esent had any idea that _he_ could be caught and made to pay the
penalty.

As the meal progressed Lieutenant Commander Wales finally turned to
one of the Filipino waiters and inquired:

"Is there any of the rare roast beef left?"

"Don't you know yourself, Wales?" demanded Totten quickly.

"Why, er--no-o," admitted Mr. Wales, looking much puzzled. "Why should
I?"

"Then haven't you asked a question that you can't answer?" demanded
Totten mischievously.

"That's hardly a fair catch, is it?" demanded the navigating officer,
looking annoyed.

"It is not a fair catch," broke in the executive officer incisively.
"Any gentleman here has a perfect right to ask the waiter questions
about the food supply without taking chances of being subjected to a
penalty."

"I bow to the decision, sir," replied Lieutenant Totten. "I merely
wished to have the question settled."

Some of those present breathed more easily; others yet dreaded to
become victims of a penalty proposition that many now regretted having
voted for.

As the dessert came on Dan Dalzell turned to Dave.

"Darrin," he said, "can you tell me why it is that a woodchuck never
leaves any dirt heaped up around the edge of his hole?"

Dave reflected, looking puzzled for a moment. Then he shook his head
as he answered:

"Dalzell, I'm afraid I don't know why."

"Of course _you_ know why, Dalzell," broke in Lieutenant Barnes
warningly.

"Perhaps I do know," Dan replied, nodding his head slowly. "However,
perhaps some other gentleman would like the chance of answering the
question."

Instantly a dozen at least of the officers became interested in
answering the question. To each reply or guess, however, Dalzell shook
his head.

"If everyone who wants it has had a try at the answer," suggested the
executive officer, "then we will call upon Mr. Dalzell to inform us
why a woodchuck, in digging his hole, leaves no dirt piled up around
the entrance."

There was silence while Dan replied easily:

"It's perfectly simple. Instead of beginning at the surface of the
ground and digging downward, the woodchuck begins at the bottom of the
hole and digs up toward the light and air."

As Dalzell offered this explanation he faced Lieutenant Barnes, who
was eying him scoffingly.

When Dan had finished his explanation there was a puzzled silence for
an instant. But Dan's half-leer irritated Lieutenant Barnes. Then came
the explosion.

"Shaw!" snorted Barnes. "That's a