Thee
SUBMARINE-BOYS
AND-THE-SPIES
VICTOR G.DURHAM
THE
SUBMARINE BOYS
SERIES



UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
SI QUERIS PENINSULAM AMC NAM
2012
ARTES
SCIENTIA
VERITAS
LIBRARY
OF THE
TCEBOR
CIRCUMSPICES












>
"Where did that boy come from!"
Frontispiece.


The Submarine Boys
and the Spies
OR
Dodging the Sharks of the Deep
By
VICTOR G. DURHAM
Author of The Submarine Boys on Duty, The Submarine Bove
Trial Trip, The Submarine Boys and the Middies, The
Submarine Boys' Lightning Cruise, Etc., Etc.
Illustrated
PHILADELPHIA
HENRY ALTEMUS COMPANY


COPYRIGHT, 1910, BY HOWARD E. ALTEMUS


CONTENTS
96
CHAPTER.
PAGE
1. “GUESS DAY” AT SPRUCE BEACH,
7
II. TROUBLE IN THE MAKING STAGE,
25
III. ON THE EDGE OF THE SPIDER'S WEB,.
39
IV. KAMANAKO APPEARS ON THE SCENE,.
52
V. EPH LEARNS SOMETHING NEW,.
59
VI. THE LITTLE RUSSIAN HAS HER WAY,.....
68
VII. A POINTER JOLTS THE SUBMARINE CAPTAIN,. 81
VIII. EVEN UP FOR MR. KAMANAKO,.
88
IX. “Dog, Who Is YOUR MASTER?”.
X. M. LEMAIRE PROVES His TRAINING, .
107
XI. JACK'S FRIENDS DO SOME Fast GUESSING,. 118
XII. IN THE POWER OF THE SPIES,..
125
XIII. THE FELLOW WHO SHOWED THE WHITE FLAG,.. 135
XIV. A REMEMBRANCE FROM SHORE,. .
144
XV. CAPTAIN JACK BECOMES SUSPICIOUS,.
151
XVI. THE GOVERNMENT TAKES A HAND,.
165
XVII. DRUMMOND'S LITTLE SURPRISE-FOR HIMSELF,... 178
XVIII, "REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED TO THE MAINE'!” 185
XIX. A JOKE ON THE SECRET SERVICE!.
193
XX. A BRIGHT LOOK AND A DEADLY WARNING,. 203
XXI. A FRENCH RAT IN THE CORNER,.
212
XXII. GALLANT EVEN TO THE FOE,..
226
XXIII. “GOOD-BYE, MY CAPTAIN!”..
235
XXIV. CONCLUSION,
244





The Submarine Boys and the Spies
CHAPTER I
"GUESS DAY” AT SPRUCE BEACH
“Ή
AS anyone sighted them yet?”
"No."
"What can be the matter?"
“You know, their specialty is going to the bot-
tom. Possibly they've gone there once too
often."
“Don't!" shuddered a young woman. "Try
not to be gruesome always, George."
The young man laughed as he turned aside.
Everyone and his friend at Spruce Beach was
asking similar questions. None of the answers
were satisfactory, because nobody knew just
what reply to make.
Everyone in the North who has the money
and leisure to get away from home during a
portion of the winter knows Spruce Beach. It
is one of nature's most beautiful spots on the
eastern coast of Florida, and man has made it
one of the most expensive places in the world.


8
THE SUBMARINE BOYS
In other words, Spruce Beach is a paradise
to look at. The climate, in the winter months,
is mild and balmy. Health grows rapidly at
this favored spot, and so fashion has seized upon
it as her own. True, there are yet a few cot-
tages and boarding houses left where travelers
of moderate means may find board.
The whole air of Spruce Beach is one of holi-
day expectancy. The winter visitors go there
to enjoy themselves; they expect it and demand
it. They are gratified. From the first of De-
cember to the middle of March, life at Spruce
Beach makes you think of a great, jolly, un-
ending picnic. The greatest cause for regret
is that more people of ordinary means cannot
go there and reap some of the plentiful harvest
of fun and frolic.
The thousands of tourists, hotel guests and
cottagers at Spruce Beach had been promised
that by the middle of December they would have
a treat the like of which few of them had ever
enjoyed before. The Pollard Submarine Boat
Company, so named after David Pollard the in-
ventor--the company of which Jacob Farnum,
the shipbuilder, was president—had promised
that by that date their newest, fastest and most
formidable submarine torpedo boat, the “Ben-
son,” should arrive at Spruce Beach, there to
begin a series of demonstrations and trials.


AND THE SPIES
9
Still more extraordinary, the captain of this
marvelous new submarine craft of war was
known to be a boy of sixteen-Jack Benson,
after whom the new navy-destroyer had been
named.
Newspaper readers were beginning to be fami-
liar with the name of Captain Jack Benson.
Though so young he had, after a stern appren-
ticeship, actually succeeded in making himself
a world-known expert in the handling of sub-
marine torpedo boats.
Those lighter readers of newpapers, who
scoffed at the very idea of a sixteen-year-old
boy handling a costly submarine boat, were some-
times reminded that the same thing happens at
the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis,
where the young midshipmen are given instruc-
tion and often are qualified as young experts
along similar lines.
More remarkable still, as faithful readers of
newspapers knew, Captain Jack Benson had as-
sociated with him, on the new torpedo boat, two
other sixteen-year-old boys, by name Hal Has-
tings and Eph Somers. It was also rumored,
and nearly as often believed, that these three
sea-bred young Americans knew as much as any-
one in the United States on the special subject
of submarine boat handling.
Be that all as it might, it was known to every


10
THE SUBMARINE BOYS
man, woman and child at Spruce Beach that the
6 Benson” was due to arrive on this December
day and the whole picnicking population was
out to watch the incoming from the sea of the
strange craft.
More than that, the United States gunboat,
“Waverly," had been for two days at anchor in
the little, somewhat rockbound harbor just north
of the beach. It was to be the pleasant duty of
the naval officer commanding the “Waverly” to
extend official welcome to the “Benson" as soon
as that craft pointed its cigar-shaped nose into
the harbor.
The first boat built by the submarine company
had been named, after the inventor, the “Pol-
lard.” The second had been named the “Far-
num,
» in honor of the enterprising young
shipbuilder who had financed this big undertak-
ing. And now Spruce Beach was awaiting the
arrival of the company's third boat, the “Ben-
son,” so-called in recognition of the hard and
brilliant work done by the young skipper him-
self.
That this was to be something of a social and
gala occasion, even on board the gunboat, was
evident from the fact that on the naval vessel's
decks there now promenaded some two score of
ladies and their escorts from shore, and on the
hurricane deck lounged musicians from hotel


12
THE SUBMARINE BOYS
“If you play, leader,” called the officer, in a
low voice that carried, nevertheless, “don't
imagine that your music is to welcome the ‘Ben-
son.' Submarine boats don't travel under
steam power.
They can't.'
So, too, on shore, the understanding was
quickly reached that the smoke did not indicate
the whereabouts of the expected submarine.
Half and hour later it was found that the smoke
came from the tug of a fruit transporting com-
pany.
Where, then, was the “Benson?”
It was not in the least like young Captain Jack
Benson to be behind time when he had an ap-
pointment to get anywhere. Nor did that very
youthful companion expect to arrive late on this
day of days.
Some miles away from Spruce Beach the
submarine boat, as shown by her submersion
gauge, was running along at six miles an hour,
some fifty-two feet under the surface of the
ocean.
Young Eph Somers, auburn-haired and oft-
times impulsive, now looked as sober as a judge
as he sat perched up in the conning tower, be-
yond which, at that depth, he could not see a
thing. However, a shaded incandescent light
dropped its rays over the surface of the com-


14
THE SUBMARINE BOYS
set forth in the second volume, under the title
of “The Submarine Boys' Trial Trip.” In this
book, bristling with adventures, and made
lighter, in spots, by accounts of humorous doings,
was told how the boys gained fame as submarine
experts. It was their fine, loyal work that in-
terested the United States government in buy-
ing that first boat, the “Pollard.”
The third volume in the series, entitled “The
Submarine Boys and the Middies” told how our
young friends secured the prize detail at An-
napolis, where, for a brief time, the three sub-
marine boys served as instructors in submarine
work to the young midshipmen at the Naval
Academy. Nor was this accomplished without
serious, and even sensational, opposition from
the representative of a rival submarine com-
pany. Hence the boys went through some rous-
ing adventures. Incidentally, they fell against
practical instruction in hazing at the Naval
Academy.
Adventures enough had befallen the subma-
rine boys to last any man for a lifetime. Yet,
as fate decreed it, Captain Jack Benson and his
staunch young comrades were now destined to
adventures greater and further reaching than
any of which they could have dreamed. In
advance, this winter trip to Spruce Beach prom-
ised to be little more than a pleasant relaxation


AND THE SPIES
15
for the youngsters. What it really turned out
to be will soon be made clear in the pages of this
volume.
“It seems a very risky plan that you're trying,
Jack,” remarked Jacob Farnum, at last.
“Don't you want me to do it, sir?" asked the
young skipper, looking up instantly from his
chart.
“Why, er—"
But here David Pollard, the inventor of these
boats broke in, eagerly:
“Of course we ought to do it, Farnum. Jack
is wholly right. If we enter the harbor at
Spruce Beach in this fashion, and carry through
our entire plan successfully, what on earth can
there be left for opponents of our class of boats
to say?"
“Not if we succeed, of course,” smiled Far-
“It's only the pesky little 'if' that's
bothering me at all. I don't want any of you to
think me a coward -"
“We know, very well, you're not, sir,” Cap-
tain Jack interposed, very quietly.
“But if we make any slip in our calculations,”
continued Jacob Farnum, “the first bad thing
about it is that we'll smash a fine boat which,
otherwise, the United States Government is
likely to want at a price around two hundred
thousand dollars. That, however, is not the
num.


AND THE SPIES
17
stop or bother. Thus we've shown that the
Pollard boat can do things that no other subma-
rine crait are ever trusted to try alone. And
now,
all that remains to show is that, at the end
of a long voyage, we can approach a coast, un
seen, even though thousands of people are prob-
ably looking for us, and that we can get into a
harbor without being detected; that, in fact, we
could do anything we might have a mind to do to
an enemy's ships that might be in that harbor.
But now, sir, you propose that, lest we have ac-
cidents, it will be best to rise to the surface and
enter the barbor at Spruce Beach as plainly and
stupidly as though the ‘Benson’ were some mere
lumber schooner!”
“I see the thing just the way Jack Benson
does,” murmured David Pollard, thrusting his
hands down deep in his trousers pockets.
“Oh, well, if I'm voted down, I'll give in,"
laughed Jacob Farnum. "I wonder, though,
how Hal and Eph feel about this?”
"I don't have to ask them,” nodded Captain
Jack, confidently.
“Why not?"
"We settled it all, days ago, sir."
“And they both agreed with you?”
“Down to the last jot, Mr. Farnum. They
saw the beauty and the boldness of the plan.”
“Oh, well, go ahead, then,” responded Mr.
-The Submarine Boys and the Spies.


18
THE SUBMARINE BOYS
99
Farnum, rising and standing by the cabin table.
“Of course, the picturesque and romantic pos-
sibilities of the scheme are plain enough to me.
We'll have the poople at Spruce Beach agape
with curiosity, then wild with enthusiasm. And,
really, to be sure, we have to arouse the enthusi-
asm of the American people over this whole
game. That's the surest way of forcing Con-
gress to spend more money on our boats.”
"Where are you going, Jake?” called the in-
ventor, as his partner started aft.
“To the stateroom, to get a little nap," re-
plied the shipbuilder. “We're not by any means
due at Spruce Beach yet.”
“Jake Farnum is surely not a coward,”
chuckled Mr. Pollard, as the stateroom door
closed. “Nor is he over anxious about any de-
tail in our little game, or he couldn't go to sleep
at this important time. I know I couldn't get
a wink of sleep if I turned in now. I've simply
got to sit up, wide awake, until I see the finish
of your bold stroke, Jack Benson.”
Captain Jack laughed easily, then glanced at
his watch to note the lapse of time since he had
made his last calculation of their whereabouts.
It is one thing to be in the open air, navigating a
vessel, but it is quite another affair to be fifty-
odd feet below the surface, calculating all by
the distance covered and the course steered.


