sad many times, to think that our parents were
separated from us, after we had not seen them for over two years."

"There is the dock. We will be off within fifteen minutes now. You must
allow me to conduct you to the consul's office; I know him very well,"
said the captain.

As the vessel touched the dock the captain turned to the boys, and said
with a wicked grin on his face: "Get your luggage, boys, and come on."

The boys laughed at the remark. "For my part," answered Ralph, "I had
forgotten that there was such a thing as luggage, or baggage, or
anything of that sort."

"Ralph! Ralph! who is that coming across the dock? Look! it is just like
father! I believe it is!" almost shrieked Alfred.

"It is! yes; I am sure of it; and there is mother, too," replied Ralph,
now all excitement.

"Of course, they are there; I knew it; I told you it would be all
right," said the captain with a jubilant voice.

The boys glanced at the captain, and Ralph turned his head slyly, as he
said: "And did you know they were here?"

"Well, I think they got my message this morning," replied the captain
with a laugh. "Where is your father; point him out," said the captain to
Alfred.

"The tall man with the gray overcoat; do you see him coming?--and there
is mother, too," shouted Alfred.

The boys were the first ones down the plank, closely followed by the
captain, the passengers standing by and witnessing the reunion of the
families.

The captain came forward and shook hands with Mr. Elton. "Thank you for
the wireless; we had about despaired, when it came to the hotel."

"I didn't tell the boys," replied the captain. "I left that pleasure for
their own eyes; and here are the mothers; how I must congratulate you on
having such sons. I know their worth."

"And is it true what they say about your doings with our boys, that you
captured the submarine, while it was under the water?" asked Mrs. Elton.

"Yes, that was true, and much more," answered the captain.

"We felt so proud about it," replied Mr. Elton, "and it was some
compensation for having been twice torpedoed within a week."

"What? did you say that you were torpedoed the second time?" asked
Ralph.

"Yes," replied Mr. Elton. "We were picked up by a ship, the next
morning, which was bound for New York. Two days afterwards, when out of
the danger zone, our ship went down, and we had to take to the boats.
This time we were picked up by a ship that landed us in Havre, thr