r tell me a little more, Mr. Benson," pursued
the unknown naval officer.

"Why, it was like this, sir," Jack continued. "My two friends--Hastings
and Somers--and myself were talking about the West Point and Annapolis
hazings, of which we had heard and read. We were talking about the
subject when a cadet came along. I suggested to Somers that we ask the
cadet about hazing. Well, sir, to make a long story short, some of the
cadets undertook to show us just how hazing is--or used to be--done
at Annapolis."

"Oh! Then it was all thoroughly goodnatured, all in the way of a joke,
to show you something you wanted to know?" asked the naval officer,
slowly.

"That's the way I took it," replied Jack. "So did Hastings and Somers.
We've enjoyed ourselves more than anyone else here has."

This was truth surely enough, for, in the last two minutes, not one of
the cadet midshipmen present could have been accused of _enjoying_
himself.

"Then what took place here, Mr. Benson, really took place at your
request?" insisted the naval officer.

"It all answered the questions that we had been asking," Jack replied,
promptly, though, it must be admitted, rather evasively.

"This is your understanding, too, Mr. Hastings?" demanded the officer.

"Surely," murmured Hal.

"You, Mr. Somers?"

"I--I haven't had so much fun since the gasoline engine blew up,"
protested Eph.

"We entered most heartily into the spirit of the thing," Jack hastened
on to say, "and feel that we owe the deepest thanks to these young
gentlemen of the Navy. Yet, if our desire to know more about the
life--that is, the former life--of the Academy is to result in getting
our entertainers into any trouble, we shall never cease regretting our
unfortunate curiosity."

For some moments the naval officer regarded the three submarine boys,
solemnly, in turn. From them he turned to look over the cadet
midshipmen. The latter looked as stolid, and stood as rigidly at
attention, as ever.

"Under this presentation of the matter," said the officer, after a
long pause, "I am not prepared to say that there has been any violation
of discipline. At least, no grave infraction. However, some of these
young gentlemen are, I believe, absent from their quarters without leave.
Mr. Merriam?"

"I have permission to be absent from my quarters between nine and ten,
sir."

"Mr. Caldwell?"

"Absent from quarters without permission, sir."

So on down through the list th