AND THE SPIES
19
“Any deviation in the course, Eph?” Captain
Jack called up into the conning tower.
“Not by as much as a hair's breadth,” re-
torted young Somers, almost gruffly, for with
him, to depart from a given course, was well-
nigh equal to a capital crime.
Jack touched a button in the side of the table.
Obeying the summons, quiet Hal Hastings thrust
his head out into the cabin.
“Just the same speed, Hal?” the young cap-
tain asked.
“Hasn't changed a single revolution per min-
ute," Hastings answered, briefly.
With his watch on the table before him, and
employing the scale rule and dividers, the young
submarine skipper placed a new dot on the chart.
“Something ought to be happening in three-
quarters of an hour,” Benson remarked, with a
chuckle, to Mr. Pollard.
Less than half an hour later the young sub-
marine skipper climbed up into the conning
tower beside Eph.
“Same old straight course, eh, lad?” asked
Jack quietly.
“You know it," retorted Eph.
“Then we're where we ought to be," re-
sponded Jack Benson, bending forward. With
his right hand on the speed control he shut off
speed.


20
THE SUBMARINE BOYS
'Now, just sit where you are, Eph, until I
come up again," advised the young commander.
“Going to the surface?” demanded Somers,
with interest.
“Pretty close," nodded Benson.
Calling Mr. Pollard to his aid, Jack began to
operate the machinery that admitted compressed
air to the water tanks, expelling the water gradu-
ally from those same tanks. This was the means
by which the submarine boat rose to the surface.
All the time that he was doing this, Jack Ben-
son kept his keen glance on the submersion
gauge. At last he stopped.
“How is it up there, Eph?” he called, pleas-
antly.
“Why, of course there's a lot of good daylight
filtering down through the water now," Somers
admitted.
Captain Jack went nimbly up the spiral stair-
way. Now, he had still another piece of ap-
paratus to call into play. This affair is known
to naval men as the periscope.
In effect, the periscope is a device which in
the main is like a pipe; it can be pushed up
through the top of the conning tower, through
a special, water-proof cylinder, until the top of
the periscope is a foot, or less, above the surface
of the water.
The top of this instrument is fitted with lenses


AND THE SPIES
21
and mirrors. Down through the shaft of the
periscope are other mirrors, which pass along
any image reflected on the uppermost mirror of
all. At the bottom of the periscope is the last
mirror of the series, and, opening in upon this,
there is an eyepiece fitted with a lens.
As Captain Jack Benson applied his right eye
to the eyepiece he was able to see anything above
the surface of the water that lay in any direc-
tion that the periscope was pointing.
“Right opposite Spruce Beach, as the chart
showed!”, chuckled the
young commander.
Under the magnifying effect of the eyepiece
lens Benson could see the beach, the flag-be-
decked hotels, and the moving masses of people
on the shore. Yet, all this time, he was out at
sea, more than a mile from the beach. The peri-
scope itself, if seen from a boat an eighth of a
mile away, would undoubtedly have been taken
for a floating bottle.
“Let me have a peep," demanded Somers.
Eph looked briefly, then chuckled :
“Must be thousands of people over yonder,
wondering what on earth has happened to us!”
“Do you make out the gunboat, at anchor to
the north of the hotel section?” inquired Cap-
tain Jack.
“Oh, yes. Say, they'll have an awakening on
that gray craft, won't they?"


AND THE SPIES
25
was
rail of the gunboat the new submarine boat,
“Benson," rose into sight.
Eph Somers had left the craft, while still
below surface, by means of the clever trick
worked out by Jack Benson and his com-
rades, as described in "The Submarine Boys'
Trial Trip.”
Almost instantly the manhole cover
thrown open. Jack Benson, natty as a tailor's
model, in his newest uniform, stepped out on
deck, waving his hand to the gunboat.
“You'll have to consider that we got you,
won't you, sir?" shouted the young submarine
captain.
Then, both on shore and on the decks of many
craft, a realization of what had happened
dawned in the minds of thousands of people at
about the same instant. A great, combined
cheer shot up-a cheer that was a vocal cyclone!
CHAPTER II
TROUBLE IN THE MAKING STAGE
ON
N the hurricane deck of the “Waverly”
stood one man, mouth wide open and
eyes a-stare, who couldn't seem to get
the meaning of it all. That man was the leader
of the combined band from the winter hotels.


26
THE SUBMARINE BOYS
Turning, glancing upward, the lieutenant
looked at the leader with a glance of cool won-
der.
“Play, man! Why don't you play! What
are you there for?"
Then, all of a sudden, reddening, the band-
leader rapped his music stand with his baton,
next gave the signal, and the band crashed forth
into the exultant strains of:
“See! The Conquering Hero comes !”
At the third measure the band was all but
drowned out by renewed cheering, that came
more uproariously than ever.
Captain Jack Benson had surely chosen a
dramatic manner of making his appearance at
Spruce Beach. Ten thousand tongues were set
wagging all at once. When there came a lull,
a man's voice on a tug not far from the gunboat
could be heard, asserting loudly:
"Well, that's what submarines are for-to
sneak in while you're wiping a speck of dust
from your eye!”
That remark, coming just as the band ceased
its strains, was plainly audible, and brought a
laugh from everyone aboard the submarine, in-
cluding Eph, who was just climbing, in his bath-
ing suit, up to the platform deck.
Lieutenant Commander Kimball, hurrying
from his cabin, had joined Lieutenant Feather-


AND THE SPIES
27
stone at the rail, the pretty girl slipping away to
join a group of civilians.
“What do you think of us?” called Jacob
Farnum, a broad grin of delight on his
face.
“You'll do," admitted Kimball.
“Do you consider yourself sunk?” demanded
David Pollard, laughingly.
“Theoretically, yes," assented Lieutenant
Commander Kimball. “I wonder if you could
do it as well in war time?"
“Couldn't possibly do anything like it in war
time,” called back Captain Jack Benson. “For,
sir, you fly the Stars and Stripes !”
That was a happy speech, delivered at just
the right second. It set all within hearing to
cheering again. And then the thousands beyond
caught it up.
“I'll say this much,” shouted back Lieutenant
Commander Kimball, as soon as he could make
himself heard: “We'd rather have you with us,
Mr. Benson, than against us."
“You'll have your wish, sir, as long as I'm
alive," Jack answered, turning and lifting his
hat in simple yet eloquent salute to the Flag
waving at the gunboat's stern.
All this time Hal Hastings stood by the deck
wheel, one hand occasionally straying to the en-
gine room signal buttons, as he kept the “Ben-


28
THE SUBMARINE BOYS
son” just about a hundred feet from the gun-
boat and nearly abeam.
“Where shall I anchor, sir?" called Captain
Jack, presently.
“Better take it about four points off our port
bow and at least four hundred feet away, Mr.
Benson,” called back the lieutenant commander.
“Four points off port and four hundred feet
it is, sir,” answered the young submarine
skipper, saluting. Then he gave the order to
Hal.
“As soon as you're anchored, I'll send you
over a boat to be at your disposal this after-
noon,” called Lieutenant Commander Kimball.
“We'll use the boat, sir, to pay you a visit,
if you permit,” Jack shouted back.
“By all means come aboard. Then we'll visit
you. We're anxious to see the works of such a
wonderful little craft."
Within ten minutes a man-o-war's cutter was
alongside, rowed by six alert-looking young
sailors, while a coxswain held the tiller ropes.
Messrs. Farnum and Pollard, Jack and Hal
made up the visiting party, leaving Eph Som-
ers aboard the submarine, with Williamson to
help him at need.
Cordial, indeed, was the reception of the sub-
marine folks aboard the gunboat. There was a
great amount of handshaking to be done.


AND THE SPIES
29
In the meantime, Eph Somers was having
something in the way of trouble back on the plat-
form deck of the “Benson.'
Two small boats, manned by harbor boatmen,
and each carrying a few passengers, had put off
from shore, and now ranged alongside.
“How do you do, Captain?" shouted a young
man at the bow of one of the boats.
“Louder!” begged Eph.
“How do you do, Captain ?”
“Louder. I'm afraid the captain can't hear
you yet,” grinned the carroty-topped submarine
boy. “He's over on the gunboat.
“Then who are you?”
(Who? Me?" demanded Eph, innocently.
“Oh, I'm only the Secretary of the Navy."
“All right, Mr. Secretary," laughed the same
young man. “We're coming aboard."
• Aboard of what?" inquired Eph.
“Why, you're submarine boat, of course,
came the answer.
“Guess not!” responded Eph, briskly.
"Why, yes; we're newspaper men, and it's
business, not fun with us.”
The boat containing the speaker lay lightly
alongside at this moment. In another moment
the young man in the bow would have clambered
up on deck, but Eph called down to him:
"Hold on! Stay where you are. My orders


30
THE SUBMARINE BOYS
are to hit any fellow with a boathook who tries
to come up here in the captain's absence."
“But we've got to have a look at your boat,
don't you see?” insisted the newspaper man,
though, as Eph carelessly picked up a boathook,
the would-be caller waited prudently in the bow
of his boat.
Young Somers was surely in a state of un-
certainty. He had strict orders to allow no one
aboard unless he knew them to be United
States naval officers. On the other hand, the
auburn-haired boy knew how necessary it was
for the submarine folks to keep on good terms
with newspaper writers if the American people
were to be favorably impressed with the claims
of the Pollard boat.
“Now, see here,” said Eph, balancing the
boathook, “I'm sorry to stand here making a
noise like a crank, but have you any idea at all
what orders mean on shipboard! And I'm
under the strictest orders not to let anyone
aboard."
“Get your orders changed, then," proposed
another newspaper man, cheerfully.
“If you'll wait, I'll see if I can,” muttered
Eph, hopefully.
“Oh, we'll wait."
Williamson's head had appeared in the man-
hole way.


AND THE SPIES
31
“Come out on deck, and don't let anyone on
board unless we get orders to that effect,” mur-
mured Somers, passing the conning tower.
Then, through a megaphone, the submarine boy
hailed the gunboat, asking if it would be possi-
ble for him to talk with Jack Benson. Benson
soon afterward came forward on the "Wav.
erly.” Eph explained the situation. Jack
shouted back to allow the visitors on the plat-
form deck, but not to let any of them into the
conning tower, or below.
So Eph turned to the two boatloads of visitors,
explaining:
"Perhaps you men can get that all changed if
you come out to-morrow, when the captain is
here. But the best I can do to-day is to let you
up here on the platform deck.”
“Oh, well,” returned the first newspaper
man to get up there beside the boy, "you can
tell us, as well as anyone, about your trip
down the coast and the way you slipped in
here."
“And also,” chimed in another, “you're the
young man who came straight up through the
water when she was beneath the surface ?"
Eph admitted that he was.
"That's the thing I want to know about,'
continued the second newspaper man.
"I've
heard before about that wonderful trick of leav.


32
THE SUBMARINE BOYS
ing a submerged submarine, and coming to the
surface. How is the thing done?”
Eph regarded this questioner with wondering
patience, before he replied:
“You want to know so little that I'm sorry
I'm deaf in my front teeth and dumb in my right
ear."
“That's on you, Paisley!” chuckled one of
the newspaper men.
Then three or four began to ask questions at
the same time, which caused young Somers to
wait, then remarked blandly:
“Now, if you'll all kindly talk at once, I'll
give you, in a few words, a straight account of
the plain features of our trip down here, includ-
ing our run under water. But, if there's any
question I don't answer for you, you'll under-
stand, I hope, that it's because I know it would
be bad manners for me to tell you anything that
only officers of the Navy have a right to know.'
“All right, Commodore,” nodded one of the
newspaper men, good-humoredly. "You're all
right. Go ahead and spin your yarn in your
own way.'
Thereupon, without telling anything that he
had no right to tell, Eph managed none the less
to give his hearers an entertaining account of
the “Benson’s” long trip down the coast with-
out stop or help.
>>
>


AND THE SPIES
33
“And, unless I'm in a big error, gentlemen,
ours is the longest trip that a submarine boat
ever took by itself.”
“You're right there, too,” nodded one of the
newspaper men, who made a study of naval af-
fairs and records. “And the way this craft
came in this afternoon beat anything, so far as
I'm aware, that was ever done with a subma-
rine."
“That's Captain Jack Benson's specialty,"
replied Eph Somers, his eyes twinkling.
“What's his specialty?”
“Doing things with a submarine boat that
have never been done before. Captain Benson
is the latest wonder in the submarine line."
"He has a very steady admirer in you, hasn't
he?” inquired one of the newspaper men,
laughingly.
“Yes; and the same is true of anyone else who
knows him well,” declared Eph, warmly. “Jack
Benson is about the best fellow on earth and
one of the smartest, too, his comrades think.”
Thereupon one of the newspaper correspond-
ents began tactfully to draw out young Somers
about the history and past performances of the
young submarine captain. On this subject Som-
ers talked as freely as they could want.
“It was Benson, too, who discovered the trick
of leaving a submarine boat on the bottom, and
The Submarine Boys and the Spies.


