from the yacht's stern rail were able to
swim. Briscoe and McCrea merely reached them and swam alongside.

David Pollard had ropes over the side of the submarine in a jiffy. It
was easy work for seafaring men to climb these ropes over the sloping,
easy side. It was scarcely more difficult to get the women up in
safety.

"Let the ladies go below to the port stateroom," called Mr. Farnum.
"They can disrobe, rub down and get in between blankets in the berths.
Their men folks can take care of 'em."

"I'm the steward, sir, of the 'Selma,' the yacht that's ahead," explained
the man in white duck. "I'll help them below at once, sir."

"We can have hot coffee in seven minutes," Mr. Farnum continued.
"Captain Benson, if you'll take the wheel again, I'll go below and get
to work in the galley."

The white-haired man, in the meantime, was hurriedly making himself
known to Commander Ennerling as Egbert Lawton, owner of the "_Selna_,"
a hundred-and-forty-foot schooner rigged steam yacht. The ladies were
his wife and his sixteen-year-old daughter, Miss Ethel Johnson was the
steward's name.

"Get after the yacht again, Captain Benson," requested Commander
Ennerling. "We have the owner and the ladies safe, but we've got to
take that crew to land as mutineers."

"They'll fight to the last shot," declared Mr. Lawton, shaking his head.

"Did you and your steward bring your revolvers with you?" asked
Ennerling.

"No; we tossed them into the sea as we dived," laughed Mr. Lawton.
"Bringing weapons to a Naval craft is like carrying coals to Newcastle."

"Unfortunately," rejoined the commander, plaintively, "this isn't yet
a Naval vessel, and the most dangerous weapon aboard is the breadknife
in the galley. But how did the mutiny start, Mr. Lawton? And how did
you come to have such a rascally crew aboard?"

"Two or three bad men got into the crew, started fights, and some of the
old crew quit. Then these bad men passed the word to other tough
characters to apply to my captain. In a short time the crew was all of
one piece of cloth, including the fellows in the engine room."

"How many mutineers are there aboard?"

"Thirteen, in all. Even the cook joined them."

"But your officers?"

"Captain Peters and Mate Sidney. It was the mate's watch when the
trouble started. You see, as most of my cruises have been short, I
carried but one mate. So, on a long run, the captain had to stand watch
in turn. Captain Peters w