sked Commander Ennerling.

"I'm going to try," replied Jack, with a laugh. "Oh, Hal!"

Hastings came at once up aloft with them. His mouth opened in a broad
grin as he listened to his chum's rapid sentences.

"And now ask Eph to come up here," finished Jack.

As Somers reached his young chief Benson demanded:

"Eph, see that light? Commander Ennerling is sure it belongs to a Naval
vessel. We're going to try to tie up to her while she's going at
cruising speed."

"Say, that's like you!" burst from Eph Somers, an admiring grin showing
in his face.

"Eph, have you sufficient nerve to get into your bathing suit like
lightning, and go overboard with a lantern and a rocket or two, with
only a state-room door to float on?"

"Of course," nodded Eph. "The sea's not rough, and a state-room door is
big enough to ride on. But you're not going to leave me marooned, are
you?"

"Not likely," laughed Jack. "You're right in the path of the approaching
vessel, Eph, and they'll see your rockets and lantern. They'll pick
you up."

Eph's face went suddenly solemn.

"Say," he muttered, "I'll have a real interesting time trying to make
some sort of an explanation, won't I? What shall I tell them if they do
pick me up?"

"Tell 'em anything you like, except that the 'Pollard' is trying to tie
up," responded Jack.

"That all?" demanded Eph, with a grin. "If it is, I'm off to get into
my traveling clothes."

"Hurry," nodded Jack. "Send Hal up to the wheel, while I explain the
whole thing to Mr. Farnum. But, commander, what if that shouldn't be
a Navy vessel?"

"It is," responded Ennerling, with emphasis. "It's the gunboat
'Massapeqna.' She's in these waters just now. You'll find I'm right."

Jacob Farnum began to laugh heartily when he caught the whole of Captain
Jack Benson's new idea of a sea joke.

Eph was quickly in his bathing suit. He and Jack unhinged a stateroom
door, carrying it up through the conning tower. Hal, in the meantime,
under orders, had attended to bringing the "Pollard's" platform deck
briefly above water.

The movements of the searchlight ahead convinced the submarine boat's
observers that the gunboat's watch officer had not yet detected the
presence of so small and unlighted an object as the "Pollard," miles
away.

As the door was floated on the water alongside, Eph stepped out onto it,
squatting. He had with him a lantern, three rockets and a box of wind
matches.

"Don't forget