34
THE SUBMARINE BOYS
coming to the top by himself, wasn't it?" slyly
asked one of the visitors.
“That was his discovery,” nodded Eph,
promptly.
“What's the principle of the trick?”
Eph's jaws snapped with a slight noise. He
remained silent, for a few moments, before he
replied:
“So far, that trick is known only to the
Pollard people and a few officers of the Navy.
The fewer that know, the better the chance
of keeping it a secret. Don't you believe
me?'
“That's one way of looking at it, perhaps,'
nodded a reporter. “But there's another side
to that, too, Somers. The United States now
own some of your boats, and the money of the
people paid for those boats. Now, don't you
think the people of this country have a right
to know some of the secrets for which they pay
good money, and a lot of it?"
On hearing the question put that way Eph
looked tremendously thoughtful for a few sec-
onds.
“Why, yes, undoubtedly,” admitted the car-
roty-topped submarine boy. “I never thought
of it that way before."
“Then"
“See here,” interrupted Eph, “it was the


AND THE SPIES
35
Secretary of the Navy, who on behalf of the
people, bought our boats."
"Yes-
“He acted as the agent of the people,” Eph
continued.
“Well-
“Therefore," asserted Eph Somers, with a
roguish twinkle in his eyes, “the Secretary of
the Navy is the proper official for you to go to
in search of that information. And you may tell
the Secretary
“Stop making fun of us,” interposed a news-
paper man.
“You may tell the Secretary,” finished Eph,
“that I said I had no objection to his giving you
the information you want."
The newspaper men after gazing briefly at the
innocent-looking face of the carroty-topped one,
began to grin.
“Young Somers is all right,” declared one of
the visitors. “He knows when to talk, and also
when to hold his tongue."
“I never was sized up so straight before,'
grinned Eph, "since I was caught stealing
grapes behind the Methodist church.'
Before the newspaper men departed in their
boats they had obtained some amusing and inter-
esting points for a news “story.” Yet not one
of them had gained any inside information as to


36
THE SUBMARINE BOYS
.
the closely guarded secrets of the submarine.
Eph, from his very disposition and temperament,
made undoubtedly the best press agent the Pol-
lard Company could have had. Hal Hastings,
while wishing to be obliging, probably would
have said his whole “say” in twenty or thirty
words. Jack Benson would have sung the
praises of the Pollard boats readily enough.
But it was Eph, alone of the three, who could
give to such an interview the humor and wit
that American newspaper readers enjoy.
One “reporter” in the party that was rowed
back to the beach was not known to his associates.
Wherever several newspaper men are gathered
at a point on business it is generally easy for
a stranger, not connected with the press, to push
himself into the group. The stranger, in this
instance, had given the name of Norton, claim-
ing to be from an Omaha paper.
Arrived at the beach, however, “Norton" did
not hasten to the telegraph office. Instead, he
hurried to the Hotel Clayton, the largest and
most expensive of the hotels at Spruce Beach.
Entering one of the elevators, Norton stepped
off at the third floor. He stepped briskly down
a corridor, stopping before a door and giving an
unusual style of knock.
“Come-in," sounded a drawling voice, and
Norton entered.


AND THE SPIES
37
From a seat by a table, in the center of the
large room, rose a man somewhat past middle
age. This man was tall, not very stout, with a
sallow face adorned by a mustache and goatee.
The man's eyes were piercing and black. His
hair was also black, save where a slight gray
was visible at the temples.
As Norton entered, the man, who rose, threw
a cigarette into the fire place, then reached over,
selected another cigarette and lighted it. The
room was thick with the odor of some foreign
tobacco.
“Well, Norton ?" challenged this stranger, in
a low voice.
“I've been aboard the new submarine, Mon-
sieur Lemaire,” replied the young man. “1
went with a party of newspaper writers, pre-
tending to be one of their calling."
"An excellent idea, Norton. And you saw the
very boyish officers of the boat?"
“Only one of them. The other two were pay-
ing a call on board the gunboat. I saw Somers."
“You gathered some idea of how to pump
him for the information wanted, of course?”
“No; I didn't,” retorted Norton, scowling.
“I learned, very soon, that Somers is one whom
we want to leave out of our count in getting in.
formation?"
“Why so ?”


38
THE SUBMARINE BOYS
99
“Well, M. Lemaire, if you meet that young
fellow, and try to draw him out, you'll under-
stand. He can talk longer, and tell less, than
any young fellow I've met. He seems to guess
just what you want to know, and then he care-
fully tells you something else.”
“Ah, well, out of three young men, we shall
find one who will tell us all we need to know,”
laughed M. Lemaire, gayly. “So it is only a
question of learning which of the three to make
the first attempt upon.
“If you want a suggestion .” began Nor-
ton.
“By all means, my dear fellow."
Then turn your batteries of inquisitivaness
loose upon Jack Benson, first of all. He may
be easy game. As for the third, Hal Hastings,
I hear that he is a silent fellow, who says little,
and generally waits five minutes, to think his
answer over, before he gives it."
“Benson it shall be, then," nodded M. Lem-
aire. “I shall find it easy to meet him. And
now, good-bye, Norton, until this evening. You
will know what to do then."
After Norton had gone out, closing the door
behind him, M. Lemaire carefully flecked the
ash from his cigarette as he murmured to him-
self:
“Then it shall be Captain Benson whom we


AND THE SPIES
39
first attack! Nor do I believe I can do better
than to enlist the services of Mademoiselle Sara.
Ah, yes! Her eyes are fine-perfect ! One
looks into her eyes, and trusts her. Captain
Jack Benson, you shall have the pleasure of
meeting a most charming creature!”
CHAPTER III
ON THE EDGE OF THE SPIDER'S WEB
AM
N hour after dinner the orchestra
of the Hotel Clayton crashed out into
the first two-step.
The big ballroom was already two thirds as
well filled as it could be with comfort. Potted
green palms stood everywhere at the sides. The
orchestra in the gallery was nearly concealed
behind a fringe of green. The air was sweetly
odorous with the fragrance of southern blos-
soms. Scores of young women in all varieties
of handsome evening dress enlivened the appear-
ance of the scene. Their gems cast glitter and
enchantment. There were men enough, too, for
partners in the dance, the men behind expanses
of white shirt-front and clad in the black of
evening dress.
Just a few of the men, however, lent addi-
tional color to the scene. These were officers


40
THE SUBMARINE BOYS
and midshipmen from the “Waverly," who
came attired in the handsome blue, gold-braided
dress uniforms of the service.
Among the guests of the hotel who attended
the dance were Jacob Farnum and his two
young submarine experts, Jack Benson and Hal
Hastings. The shipbuilder had come ashore
with his young friends, registering at the Clay-
ton and taking rooms there.
“It's time for you youngsters to get ashore
and have a little gayety,” Farnum had declared.
“If you don't mix with lively people once in a
while, you'll rust even while you keep the ‘Ben-
son's' machinery bright.”
Jack and Hal had agreed to this. Eph,
however, had expressed himself decidedly as
preferring to remain on board the submarine for
the time. Williamson, too, had elected to re-
main on board, and so had David Pollard, who
rarely cared for anything in the social line.
On the floor, even before the music struck up,
was M. Lemaire. He was in the usual black
evening dress, though on his wide shirt front
glistened the jeweled decoration of some order
conferred upon him by a European sovereign.
A handsome and distinguished figure did M.
Lemaire present. He nodded affably to many
of the ladies in passing, and the interest with
which his greetings were acknowledged proved


42
THE SUBMARINE BOYS
re-
in your auto car to-morrow. But, bah! You
will know how to make him talk!"
All this was said swiftly, unheard by anyone
else. Then M. Lemaire, having appeared
hardly to pause, passed on.
A minute later Mademoiselle Nadiboff was
chatting laughingly with Lieutenant Feather-
stone.
“Who are those two young men over there?”
questioned the young woman. “Are they of the
Navy?"
“No, though related to us in interest,'
plied the lieutenant. “They are the captain
and chief engineer of the submarine that arrived
this afternoon. Youthful, aren't they?"
“Very,” agreed Mademoiselle Sara. “But
I like their faces. You will present me, will you
not, Lieutenant?”
“Gladly."
So Jack and Hal found themselves bowing
before the handsome young foreigner. Mlle.
Sara had the appearance of being equally in-
terested in both of them, though she soon man-
aged, with her social arts, in drawing somewhat
aside with Jack Benson.
And then the music crashed out. One of the
young woman's feet began to tap the floor, her
eyes glistening.
“Entrancing music," she murmured.


AND THE SPIES
43
“If you are not engaged for this dance
murmured Jack, hesitatingly.
This beautiful
creature seemed so superior to the usual run of
the human kind that the submarine boy felt he
was too presuming.
“You are very kind,” replied the young
woman, with a swift smile. “I shall enjoy it
greatly."
Jack took one of her hands in his, resting his
other hand lightly at her waist. A moment
later they glided over the polished floor.
“Benson is doing famously,” laughed Lieu-
tenant Featherstone, half-enviously. “But be-
fore I think of myself, Hastings, I must seek an
interesting partner for you, also.”
“Kind of you," returned Hal, gratefully.
“But I fear I must remain a wall-flower, or a
human palm to-night. I don't know how to
dance."
“You don't?” murmured Featherstone, in
amazement. “Good heavens! I thought even
the bootblacks knew how to dance in these mod-
ern days!”
Jacob Farnum knew how to dance, but did not
care for it this evening. He was much in love
with his young wife, and, as she was not here,
the ballroom floor had no attractions for him.
So he and Hal retired to seats at the side of the
ballroom.


AND THE SPIES
45
courteously. “But if I had the impudence to
ask you for this waltz, and if you were gener-
ous enough to grant it to me, I know what would
happen."
“What, my friend?”
The word “friend” was gently spoken, but
Jack Benson replied bluntly:
“Some of the men here would lynch me, later
in the night, Mlle. Nadiboff.”
The young woman laughed musically, though,
as Jack glanced away for an instant, a frown
flashed briefly over her face.
“You will not disappoint me, I know, Cap-
tain,” she murmured, persuasively. “Besides,
you are too brave to fear lynching for an act
that grants pleasure.”
This was so direct that Jack Benson could not
well escape. Nor, truth to tell, did he want to.
He found Mlle. Nadiboff's bright, gentle smile
most alluring. So, when the music for the
waltz sounded the submarine captain led her
forth on to the floor.
At the finish, after Jack had led his partner
to a seat, Lieutenant Featherstone joined them.
One or two others approached, and Benson
slipped away, though just before he did so the
young woman's eyes met his with a flash of in-
vitation to seek her again later.
“You've been extremely attentive, but I,


46
THE SUBMARINE BOYS
imagine some of the other men are combining
to thrash you, Jack," smiled Farnum, when
Benson returned to his friends.
"Mlle. Nadiboff is a very delightful young
woman, " Jack answered, heartily. “I'm sorry
you don't dance, Hal.”
“If I were very sorry, I'd learn,” rejoined
Hastings, simply.
During the waltz and the number that followed
Jack remained with his friends, looking on.
Then Lieutenant Featherstone, feeling that
the Navy must look to the enjoyment of these
strangers, came over to them.
“How many of you dance?" inquired the
lieutenant.
“Two of us," answered Hal. “I don't."
“Mr. Farnum, I must introduce you to an
agreeable partner,” urged the Navy officer.
“Who shall it be? I know most of the ladies
here."
“Don't think me a bear, Mr. Featherstone,
but I don't believe I'll dance to-night, though
I thank you tremendously,” replied the ship-
builder.
“Then, Benson, you must uphold the honor of
your party,” laughed the lieutenant, linking his
arm in Jack's and drawing him forward.
Captain Benson's next dance was with a Cali-
fornia girl; after that he ied out a jolly young
99


