is a secret, I suppose?"

"Yes," smiled Jack. "At least, the American Navy alone shares the
secret with us."

"Oh, I'm not asking it, you know, old fellow," Lieutenant Abercrombie
assured him.

"Is Mr. Benson here?" called a bell-boy, from the doorway.

"Very much so," replied Lieutenant Ulwin, dryly.

"May I give you a message, sir?" asked the bell-boy, coming closer.

After excusing himself, Benson stepped aside with the boy. Yet the
latter spoke loudly enough for several to overhear.

"There's a lady, downstairs at the door, would like to see you, sir.
She says it is very, very important, sir."

"Did she give any name?" inquired astonished Jack.

"No, sir; she begged you would overlook that, sir, and just step down
to the door for a few moments."

"All right; I'll go," nodded Benson. "But it looks queer."

Excusing himself to his host, Ulwin, and to some of the officers with
whom he had been chatting, the leader of the s