f the boss of that gunboat?" asked the stranger,
pointing to the "Hudson."

"On this cruise, yes, sir," Jack nodded.

"Maybe, if I saw the fellow in command of the gunboat, then he'd give me
an order allowing me to come on board."

"I'm very certain the lieutenant commander wouldn't do anything of the
sort," Benson responded.

The stranger gave a comical sigh.

"Then I'm afraid I don't see a submarine boat to-night--that is, any
more than I can see of it now."

"That's about the way it looks to me, also," Jack answered, smiling.
"Yet, believe me, I hate awfully to seem discourteous about it."

"Oh, all right," muttered the stranger, nodding to the two boatmen,
who had rowed him out alongside.

"Good!" grunted Eph. "I'm glad you didn't let him on board, Captain.
On this cruise our luck doesn't seem to run with strangers."

"It doesn't, for a fact," laughed Jack Benson.

"Hi, ho--ah, hum!" yawned young Somers, stretching. "It will be mine
for early bunk to-night, I reckon."

At this moment a boat was observed rounding the stern of the "Hudson."
It came up alongside, landing a marine sentry.

"Anybody on the 'Farnum' want to go ashore to-night?" hailed a voice
from the gunboat's rail. "The shore boat will be ready in five minutes."

"I believe I would like to take just a run through the village," declared
Jack, turning to his chum. "Do you feel like a land-cruise with me,
Hal?"

"I think I'd better go," laughed Hastings. "You seem to get into
trouble when you go alone."

"All right, then. And, Eph since you're so sleepy, you can turn in as
soon as you want. The boat will be under sufficient protection,"
Jack added, nodding toward the marine slowly pacing the platform deck.

Williamson was called too, but declared that he felt like turning in
early. So, when the shore boat came, it had but two passengers to take
from the submarine. There were a few shore leave men, however, from,
the gunboat.

"This boat will return to the fleet, gentlemen, every hour up to
midnight," stated the petty officer in charge, as Jack and Hal stepped
ashore at a rickety little wharf.

"Judging from what we can see of the town from here, we'll be ready to
go back long before midnight," Jack Benson laughingly told his
companion.

"All I want is to shake some of the sea-roll out of my gait," nodded
Hastings. "It surely doesn't seem to be much of a town."

By way of public buildings there turned out to be a church,