om the rail.

This was to be accounted for partly by the fact that, immediately
after launching and sending away Jack's boat, Lieutenant Summers
dropped another overside from the davits, and, accompanied by Captain
Folsom, headed directly for the ladder of the strange sub chaser,
which was down. And those aboard had eyes only for him.

At the last minute, just as he was about to enter his boat, he saw
Frank and Bob watching him longingly from the rail. He smiled.

"Want to come along?"

Did they? The two chums tumbled down the ladder and into the boat so
quickly that the invitation was barely uttered when they already
occupied seats.

"Let us have a pair of oars, sir," said Bob, "for we can row, and
otherwise, if you brought other oarsmen in, we would be in the way."

"Very well," consented Lieutenant Summers. However, he detailed two
sailors to take the other pair of oars.

The boat bearing the boarding party drew up at the floating stage and
quickly Lieutenant Summers bounded over the rail, followed by Captain
Folsom, Bob and Frank, and the two sailors. The boys drew up in rank
with the latter, while the two leaders advanced a few steps. Nearly a
score in number, the crew of the strange sub chaser were grouped at
the foot of the bridge. None coming forward, Lieutenant Summers said
sharply:

"Lieutenant Summers, U. S. N., come aboard. Who commands here?"

There was no response. Instead, a struggle seemed to be going on
within the group, as if one of its members were trying to escape and
the others were restraining him. At a sign from Lieutenant Summers,
the sailors loosed the automatics swinging in holsters about their
waists, and prepared for trouble.

"We'd stand a fine chance of getting shot without being able to talk
back," whispered Frank to Bob. "Neither of us armed."

"Huh," Bob replied, out of the side of his mouth. "I'd grab me
somebody's gun."

The flurry, however, was short-lived. Suddenly, a shrinking figure was
expelled from the group of men, as if shot from a cannon's mouth. The
searchlight from the Nark was playing full upon the scene.

"There's your man," cried a voice, from the group. "Tryin' to hide, he
was."

The man looked up, fear and defiance in his features. He was
Higginbotham.

"Ah," cried Captain Folsom, sharply, taking a step forward, "so it is
you."

Higginbotham looked about desperately, as if seeking a way of escape.
But he was cut off at the rail by the guard from th