AND THE SPIES
47
woman from New York. As he left the latter
partner, Mlle. Nadiboff, on the arm of a gentle-
man, passed close enough to murmur:
“Captain, you are neglecting me and I have
saved the next, a waltz, for you.”
Not being engaged for that waltz, Jack could
hardly do otherwise than claim it. Indeed, he
greatly enjoyed dancing with this gracious,
handsome young woman.
Yet, soon after he
had taken Mlle. Nadiboff to her seat, and
another partner appeared to claim her favor,
Benson slipped away.
“Go after Captain Benson, I beg of you, and
bring him back here for a moment,” requested
the young woman of her new partner.
That gentleman obeyed, even if with a poor
grace. Jack returned, bowing, while the gen-
tleman walked away a few feet.
“Captain, you are a stranger here at Spruce
Beach ?” murmured Mlle. Nadiboff, directing
the full gaze of her luminous eyes at Jack's.
“Yes, truly."
"I go motoring at eleven in the morning. I
shall expect you here, at that hour, to drive with
me.'
Jack looked as regretful as he felt.
“I'm very, very sorry, Mademoiselle," he re-
plied. “But I am here on duty, and—"
“Duty?" she interrupted, with a light laugh.
>


48
THE SUBMARINE BOYS
“And pray what is duty, Captain, but a some-
thing with which to flavor our pleasures in life?”
"With me, Mlle. Nadiboff," Jack Benson re-
plied, earnestly, “duty is everything, pleasure
included.”
“I am not accustomed to having my com-
mands disregarded,” exclaimed the young
woman, though in a low tone, while her eyes
flashed some of her displeasure.
“You are giving me pain, Mademoiselle,"
Jack responded, gravely. “Perhaps, at another
time"
“Enough sir!” the young woman interposed.
“And now I behold my next partner glancing
this way appealingly. I shall speak with you
the next time we meet, Captain."
Jack bowed, withdrawing. Making his way
around the ballroom, he dropped into a seat be-
side Mr. Farnum.
Even before Mlle. Nadiboff's partner could
rejoin her, M. Lemaire appeared around a palm
at Mlle. Nadiboff's back as naturally as though
he had not been playing the eavesdropper.
“Have a care, Sara," he whispered, mock-
ingly, “or you will fail in making a fool of that
young fellow!"
Half way through the next dance Jack and
his friends remained in their seats. Then Hal,
stifling a yawn behind his hand, remarked:


50
THE SUBMARINE BOYS
shall see if your eyes are keen enough to dis-
cover your young submarine captain.'
The young woman defiantly accepted the chal-
lenge. By the time that they had strolled
around the ballroom scarlet spots glowed in her
cheeks. In either eye a tear of anger glistened
behind the lash.
“Are you satisfied ?" murmured M. Lemaire,
in a low voice.
“I fear that I shall have to teach the young
cub a lesson or two in the art of showing devo-
tion to a woman's wishes,” Mlle. Nadiboff an-
swered, tremulously.
“Shall we walk in the grounds ?”
“I beg you to take me out into the air," re-
plied the young woman.
“Yes, it will be better," whispered her com-
panion, cruelly. “Your face is aflame. You
will attract too much attention here, and too
much curiosity.
The American naval officers
have sharp eyes—sometimes !”
Procuring his companion's wrap at the coat-
room, and throwing a light topcoat about him-
self, M. Lemaire led the way to a distant settee
from which they could look out over the star-
lit waters beyond the beach. The man had an
especial reason for choosing this seat. From
that place they could quickly catch sight of any-
one who came near enough to overhear.


AND THE SPIES
51
“Sara," began M. Lemaire, less brutally than
his companion had expected him to speak, “for
once I fear that you are going to fail utterly.”
“Then you do not know me,” she replied,
with spirit. "I shall win! I shall have Cap-
tain Jack Benson carrying my fan and craving
my smile. And that shall be quickly, too!”
“If you do not succeed, Sara,” retorted the
man, “then sterner measures will have to be
tried. This youthful Benson may even have to
lose his life in the attempt that must be made,
at all hazards, to wrest from him a set of draw-
ings of the boat he commands, and a descrip-
tion of all her working parts, and all the secrets
of managing the boat!"
“If he could hear you, he would be charmed
with the outlook,” muttered the young woman,
shrugging her shoulders.
“Sara, do you comprehend the situation al-
together! The Pollard type of submarine boat
is now the most formidable and dangerous in
the world—and only the United States Govern-
ment can buy boats from the makers ! Any
country in the world that goes to war with the
United States must be beaten unless that coun-
try knows how to provide itself with subma-
rine boats equal to those of the Pollard make.
You may be sure that, at this moment, Spruce
Beach is overrun with spies representing every


AND THE SPIES
53
“Anyway, I believe it's just what the family
medical man ordered,” chuckled Mr. Farnum,
as he stepped shoreward, then ran briskly up
and down the beach before he went in again for
a final plunge.
Over to the bath house, where an attendant
had carried their clothing, the three now has-
tened. After a brisk rub-down and dressing,
these three from the “Benson" presented them-
selves in the hotel dining room, where, at this
very early hour, they were privileged to break-
fast all by themselves.
“The way my appetite feels,” laughed Jack,
enjoyably, “I pity the guests who have to fol-
low us at table."
“There won't be any breakfast left. They
can have lunch,” declared Hal Hastings,
gravely.
Hardly had the food been placed before them
when Mr. Farnum glanced up, to find at his el-
bow a bowing, smiling little Japanese.
“Honorable sir, may I adress you while you
eat?” inquired the little brown man.
“Why not?" asked Farnum, good-humoredly.
“Take a chair, won't you, Mr."
“Kamanako is my name, honorable sir," re-
plied the Japanese, with three more bows.
“Take a seat, won't you, Mr. Kamanako?”
Mr. Farnum invited him again.


54
THE SUBMARINE BOYS
“It is much better, honorable sir, that I
stand.”
“Why?"
“Because I am servant.”
“Not here, surely,” replied the shipbuilder.
“ All the waiters here are negroes."
“Not all in kitchen, honorable sir," responded
the Japanese, with an air of great deference.
“Some in kitchen are Japanese.
“Are you employed in the kitchen, Mr.
Kamanako?" asked the shipbuilder.
“Until to-day, honorable sir."
“Meaning you have left the employ of the
hotel?"
“Yes, honorable sir."
“Then you're going away from here?”
“I hope to follow the sea, honorable sir. I
am a sailor. All my ancestors before me were
sailors. We love the salt water."
“There is something, then, that I can do for
you, isn't there?” guessed the shipbuilder.
“If you will be so good, honorable sir. I
seek to become steward aboard your boat.'
“Oh,” replied M. Farnum, understanding, at
last. “You will have to speak to Captain Ben-
son about that."
He indicated Jack by a nod, so the little Japa-
nese turned to Benson with another bow.
Now, as it happened, a steward was just what
92


AND THE SPIES
55
Captain Benson wanted. Such duties, formerly,
had fallen upon Eph Somers. But now cooking
and serving meals did not exactly jibe with
Eph's present position aboard the “Benson."
Eph was really first officer or mate.
“Yes, we want a steward,” Jack admitted.
“There's just one drawback, though, Kama-
nako. We can carry very few people aboard,
so that everyone who does ship with us has to
count. In other words, our steward must also
cook the meals in the galley."
“I think that will be all right, honorable Cap-
tain,' replied the Japanese, thoughtfully.
“How many have you on board ?”
“Six,” answered the young submarine com-
mander.
Kamanako thoughtfully counted that number
on his fingers.
“It is not too many,” replied the Japanese.
“What do you pay, honorable Captain ?"
“Forty dollars, and found.'
“I will accept, honorable Captain."
“Are you sure that you can cook well enough
for hungry sailors ?”
“I am satisfied that I can cook for anyone,
honorable Captain," rejoined the little brown
man, rather proudly.
“That sounds well enough,” smiled Jack.
“Have you had your breakfast, Kamanako?"


56
THE SUBMARINE BOYS
"Oh, yes, honorable Captain."
Then, if you'll wait for us, we'll take you
aboard. We shall be going in a half an hour,
or sooner.
“Would it not be as well, honorable Captain,
if I go out before you?” asked Kamanako, re-
spectfully.
"No," smiled Benson. “Our first officer,
Mr. Somers, does not take kindly to strangers
who are not introduced."
“Then, if I may suggest—if honorable Cap-
tain will write note for me then I might go out
sooner.
“If you want to go aboard, Kamanako, we'll
take you out when we go," Jack replied. He
was annoyed, though he could not have told why,
by the little brown man's insistence.
Smiling and bowing again, Kamanako left
the dining room. He was waiting, though,
when the others came out. As all three carried
dress suit cases the Japanese quietly took those
belonging to Mr. Farnum and Captain Benson.
“Most sorry I have not three hands, honor-
able officer,” Kamanako assured Hal Hastings.
There were always plenty of shore boats at
Spruce Beach. Just now, on account of the
visit of the submarine, there appeared to be
more of the small craft than usual. So the sub-
marine party had no difficulty in finding trans-


AND THE SPIES
57
portation at once. Looking out into the harbor
they beheld the “Benson,” surrounded by more
than a score of rowboats containing sight-seers.
Eph Somers, backed by Williamson, stood on
the platform deck, doggedly driving away peo-
ple who wanted to come on board. Yet Eph
kept wholly good-natured about it, for he could
quite appreciate the curiosity of the sight-seers.
As this last boat from shore made its way
through the concourse of boats Jack heard a
sudden, joyous hail in a woman's voice.
“Oh, here he is—my gallant young captain.
“Mlle. Nadiboff!” ejaculated Jack, under his
breath.
Jacob Farnum turned his head away for an
instant, but the young captain heard the unmis-
takable sound of a chuckle from the shipbuilder.
Kamanako turned his mild eyes inquiringly in
the direction of the handsome young woman, as
though he wondered who she might be.
“Good morning, Mademoiselle," was Jack's
greeting, as he courteously lifted his uniform
сар.
Hal and Mr. Farnum also uncovered.
Then the boat ran alongside, and all four clamb-
ered on the deck.
In another instant Mlle. Nadiboff's boat was
also alongside.
“You are going to be kind, my Captain, and
invite me aboard?” asked the young woman.


58
THE SUBMARINE BOYS
Eph Somers, who was never intentionally rude
to a woman, found himself staring with all his
eyes, whereat he colored hotly.
“I shall be very glad to invite you as far as
I am permitted to invite visitors,” Benson re-
plied. Then, turning briefly to Eph, he mut-
tered:
“The Japanese is to be cook and steward.
Take him below, and show him the galley and
the supplies.”
Then Benson turned to reach down his hand
to Mlle. Sara Nadiboff, who trustingly extended
her hand to him. She slipped. Jack was
obliged to throw his left arm lightly around
her waist in order to draw her in safety to the
platform deck. Mr. Farnum, after seeing her
safely aboard, vanished inside the conning
tower, going below to smile quietly' to him-
self.
“As gallant as ever, my Captain!” mur-
mured the handsome young woman spy, gazing
almost tenderly into Jack's face. "What a
very strange craft! And now, conduct me be-
low, please. I am much interested in seeing
how you all live aboard such a little and odd
vessel of war."
“I am utterly sorry, Mademoiselle," Jack
Benson replied. “But my orders are that no
visitors except naval officers, or those brought


AND THE SPIES
59
aboard by naval officers, may see the interior of
the boat."
“Yet that Japanese has just gone below!”
remonstrated Mlle. Nadiboff.
“The Japanese,” replied the young captain,
“is our cook and steward, and belongs below."
A light glowed swiftly in Mlle. Nadiboff's
eyes, but disappeared almost instantly.
The handsome young woman opened her
mouth as though to speak, then compressed her
lips tightly.
CHAPTER V
EPH LEARNS SOMETHING NEW
“Yº
OU are not as gallant as you were last
night,” murmured Mlle. Sara, in a
low tone.
“Last night I was ashore, on social pleasures
bent,” replied Jack. "To-day, I am on duty,
and duty must go ahead of everything else."
“And I am hungry,” continued the young
woman, pathetically. “In my eagerness to see
that boat that you command, my Captain, I came
away from the shore before going through the
ceremony of breakfast. Do you mean to say,
Captain Benson, that you cannot conduct me
to your cabin, there to have that-your Japa-
nese serve me with at least a sandwich?"


