ter this there was an examination of the guns and carriages, with a
lecture by Lieutenant Bell; an examination of the gun-lift battery and
the hydraulic lifts, and the wonderful Buffington-Crozier
disappearing-carriages, and a look over the site of the new artillery
post to be known as Fort Hancock. Then luncheon was served.

In spite of the many interesting things which he had seen and to which
he had listened, Merriwell could not get his thoughts away from Barney
Mulloy. He had already obtained consent for the party to be taken on the
launch to Sea Cove and Glen Springs at once, after luncheon. Thinking of
these things and with his head full of the plans for discovering the
secret of the happenings at Glen Springs, he walked round the works
again, viewing the emplacements and the big guns, but with his thoughts
far enough away from the things on which his eyes rested.

Suddenly he was attracted by a cry. It seemed to come from the air, and
it made him think of the apparition and the ghostly footsteps. But when
he glanced up he saw Danny Griswold's head protruding from the muzzle of
a large coast-defense cannon. Merriwell was astonished, though such a
piece of recklessness was just like Danny. It was not that Frank feared
any peril to Danny from the gun, but the officers and gunners would be
indignant, no doubt, if they caught the little joker playing
hide-and-seek in that way with one of their pets.

"I'll give him a scare," he thought. "He is getting altogether too
fresh."

"Danny Griswold, that gun is loaded, and they are going to fire it!"
Merry cried, with well-simulated fear.

Danny's red head came farther out, like the head of a tortoise issuing
from its shell.

"Then I suppose I shall be able to get out of here!" Danny chirped. "I
can't do it, unless I am shot out. I slipped in here easy enough, but
I've grown, I guess, for I can't slip back."

"How did you get in there, anyway?"

"Climbed in."

"I'm afraid you will have to climb out."

A gunner came hurrying upon the scene.

"Wh-what?" he sputtered.

"Our little friend is in need of assistance. If he gets out of there he
will never play cannon-ball again."

"If you will just fire me!" Danny begged, not a bit abashed.

The gunner was not at all willing that Danny's plight should be
discovered by an officer, so he quickly went to Danny's assistance, and
"fired" him by bodily pulling him out of the cannon.

"Thanks!" chirped the little joker, a