60
THE SUBMARINE BOYS
“Mademoiselle,” cried Jack, apologetically,
“you can't have the faintest idea how sorry I
am that my instructions are what they are.
feel wicked as I look at your distress, but it is
simply wholly impossible for me to ask you be-
low. I can have food served to you on deck,
however."
"What? Eat here before the eyes of all
Spruce Beach? And have it made perfectly
plain to every onlooker that I am not welcome
here?” cried the woman spy, reproachfully.
“Oh, but, indeed, you are welcome here,'
protested Jack. “As welcome as I am permit-
ted to make anyone. My orders, you know-
I am a slave to those orders."
“Yet there is some one aboard,” urged Mlle.
Nadiboff, in her most pleading voice, while
there was an almost tearful look in her pretty
eyes, “some one who can change the orders.
Your Mr. Farnum, I take it. Go to him, won't
you, and plead with him for me! Go!"
One of her little, gloved hands rested on his
arm, pushing gently.
But Jack Benson, though she made him feel
inwardly at odds with himself, thought more of
his duty than of anything else.
“I am very sorry-awfully sorry, Mlle. Nadi-
boff. But won't you understand that what you
ask is wholly impossible?”


AND THE SPIES
61
“Good-bye, then!” she said, resentfully,
though gently, half turning from him.
“You'll shake hands, won't you?” asked
Jack, holding out his own right hand.
"Perhaps, after I have talked with you on
shore-when we meet again,” she replied, a bit
distantly. Then she turned to Williamson as
her boat came in close alongside. "Your hand,
please. I am afraid I may slip."
Williamson helped that most attractive young
woman down over the side, lifting his cap after
he had seen her safe aboard the rowboat. As
the harbor craft veered off, Captain Jack Ben-
son lifted his cap with all courtesy. Mlle. Sara
Nadiboff bowed to him rather coldly.
“I suppose," sighed Jack, to himself, as he
turned away, "a woman can't begin to under-
stand why we must be so secret aboard a sub-
marine craft that all the naval men in the world
would like to know about. If she only could
understand !!
Had Benson been able to guess just how well
the handsome young spy did understand, and
how much she had hoped to learn through ap-
pealing to his interest in her, he would have
been furious at the thought of his own great
simplicity.
"Your charming partner of last night was
rather disappointed,” observed Hal Hastings.


62
THE SUBMARINE BOYS
"I am
cause
“Yes; she must feel that I have used her
mighty shabbily,” Jack responded.
afraid she won't forgive me."
"Oh, well, after a few days you'll never
see her again,” murmured Hal. “Just be-
a girl is pleasant-and pretty-one
can't forget all the orders that he's working
under."
Captain Jack Benson talked to himself in
about the same strain, yet he couldn't wholly get
over the notion that he had been—though help-
lessly-rude to a woman.
“You won't need me on deck any more, will
you, sir?” asked Williamson, saluting.
“No; I shall be on deck,” Jack replied, re-
turning the salute. “Very likely Mr. Hastings
will be here with me, for that matter."
Soon after the machinist had gone below Eph
Somers returned to the deck.
“I've been posting that Kimono," Eph ex.
plained.
“Kamanako," laughed Captain Jack.
“Oh, it's all the same to me,” sighed Eph.
“To my untrained ear all Japanese names sound
alike."
“Whatever you do," warned Jack, “don't
hurt the poor fellow's feelings by calling him
Kimono."
Why not?”


AND THE SPIES
63
“Well, the Japanese are a proud and sensi-
tive race."
“Suppose they are?”
“Do you know what ‘kimono' means, Eph?”
“Haven't even a guilty suspicion.'
“It's the Japanese name for a woman's
dress.”
“Wow!" muttered Somers. “I shall surely
have to forget 'kimono,' then. “What do you
call his truly name?”
“Kamanako,” Jack responded, and spelled
it. Eph wrote the name down on a slip of
paper, saying:
“Thank you, Jack. I'll try to commit this
name to memory. I don't want to hurt the feel-
ings of a sensitive little fellow. It would be a
shame to have to punch him if he felt insulted
and made a pass at me.”
“Punch him, eh?” laughed Jack in genuine
enjoyment. “Eph! Eph!
“Eph! Eph! Don't make any
false start like that!"
“What are you talking about?” questioned
Somers.
“Don't make the mistake, at any time, of try-
ing to punch that Japanese.”
“Trying to?" gasped Somers. “Say, if I
made a swing at that light colored little choco-
late drop, do you think I'd make a false pass
and hit my own nose?”


64
THE SUBMARINE BOYS
"You might be lucky if nothing worse hap-
pened,” grinned Jack. “Eph, did you never
hear of the Japanese jiu-jitsu?”
“What's that?" demanded young Somers.
“Slang name for something else in the Jap
wardrobe?'
“No; it's the Jap way of fighting,” Captain
Benson explained. “And you want to remem-
ber, Eph, that's it's a mighty sudden system,
too. It hits like lightning. When the smoke
clears away you see a little Japanese bowing
over you, and apologizing for having rudely
tipped you over.”
‘And little Cabbage-Jacko could do that?”
Eph grinned, incredulously. “Say, it's wrong
to tell me such funny things when I have a
cracked lip."
“All right,” sighed Jack. “But at least
you've been warned."
Truth to tell, the young submarine com-
mander wasn't much worried about Eph's de-
liberately provoking any fistic encounter with
a fellow much smaller than himself. In the
first place, the carroty-haired boy wasn't quar-
relsome, unless actually driven into a fight. At
all times Somers was too manly to take out
wrath on anyone merely up to his own shoulder
height.
Nearly an hour later Jack Benson stepped


AND THE SPIES
65
through into the conning tower; then moved
down the spiral staircase.
His rubber-soled deck shoes made no noise.
Thus it happened that the young submarine
commander came upon the new steward most un-
expectedly, and without being seen by the little,
brown man.
“Kamanako_you scoundrel !” shouted the
young captain, beside himself with sudden
wrath.
For the Japanese, wholy absorbed in his pres-
ent task, had deftly removed the gauge from the
midships submergence apparatus, and was now
dissecting the gauge itself, eyeing the parts with
the knowing look of an expert.
At sound of the captain's voice Kamanako
wheeled calmly about, holding up the gauge.
The smile on the face of the Japanese was child-
like and bland.
“This very queer thing,” he murmured.
“What for you use it—thermometer.''
“No," retorted Jack Benson, frigidly, eye-
ing the detected one. “It's a barometer,
and
it shows which way a meddler blows in!”
“I don't understand,” remarked the Japa-
nese, looking perplexed.
“Then I'll help you to understand. First of
all, put that gauge down on the table!”
Kamanako did so, then made a little bow.
3-The Submarine Boys and the Spies.


66
THE SUBMARINE BOYS
“Now,” continued Jack Benson, “take your
cap and go up on deck.”
“What shall I do there, Captain?” asked
Kamanako, politely.
“Well, you'll stand there until I see if you've
done anything else on board. If you haven't,
you can then take a boat to the shore-and stay
there."
“What this mean, honorable Captain?” de-
manded Kamanako, a look of offense begin-
ning to creep into his little, brown face.
“Well, if you must have it," returned Ben-
son, coldly, “it means that I've found you
spying into our mechanisms here. Now, a spy
is a creature no one cares to have about least
of all on a warship.”
“You call me spy_call me ugly name like
that?” cried Kamanako, showing his teeth.
"Get
your hat and go up on deck.
hear me?” insisted Captain Jack.
“I hear you, but I please myself about when
I do it," retorted the Japanese, drawing him-
self up to his full though not very imposing
height.
“Then you'll go without waiting for your
hat,” retorted Benson, his patience rapidly ooz-
ing now. He started toward the Japanese, just
as Eph, hearing the sound of talking, looked
in and down the staircase.
Do you


AND THE SPIES
67
“Gunpowder and smoke!” ejaculated the car-
roty-topped boy. “It's little chocolate drop!”
“Are you going up on deck quietly and in an
orderly way?” demanded Benson, a resolute
glitter in his clear, blue eyes.
"I please myself,” retorted Kamanako, de-
fiantly.
At that Jack Benson promptly forgot the
warning he had given Eph, and sprang at the
inquisitive steward.
“You'll go-" began Benson.
He was in error, though. It was he himself
who "went.” As he reached out with his right
hand to seize Kamanako something happened.
Exactly what it was the young submarine cap-
tain never quite knew. But he found himself
sprawling under the seat at the opposite side of
the cabin.
“Hi, yi! Wow!” exploded Eph, darting
down the stairs. “Save some of that for me!"
It was ready and waiting.
The carroty-topped boy crouched low, resting
his hands on his knees, after the manner of a
football player awaiting an assault.
Kamanako slid in close. Ere Eph could
seize him the Japanese let himself fall lightly on
one side. One of his feet hooked itself behind
Eph's advanced left ankle, the other foot press-
ing against the knee of the same leg. Eph's


68
THE SUBMARINE BOYS
ankle was yanked forward, his knee pressed
back, and Somers went toppling as a tree in the
forest does.
Kamanako was so quickly, on his feet again as
to suggest that he had fallen and risen in the
same movement. There was a quiet, yet dan-
gerous, smile on the face of the Japanese.
The door of the engine room opened swiftly
though noiselessly. Williamson, the machinist,
took in the whole scene instantly. Hardly a
full step forward he took when his fist landed
between the shoulders of Kamanako, sending
that young Japanese through the air, to land
sprawling.
As Kamanako leaped to his feet he found him-
self blinking at the muzzle of a revolver that
the machinist held in his right hand.
CHAPTER VI
THE LITTLE RUSSIAN HAS HER WAY
"D
ON'T get troublesome," advised the
machinist, softly. “I've never shot
a Jap, but I've always wanted to.”
There was a flicker of a grin in Williamson's
face that found a reflection in Kamanako's own
features.
By this time Jack Benson was on his feet, a


AND THE SPIES
69
bit ruffled though with all his wits about him.
At the same time Hal Hastings peered down
from the top of the staircase.
“You've had all the fun so far, Kamanako,”
Jack admitted. “But now you've got to get
off this boat mighty quick. Do you choose to
go without any more fuss ?”
“I go when I get ready,” retorted the Japa-
nese, sullenly.
“What's the matter, Jack?” asked Hal,
slowly.
"I've caught a dirty spy at work overhauling
our mechanisms,” replied the young submarine
boat commander.
With something of a snarl Kamanako turned
as though to spring at Benson again. The sight
of Williamson, immovable as a piece of marble,
yet holding that revolver suggestively, cooled
the Japanese ardor.
“How will it do, Captain," queried Hal, “if
I pass the word to the gunboat and have a file
of marines come over to take charge of this
spy?"
“First rate,” clicked Benson, and Kamanako
looked decidedly uneasy. He had his own rea-
sons why he didn't care to be placed under ar-
rest by United States troops.
Eph, striking on his head, had been knocked
senseless. He was too strong, however, too full


70
THE SUBMARINE BOYS
of vitality, to remain knocked out for long.
Now, he half opened his eyes, as he murmured:
“How beautifully the birds are singing to-
day! And there's mother, letting down the
bars so the cows can go to the milking shed!”
Jack laughed, in spite of himself. Then he
turned to the Japanese.
“Kamanako, do you want to go quietly, or
remain to see what the Navy officers do with
you?''
“I go now,” replied the Japanese, with a
shrug of his shoulders.
Turning, he started up the step, while Hal
Hastings, regaining the deck before him, hailed
one of the harbor boats.
Jack darted to where Eph was trying to sit
up, and raised him to one of the cabin seats.
“What do you think, now, of jiu-jitsu ?" asked
the young captain.
“I don't know,” confessed Somers, sheep-
ishly. “I didn't see any of it.”
At this moment a stateroom door opened,
and Jacob Farnum thrust his head out.
“Anything happening?" inquired the ship-
builder.
“No, sir," Jack answered. “It's all over."
Mr. Farnum came out, to ask further particu-
lars. Williamson, as soon as he had seen the
Japanese disappear up aloft, dropped his re-


AND THE SPIES
73
Plans were discussed for making some dis-
plays of the submarine's strong points on
another day. When the officers had gone, Mr.
Farnum turned to the boys to propose :
"You've never seen any of the country
around Spruce Beach. Neither have I. What
do you say if we go ashore? I'll charter an
auto, and we can have quite a trip before it's
luncheon time. Then we'll come back and eat
at the hotel.”
Right under the shadow of the gunboat, Wil-
liamson could be relied upon as being sufficient
guard. But David Pollard declined to go
ashore, on the plea that he had some letters to
write, which left a guard of two on board.
It was eleven o'clock, just to the minute, as the
automobile chartered by Mr. Farnum came
around the corner of the hotel veranda. At that
same instant another and handsomer car came
rolling into sight. The door of the ladies' par-
lor opened, and Mlle. Sara Nadiboff, arrayed
with unusually pleasing effect, came out.
As she caught sight of Jack she started,
then came eagerly over to him, holding out her
hand.
“Here comes my car,” she murmured. “And
I see, my Captain, that you have changed your
mind. You will drive with me this morning.”
“I'm sorry that I can't,” Benson replied, and


74
THE SUBMARINE BOYS
he meant it. “But I am engaged to go with
Mr. Farnum and our party.”
“You prefer to avoid me?" cried Mlle. Nadi-
boff, reproachfully, raising her eyes swiftly to
his.
“Now, please don't say that,” begged Ben-
son. “I wish you could understand, Mademoi-
selle, how far from the truth it is."
“Say but the word, and Mr. Farnum will
pardon you,” coaxed the charming young
woman.
“I couldn't even think of that,” replied Ben-
son. “It is business to go with one's employer.'
“Business?” repeated Mlle. Nadiboff, with an
accent half of disdain. “Surely, you are not
sufficiently a petty shop-keeper or serf to think
always of that word, 'business!''
“I fear I am," Jack nodded.
“Bah! Then you will never be a success with
the ladies," taunted Mlle. Nadiboff, though her
eyes were laughing, challenging.
“Of course, I'm only a green country boy,"
Jack replied, with admirable coolness, and
without any tone of offence. “So my highest
ambition is to be a success in the submarine
business."
The young woman had tact enough to per-
ceive that she had not quite scored by her con-
tempt for business. She was about to change


AND THE SPIES
75
the subject adroitly, when Mr. Farnum called,
laughingly :
“Are you coming with us, Captain? Or,
have you found pleasanter company for a
drive?"
Jack's hand started toward his uniform cap.
He was about to excuse himself, when the
young woman answered for him:
“He was just assuring me, Mr. Farnum, that
he would gladly go with me, but that you had
the right of prior engagement.”
“Oh, I'll release him," volunteered Mr. Far-
num, his eyes twinkling.
“Now, my Captain, you can no longer find ex-
cuse, unless you truly prefer other company to
mine."
Though Jack was interested in the vivacious
manner of Mlle. Nadiboff, he had not yet lost
his head under any of her flatteries. He was
secretly irritated against Mr. Farnum for let-
ting him off so easily. So Jack swiftly deter-
mined upon his own plan of evening matters.
“The way the affair has turned out, Made-
moiselle, I shall be delighted to go in your car.
Yet I am going to ask one every great favor.”
“A thousand, if you wish!” cried the young
woman spy, graciously.
“Will you permit me to invite my chum, Mr.
Hastings?”


AND THE SPIES
77
Despite her own cleverness, the young woman
gave a slight gasp of astonishment over this
swift arrangement.
“Decidedly, my young captain is not wholly
a fool," she told herself. “When I seek to snub
him, he puts it past my power. However, it
may be that this young engineer will be better
suited to my purpose. I will study him."
“Toot! toot!" The Farnum auto, getting
away first, went past them, sounding its whistle
while Mr. Farnum and Eph lifted their hats.
“Our gallant friend, the captain, must feel
out of conceit with me," laughed Mlle. Nadiboff
to Hal. “He prefers the chauffeur's company
to mine. So we must console ourselves.'
Though he had not been able to hear any of
the conversation, M. Lemaire, looking out from
behind the lace curtains of a parlor window,
had seen what had happened.
“Sara is doing better this morning,” he mut-
tered to himself. “Though why should she take
two of the young men with her? Ah, I see that
she has the engineer at her side, while young
Benson rides on the front seat. Clever little
woman! She is going to make the young cap-
tain jealous! Well enough does she know how
to do that!”
Not quite so well pleased was the young
woman herself, as the drive proceeded. Though


78
THE SUBMARINE BOYS
she did all in her power to charm Hal, and
though she did succeed in interesting him, she
could not draw the boy out into much conversa-
tion. Hal usually had little to say. Though he
answered Mlle. Nadiboff courteously from time
to time, he did not utter many words. Indeed,
he appeared to be thinking of something far re-
mote from the present scene.
“Are you bored, Mr. Hastings? Does the
sound of my voice annoy you?” asked Mlle.
Nadiboff, as the auto flew over the quiet coun-
try roads inland from Spruce Beach.
“Good gracious, no!” replied Hal.
“Then why do you say so little?”
“Because you say it so much better, Made-
moiselle."
“But flattery will never take the place of in-
terested conversation."
“Engineers don't talk much," protested Hal.
“So they think a great deal. Of what were
you thinking ?”
“Oh?” murmured Hal. “Oh, I was thinking
of my engine, I guess.”
Mlle. Nadiboff bit her lips in secret rage. If
she had felt that she was doing poorly with
Captain Jack Benson, evidently she was now
seated beside an absent-minded sphinx.
“What place is that over there?” inquired
Hal, coming out of a brown study as he felt


AND THE SPIES
79
some reproach in the stiffening attitude of his
companion.
Hal's eye had been caught by what looked
like the ruins of an old castle. Such sights are
at least rare in the United States.
“That ruin, do you mean?” asked Mlle. Nadi-
boff. “Oh, it is a quaint bit of a castle, only
some three hundred years old, though long past
in ruins. I believe it was erected as a strong-
hold by some wealthy man, in the old days when
the pirates from Havana now and then swept
along the coast on their raids. Would you like
to see the place, Mr. Hastings?”
“Very much indeed,” Hal admitted, "if you
have the time."
"The time?" Mlle. Nadiboff's laughter rip-
pled out merrily. “Why, I have all the time in
the world, Mr. Hastings. I live only to enjoy
myself.'
“That must be rather a dull existence, then,"
thought Hal, while his pretty companion leaned
forward to give the order to the chauffeur, who
turned up a road leading to the ruined castle
of the old piratical days.
Jack had heard the conversation, and so knew,
without asking, for what they were now head-
ing.
As they drew closer they discovered other an-
tomobiles near the old castle.


80
THE SUBMARINE BOYS
>>
“The place has several visitors to-day?"
hinted Hal.
“Oh, yes; it is one of the show spots of this
section,” replied Mlle. Nadiboff. “It does well
enough to look about there for a few minutes.
But a ruin like that suggests death and decay,
and I-I love life.”
“Still, that castle is now a part of history,"
suggested Hal, “and history, it seems to me,
should always be interesting.”
“This stupid young engineer!” fumed Mlle.
Nadiboff, to herself. “He would drive me wild,
if I saw much of him. I think even my slow lit-
tle captain will prove more romantic.”
Though neither of the submarine boys could
yet suspect it, they were soon to stumble into
much more than relics of the past.
They were destined to find themselves ex-
posed to one of the greatest surprises of their
already eventful lives.
“Here we are,” cried Mlle. Nadiboff, as the
auto stopped near the north end of the castle.
“May you discover something to interest you!”
The submarine boys certainly did!


AND THE SPIES
81
CHAPTER VII
A POINTER "JOLTS'
THE SUBMARINE CAPTAIN
T
HERE was not much left of the old castle,
save the walls, and some badly crumbled
ruins of inner buildings.
“The Florida climate doesn't seem to agree
with castles," suggested Jack. “I have an idea
that, in Europe, a castle only three hundred
years old would last much longer and keep
much better."
“In Europe?” repeated Mlle. Nadiboff.
“Oh, yes; much better. But then, perhaps in
Europe there would be a feeling of veneration
for the old that would lead the people to take
much better care of their castles. It would be
so in my country, I know.”
“May I ask what is your country, Mademoi-
selle?" asked Jack, looking up and into her face.
“Guess, Mr. Yankee!”
Why, I would guess that you are a Rus-
sian."
“You are worthy of the name of Yankee, then.
Yes; I am a Russian."
Another party of sight-seers passed them at
that moment, and one man was heard to remark:
“At the south end of the castle is a stairway
The Submarine Boys and the Spies.


82
THE SUBMARINE BOYS
leading down to an underground dungeon. Le-
gend tells us that some forty Spanish pirates
were once confined there, for a month, before
permission was received from the governor to
hang the Spaniards."
“Did you hear that?” murmured Jack, inter-
estedly. “A real, old dungeon, with an interest-
ing history.”
“Such a history merely afflicts me with a shud-
der,” replied Mlle. Nadiboff, shrugging her
shoulders.
“By Jove, I believe I'd like to have just a
glimpse of that old dungeon, Mademoiselle, if
I am not tiring you or wasting your time."
“You will have to go alone, then," replied
the young woman. “I will wait, my Captain."
“I will remain with Mlle. Nadiboff," volun-
teered Hal.
So Jack Benson, after raising his cap, stepped
off rapidly toward the southern end of the old
ruin.
With much difficulty he found the entrance to
the stairway leading below. At the head of the
stairs two youngish men were standing. The
face of one of them looked familiar.
“How do you do, Captain!” nodded that one.
"You don't recall me, I guess.
I saw yon,
yesterday, only for a moment at the rail of the
gunboat. My name is Hennessy, one of the


AND THE SPIES
83
newspaper men who visited your wonderful
craft yesterday.”
“I am glad to meet you again,” Jack re-
plied, "and sorry that we couldn't show you
more."
“This is my friend, Mr. Graham," continued
the newspaper man.
“Graham is the Washing-
ton correspondent for my paper, so of course he
has heard of your boats before."
"If
you had been aboard,” smiled Jack, “you
might have seen something in the way of a little
news happening."
"What was that?”
“Why, we found a new Japanese steward,
whom we had engaged, absorbed in his study
of some of our mechanisms. So we had to in-
duce him to quit our service and go back to
shore again.”
“A spy, eh?” smiled Graham. “There are
many of them about. Wherever there is any-
thing connected with our national defense the
spies of Europe are sure to flock, until they have
learned all they want to know. And I suspect
that they rarely fail, in the end.
You were
fortunate to catch your Japanese at his tricks at
so early a stage in the game.
“I wish all these spies could be herded to-
gether and hanged !" muttered Captain Jack, in
honest indignation.


86
THE SUBMARINE BOYS
one years old. I am aware that she looks hardly
older to-day. When I saw you with her ten
minutes ago it was the first hint I had that she
was in Florida.'
“So she's a spy?" muttered Jack Benson,
speaking more to himself. “Then I can under-
stand why she seemed so anxious to interest me.
I was not wrong about that.'
"No," laughed Graham. “Beyond a doubt
the young woman is very anxious to please you,
and to keep your interest. You happen to com-
mand a type of submarine torpedo boat in which
all the world is at present much interested. By
the way, I wonder if Mlle. Nadiboff, as you call
her, works under the directions of the same
chief? He was a man-
Here the Washington correspondent gave a
description that caused Jack Benson to exclaim:
“Why, that's M. Lemaire, to a dot!”
“I guess there's no doubt about it, then,'
laughed Mr. Graham. “You've fallen into the
hands of a pair of the boldest, wickedest and
cleverest of foreign spies."
“I thank you heartily for informing me about
them,” breathed Jack Benson, his eyes gleam-
ing as he thought of the pair. “But there's one
thing that puzzles me. Mlle. Nadiboff is a Rus-
sian, and M. Lemaire must be a Frenchman.
Then which country owns that precious pair?"


AND THE SPIES
87
“Spies rarely have any country,” smiled the
Washington correspondent. “They work for
whichever government will pay them best. To-
day they will sell out their employers of yester-
day.”
“They're a noble lot, then," grunted Jack,
disgustedly.
Mr. Hennessy proposed that they go down to
have a look at the dungeon underground. While
they were examining that damp, slimy old cell,
the conversation continued.
“Has either of that pair seen you, Mr.
Graham?' asked Jack.
“I don't believe it. I'm not stopping at the
Hotel Clayton.”
“Then neither of them will suspect that I've
been posted," muttered Benson, with a short
laugh.
“Why do you say that?”
“Because I rather think,” smiled the young
submarine captain, “that I may attempt to pay
that pair back in their own coin-somehow. By
the way, do either of them know you well when
they see you?”
“They might remember me as a newspaper
writer,” replied Graham. “So I'll keep out of
the way."
“It won't be necessary for me to keep out of
the way,” added Hennessy. “I don't know
29


88
THE SUBMARINE BOYS
either Mlle. Nadiboff or her companion; and,
besides, I'm here openly as a reporter interested
in the submarine craft."
By this time the three had returned to the
upper air.
“I'll vanish, now," proposed Mr. Graham.
“But you, Hennessy, if Captain Benson doesn't
mind, might as well go along with him.
You may get a good look at the Nadiboff
woman. You, too, may think her very young.
She has a knack of keeping so. Yet she's at
least twenty-eight or thirty. Good-bye, for the
present!”
Graham turned, losing himself from their
sight amid the ruins. Hennessy walked with
Jack back to where Hal and the woman awaited
them.
Jack's mind was rapidly revolving plans for
teaching some one a lesson that would not be for-
gotten.
CHAPTER VIII
EVEN UP FOR MR. KAMANAKO
"T"
HIS is Mr. Hennessy, one of the news-
paper men who visited our boat yester-
day afternoon, said Jack,
rejoining his companions. “Mr. Hennessy has
been returning good for evil. While I am un-
on


AND THE SPIES
89
able to tell him any of the things he wants most
to know about our boat, he, on the other hand,
has been telling me much of interest about these
ruins."
“There are a lot of legends about this old
wreck of a castle,” laughed Hennessy. “Most
of them are too silly to consider for a moment.
One of the old stories has to do with a secret
passage. Some of the guides hereabouts show
what they solemnly explain was one of the out-
lets of the secret passage in bygone days. Do
you care to devote five minutes to looking at the
ridiculous thing?"
Mlle. Nadiboff smilingly accepted the sugges-
tion, so Hal and Jack also agreed.
The re-
porter led the way across a field, pausing at last
before a fringe of weeds and low bushes.
“Now, just step through this wild hedge,
Hennessy proposed, smilingly, “and you'll see
how little it takes to start a yarn.
Look out,
though, that you don't fall down."
As they stepped through the fringe cautiously
the members of the party found themselves peer-
ing down the shaft of what appeared to be a
very ordinary well. It was circular, in shape,
and had been laid, on the inside, with a masonry
of stones.
“There is water at the bottom, isn't there?”
inquired the woman spy.


90
THE SUBMARINE BOYS
“Yes," replied Hennessy. "It was never
anything more than a well. Yet, day before
yesterday, one of the local guides brought me
here and insisted on telling me all about its
having been an outlet of a famous secret pas-
sage from the castle. I had some fishing tackle
in my pocket, so I rigged up a line and weight,
and let it down. I satisfied myself that there
were about four feet of greenish, slimy water at
the bottom of a well. I wish you could have
seen the guide's face!”
“Here come some visitors, now," nudged
Hal.
Two men and four women, led by a guide,
approached the place.
“This shaft looks dark and mysterious
enough,” began the guide, reeling off a well-
learned lesson, “to be as full of historic interest
and mystery as it really is. This shaft is what
is left of one of the outlets of the famous se-
cret passage to and from the castle."
While the new vistors crowded about, asking
questions and offering remarks, the party that
Hennessy was guiding stepped into the back-
ground, secretly enjoying the guide's buncombe.
“If people would only stop to use their good
sense a bit,” whispered Hennessy, “they'd
know, at once, that the shaft is only a long dis-
used well."
22


AND THE SPIES
91
>>
“Great Scott!” whispered Jack. «Here
come Mr. Farnum and Eph with a guide.
Let's see if they will be buncoed.”
Guide number two came up, with the ship-
builder and Somers in tow. Greetings were ex-
changed. Then the last arrived pair stepped
forward in the guide's wake. Farnum listened
with an amused smile.
“Oh, pshaw!” grunted Eph. “Is this the
best you can show us? This is nothing but an
old well, with ten feet of malaria at the bottom.
Show us, for a change, something that we can
believe."
Hal began to laugh quietly. Then all hands
stepped forward for another look down the
shaft. As they stepped outside again Benson
happened to turn just in time to see a familiar
figure coming along a path near by.
It was Kamanako, better dressed than he had
been earlier in the morning, and carrying a bulg-
ing dress suit-case.
“Hullo!” muttered Jack Benson, in a tone
loud enough to carry to the ears of the new-
comer. “There's that infernal Jap spy—that
scoundrelly thief of other men's secrets !"
Kamanako halted as abruptly as though he
had been challenged by a sentry. As he saw
the young captain a dark, red flush crept into
the cheeks of the little, brown man.


92
THE SUBMARINE BOYS
"You talk much," sneered the Japanese his
anger rising.
“I say what I think about spies and fellows
who would steal other men's secrets,” retorted
the young submarine captain.
“You will hold tongue better, if you please,”
snapped Kamanako.
“I? Hold my tongue for any scamp like
you?” taunted Jack Benson.
The taunt had the effect for which Jack
wished. Kamanako, looking furious, dropped
his dress suit case and ran angrily forward.
Just in time, as the Japanese bounded
through the fringe of weeds, Captain Jack
dodged adroitly to one side.
So Kamanako plunged past him-and, the
next instant, there came a smothered yell from
the inside of the well shaft.
“Oh, that was a shame!" came indignantly,
from one of the women in the party of strangers.
But Jack, paying no heed to her, had stepped
back to the edge of the well shaft. Dimly, down
at the bottom, he could make out Kamanako,
standing in slimy water that reached nearly up
to his arm-pits.
“Is the water fine, eh?” Jack called down,
laughingly.
“I show you—some time!" came the answer,
in smothered rage.


94
THE SUBMARINE BOYS
there to work his own way out, since no one
feels any sorrow over the punishment of a spy.
“Gunpowder and doughnuts! But you did
get square,” chuckled Eph, as the submarine
party turned back to the automobiles.
“So that Japanese was a spy, you said?”
murmured Mlle. Nadiboff, in a low tone, as they
walked along.
“Yes, beyond a doubt,” Jack assured her.
“It must seem strange to be a spy," mur-
mured the young woman.
“It must give one a
strange feeling.”
“Yes, and a mighty mean feeling," agreed
Jack, coolly.
As he spoke he raised his eyes carelessly to
her face. He did not make the glance so signifi-
cant as to betray his real thoughts.
Mlle. Nadiboff did not flinch nor change color
under that brief scrutiny. Instead, she ap-
peared to be almost lost in thought as she
walked along.
Suddenly she clutched at the young captain's
arm.
“I wonder if you would do something very
great, to please me?" she murmured, question-
ingly.
“I'd certainly like to have you try me,” re-
sponded Jack Benson, in an equally low tone.
He spoke the truth, too, for he believed that this


AND THE SPIES
95
charming but dangerous companion was schem-
ing some sudden move in her plans as a spy.
He wanted to find out what that move would be.
Above all, if it were possible, he wanted to get
a knowledge of which foreign country she rep-
resented.
“Won't you contrive to drive alone with me
in my car, when we reach it?” she whispered,
coaxingly.
“And leave your chauffeur behind, also ?”
asked Jack, smiling.
"That will not be necessary. I do not mind
him. But I have much that I wish to say to you,
my Captain. As for your friend-pardon me,
but he is dull, and
“Quiet, I think you mean, Mademoiselle,” in-
terposed Jack. “Hal's worst enemy, if he had
one, would hardly call him dull.”
“Anyway, my Captain,” murmured the young
woman, “he does not interest me, and I do want
a few words with you."
“This charming young spy,” muttered Ben-
son quickly, to himself, “is beginning to feel that
I'm not enough interested to be coaxed away
from my duty by flatteries. I take it she means
to show her real hand, and try to play it in earn-
est. If that's the case, I want to know what
she is going to say."
Aloud be replied:


96
THE SUBMARINE BOYS
"It will be easy enough to send my friend
away with the others, Mademoiselle. When
we reach the automobile all I shall have to do
will be to look straight at him.'
"Ah! You have a code of signals—you
two?" Mlle. Nadiboff laughed, delightedly.
“A code?" repeated Jack. “No; we have
never needed one. But my chum is an unusually,
bright and quick young man.'
CHAPTER IX
S
"DOG, WHO IS YOUR MASTER?”
EEING Jack and the
young
Russian woman
so interested in their talk, the others had
gradually strolled away from them.
Hennessy had already succeeded in securing
an invitation to return to Spruce Beach in Mr.
Farnum's hired auto.
Hal Hastings presently turned, as though to
step over to Mlle. Nadiboff's car, but he caught
a swift look from Jack, and turned back. Hal
had not yet heard of the grave suspicion against
the young woman, and could not guess what this
move of his chum's meant. Hastings, however,
was swift to take the hint.
“You have not overstated your friend's in-
telligence," murmured the young Russian,


AND THE SPIES
97
gleefully. “At a short look from you he re-
treats."
“Oh, Hal and I always understand each
other,” smiled Jack.
“That is very interesting. And yet I do not
like Mr. Hastings as I like you," replied the
young woman.
She looked at him with a friendly, little flash
in her eyes. Had Jack been a few years older,
and not warned, he might have been snared
by this experienced flirt. As it was, he did
not take the trouble to answer her last little
speech.
Just before they stepped into the car Mlle.
Nadiboff uttered a few quick words, in some
foreign tongue, to her man at the steering
wheel. The auto sped away. Jack noted only,
at first, that they were now going further from
Spruce Beach. The road down which they
drove, however, was a beautiful one, and the
submarine boy did not much mind where they
went, provided he could find out how Mlle. Nadi-
boff meant to make the approach against his
loyalty to the submarine company.
“Do you know, my Captain, that you are
hardly a flattering escort?” began Mlle. Nadi-
boff, after they had whirled along for a mile or
more.
“Why not?” Jack inquired, bluntly.
7- The Submarine Boys and the Spies.


98
THE SUBMARINE BOYS
“Have you noticed how I seem to please most
men?"
“I saw that several were very anxious to
dance with you last evening, and that, whenever
you were seated, men flocked about your chair."
“Why do you suppose they did that?" chal-
lenged Mlle. Nadiboff.
“Because you are a very handsome woman,
and the men admired you," Benson answered,
plainly.
“Ah! Then you think I am handsome?”
“I haven't a doubt of it," Jack answered.
“Do you admire me?"
The challenge came plain and direct. Mlle.
Nadiboff now gazed searchingly into the sub-
marine boy's eyes.
“I-I think you a very handsome woman to
look at,” Captain Jack admitted, readily.
“Is that all you have to say?"
“I–I am afraid I do not understand you,
Mademoiselle."
“You have no desire to be especially gallant
to me? It would cause you no jealousy if you
saw that I preferred the company of other
men?'
Jack Benson returned her glance, almost in
bewilderment for a moment. Then he leaned
back, trying to stifle the impulse to laugh, but he
did not wholly succeed.


AND THE SPIES
99
“You are amused?” cried the young Russian,
half angry.
*Amused-yes, at the idea of my falling in
love, if that was what you meant to suggest,'
replied Jack, again speaking very candidly.
“And why should that amuse you, my Cap-
tain?"
“Why, do you know how old I am, Mlle.
Nadiboff? Or rather, how young? I am only
sixteen. At my age, if I formed any notion of
being in love, it would be sensible to have
me spanked and put on a short diet for a few
days.”
He laughed merrily, now, and Mlle. Nadiboff
turned away her head to conceal the tears of
vexation that started to her eyes.
“Bah!” she thought to herself. “I have been
wasting time—at Lemaire's orders. The only
way to induce this boy to betray his trust will be
by offering him presents of marbles, tops, kites-
bah! Bah!”
Mlle. Nadiboff settled back in her seat, look-
ing straight ahead, her attitude as frigid as
could be. For some moments she did not at-
tempt to speak. When she did open her lips
she said, icily:
“I find that I have been wasting my
time."
“Wasting your time, Mademoiselle?" echoed


100
THE SUBMARINE BOYS
Jack Benson, coolly, for he was much more fully
alive to the situation, thanks to Mr Graham,
than she had any chance to know. “May I ask
what you have been trying to do?”
The question made the young woman bite her
lip. Mlle. Nadiboff had been a spy quite as
long as Mr. Graham had stated. As she looked
back over the years she was able to recall man
after man whom she had flattered and lured
by the witchery of her eyes. Secret after se-
cret she had coaxed from men entrusted with
guarding such mysteries. The rewards of the
work had kept M. Lemaire and herself both
bountfully supplied with money by the foreign
governments that they had served as spies.
Most men whom she had tried to win into her
service the young Russian woman had found
easy enough victims. But now, here was a six-
teen-year-old boy laughing at her attempts at
"cleverness."
“I was wrong to think Jack Benson a fool,”
she said to herself, angrily. “He is far more
clever than the men I have met. I can do noth-
ing with him. I must turn him over to Le-
maire-to see if that prince of spies, as he has
often been called, can find the flaw in this sub-
marine boy's armor."
With that Mlle. Nadiboff leaned forward,
murmuring a few words to the chauffeur, who


AND THE SPIES
101
nodded slightly. Then the young woman leaned
back, turning a smiling, friendly but no longer
coaxing face to Jack Benson.
“If I have amused you,” she smiled, “I am
glad. We will say that much and forget the
rest, eh, Captain Benson."
“I am glad to agree to anything that will
please you,” responded the boy, gravely.
Mlle. Nadiboff shot a covert look at his face,
then decided to say nothing. She began to have
a suspicion that this sixteen-year-old boy was
far more clever than she, despite all her years
of strange experiences.
A mile further along the automobile branched
off the main road, running down a shaded lane
at much reduced speed.
"What is this—some short cut back to the
beach 9" asked Jack, trying to conceal his aston-
ishment.
“Yes," replied the young Russian, falsely.
Soon the big car stopped. The chauffeur
thrust a whistle between his lips, blowing a tril-
ling blast.
Jack Benson changed color somewhat. This
sounded suspicious—a signal in the woods. It
was doubly suspicous after the hints that Mr.
Graham had given the young submarine cap-
tain.
“Do not jump—do not be afraid,” laughed


102
THE SUBMARINE BOYS
Mlle. Nadiboff, rather maliciously. “Nothing
in the way of danger threatens.”
Almost immediately the chug-chug of another
auto was heard, just ahead up the narrow road.
Then into sight glided a small runabout, in
which sat M. Lemaire, all by himself. That
Frenchman stopped his car, next waving one
hand gayly to those in the larger car.
Then, lifting his hat most courteously to the
young woman, M. Lemaire stepped over to the
other car. The Russian woman spoke in some
tongue, the like of which Benson had never
heard before. It was Arabic, a language that
both of these spies understood perfectly. What
she said was:
"The boy is yours. Do what you can with
him. I admit that I have failed. I have no
hope of being able to do anything with him."
M. Lemaire's eyebrows contracted briefly, in
a slight frown. Then, forcing a pleasant look
to his face, the Frenchman asked, in a tone easy
enough with courtesy :
“Captain Benson, will you step out and talk
with me a few moments ? I have much to
say.'
“I can listen," nodded Jack, looking steadily,
shrewdly into the eyes of this male spy. “At
the same time, sir, this whole proceeding, meet-
ing, request and all are so unusual that I think


AND THE SPIES
103
you cannot do better than to give me a frank ex-
planation of what this all means."
“Means ?” murmured the Frenchman, as
though not comprehending.
“Yes," retorted Captain Jack Benson, dis-
daining to beat about the bush for an instant.
“If you pretend that you do not under-
stand me, sir, I shall feel obliged to have a
poor idea of either your honesty or your in-
telligence."
"Are you trying to insult me?” asked the
Frenchman, a warning flash in his eyes.
“Not at all,” Jack answered, unhesitatingly.
“I am asking you for a direct statement. Why
am I brought here in this fashion? What is
wanted of me?"
The young captain was now paying no atten-
tion to Mlle. Nadiboff. She, finding herself not
needed in the talk, had slipped out at the other
side of the car, and was now strolling slowly
some yards away.
“Won't you step out, Captain Benson, so we
can walk and talk this matter over?” again in-
sisted the Frenchman.
“Then you have something to say that you
don't think quite proper for the chauffeur to
hear?” demanded Benson, almost mockingly.
“Oh, our good Gaston is all right,” laughed
the Frenchman, nodding at the chauffeur.


104
THE SUBMARINE BOYS
“The chauffeur, then, is one of the crowd-
all spies," flashed through Jack's vengeful
mind. “I might have guessed it. And this
crowd have me a long way from my friends."
“You are not afraid to step down to the
ground, Captain Benson?” asked the male spy,
half mockingly.
“Afraid?” flushed Jack, springing down to
the ground and confronting M. Lemaire. “No;
I am not afraid of a regiment like you!"
“I begin to imagine that you are a brave
young man, Captain," assented M. Lemaire,
rather admiringly.
“Brave?" echoed Benson. “There's noth-
ing here that calls for bravery, is there?”
“No-0-0,” smiled the Frenchman slowly.
“Nothing, Captain, but the courage to do and
dare--and prosper."
“You speak like the puzzle page in a mail-
order magazine," laughed Jack Benson, more
easily. “Now, Monsieur, won't you oblige me
by becoming more definite?”
“What can I say, then?”
“Why, M. Lemaire, I always like to deal with
people who are direct and right to the point.
You plainly have some kind of a scheme that
you are trying to put through with me. Won't
you oblige me by coming straight to the very
point?"


AND THE SPIES
105
“I shall be as direct as you can wish, Cap-
tain Benson," replied the Frenchman, regain-
ing his smile. “Let us stroll. Walking often
helps the flow of language."
Out of the corner of his eye Jack noted that,
though Mlle. Nadiboff refrained from joining
them, she none the less hovered at no great dis-
tance from them.
“Now, my young friend,” began the French-
man, after a pause of a few moments, “you
command the submarine boat, and you know all
her secrets. You are a draughtsman, too, no
doubt?'
“A fair draughtsman,” nodded Jack.
“You could draw us a model of the boat you
command. You could make drawings of all the
important parts. You could supply us with ex-
planations."
“Just what sort of explanations ?” Jack
asked, coolly.
M. Lemaire shot a swift, sidelong glance at
the submarine boy.
“How?" demanded the Frenchman. “You do
not understand yet?”
“You promised, Monsieur, to be very exact
and explicit. What do you want?”
“Why, then, such drawings and such explan-
ations that any skilled shipbuilder, from the
plans you furnish us, could build another boat


AND THE SPIES
107
“My master?” repeated the Frenchman. “I
do not understand you."
“Every dog, even a dirty one," thundered
Captain Jack Benson, "has a master! Who's
yours?"
M. Lemaire's face became livid in an instant.
His hands working convulsively, he sprang at
the
young submarine captain.
Mlle. Nadiboff, snatching a riding whip from
under her automobile coat, turned and ran to-
ward them. The chauffeur snatched up a
wrench, leaping out of the automobile.
CHAPTER X
M. LEMAIRE PROVES HIS TRAINING
"Y
OU insult me!” screamed M. Lemaire,
halting right under the face of Captain
Jack Benson, who looked at him un-
daunted.
"I didn't,” denied Jack. “I let you do that
yourself. My congratulations, sir.
You cer-
tainly know how to insult your own manhood
as well as the most confirmed scoundrel could
wish!"
“You insult again!" quivered M. Lemaire,
his French accent asserting itself. "I s'all
make you pay for zat!”


AND THE SPIES
109
young Russian woman to retreat three or four
steps.
Now Jack drew himself up, for he was be-
coming more master of himself. He at once re-
solved to play this game, if there was to be more
of it, with greater coolness.
“I think you see, Monsieur, that I am not
to be frightened by your childish gymnastics,
Benson uttered.
M. Lemaire, too, had forced himself to greater
coolness.
“Why, Captain Benson, I might even kill, if
I found it necessary,” replied the Frenchman.
"Then don't get any notion that it's neces-
sary,” frowned the young submarine captain.
“It would get you into a fearful lot of trouble,
and could do you no possible good.'
“But you called me a 'dog,'” pursued M.
Lemaire, plaintively. “To a Frenchman that is
the gr-r-r-rand insult!"
“Let it go at that, then," proposed Benson,
with a pretense at amiability.
“Ah! Then you will forget what has just
happened, if I will?” cried the Frenchman,
eagerly. “That is admir-r-r-rable! Now, then,
ten thousand dollars I have said you shall be
paid for what you will furnish me. Ah, even
in this rich country, one can do much with ten
thousand dollars!”


110
THE SUBMARINE BOYS
“It wouldn't be much, I'm afraid, as com-
pared with my prospects with the Pollard Com-
pany,” replied Captain Jack, with his most
thoughtful air.
“Your prospects with the company?” echoed
M. Lemaire. “Why, my bright young captain,
your prospects with the company will continue
just the same. They will never know that you
have taken this little fortune from me. Ten
thousand dollars! Think of that!”
“And you'd turn around and sell what I'd
give you for a half a million, very likely."
“Oh, no, no, no!" disclaimed the Frenchman,
solemnly. “There would be nothing like that in
it for me."
“Then no foreign government wants very
badly to know about the Pollard plans,” in-
quired Jack.
“There is no government that would pay a
really great fortune for such information,” M.
Lemaire assured the submarine boy.
“There is one,” retorted Captain Jack, with
a cunning smile.
“Which one?” demanded the Frenchman,
doubtingly.
“One that you don't happen to represent,"
laughed Jack, quietly.
“Ah, I much doubt it, though I beg you to
pardon me for saying so, Captain Benson."


AND THE SPIES
111
“Why, man alive," grumbled Jack, "are you
running away with the notion that you're the
only one who ever approached me with a view to
finding out how the Pollard boat runs? You
claim to be a spy for some other government,
M. Lemaire. Are you such an infant as to think
yourself the only spy in the field ?”
"You would have to tell me about the others.
Name them, or describe them to me," urged the
Frenchman. “Then I would know, if they are
real agents of any foreign government.'
“I would tell you nothing of the sort,” mut-
tered Captain Jack. “I am young, perhaps,
yet I'm old enough to keep my own secrets.'
“Then it is agreed, anyway,” hastened on the
Frenchman, “that, in three days, you will have
ready the plans and descriptions, and that I,
after I have looked them over and have found
them satisfactory, will hand you ten thousand
dollars."
“If you've made any
such agreement,'
laughed Benson, “then you've made it with
yourself only. You certainly haven't made it
with me."
“Don't you agree, then?" asked M. Lemaire.
“No,” said Jack, shortly, turning on his heel.
“Where are you going, Captain?”
“Back to Spruce Beach."
“On foot ?"


112
THE SUBMARINE BOYS
“Yes, for I know your kind too well to sup-
pose that you'll offer me a ride back."
“Wait!” cried M. Lemaire, persuasively, and
B son halted, looking at him. “Of course I
cannot offer you a lift back to town," continued
the Frenchman, smilingly, “for that would be
ungallant. But Mlle. Nadiboff, who had the
pleasure of your company out here will, I know,
be most delighted at having your company on
the return."
“Assuredly,” added the young Russian
woman, with one of those charming smiles that
had failed so utterly with the submarine boy.
“I shall feel most offended if Captain Benson
does penance by walking all the miles back to
Spruce Beach.”
“I'd be a fool, then, to take that long walk
back, when I can ride,” thought Captain Jack.
So he turned, retracing his steps and bowing
to the young woman.
“Yet, before we start,” proposed M. Lemaire,
anxiously, “let us see, Captain, if we cannot yet
come to some arrangement.”
“Well?” demanded Jack, for boyish curios-
ity tempted him to find how far this Frenchman
was willing to go.
“Captain Benson," proposed Lemaire, “let
us say that the price for what I ask shall be fif-
teen thousand dollars.'


AND THE SPIES
113
“You're not getting anywhere near my price,
M. Lemaire,” laughed the submarine boy, de-
risively.
“You are playing with me laughing at me!”
cried the Frenchman, yet he spoke cheerily, for
now he began to hope that this American boy
might yet be induced to sell himself, body, soul
and honor.
“We may as well drop this line of talk,'
hinted Jack Benson. “You were good enough
to offer me a ride back to town, I believe?”
“Yet the price ? Let us settle that first,'
begged the Frenchman. “Captain Benson, I
will make you one more offer—but it must be
the last. Listen!"
Yet that word was followed by three or four
utterly mysterious words, uttered in a low voice
in Arabic.
“Yes,” nodded Mlle. Nadiboff, Jack
glanced from one to the other, “but this must
be the last offer."
“The last, the only, the highest offer," mut-
tered Gaston, who had recovered from the blows
Captain Jack had given him.
"Well, then, Captain Benson, bring me your
plans within three days, with all the other data
needed for the construction of one of your sub-
marine boats, and I will hand you, in exchange,
the sum of twenty thousand dollars. There
8-The Submarine Boys and the Spies.


114
THE SUBMARINE BOYS
you are, my good friend! Twenty thousand
dollars. Now you are ours, are you not?”
Disgusted, yet crafty, Jack Benson pretended
to hesitate.
“You must give me your answer at once," de-
manded M. Lemaire. “I cannot be played with
any longer.”
Captain Jack drew himself stiffly erect, look-
ing the Frenchman full in the eyes.
“M. Lemaire, you must have been a spy for
a good many years.
You have been engaged so
long in dishonest transactions that you are un-
able to understand such a thing as common
honesty."
“Do you call it honesty," demanded the
Frenchman, with a bitter smile, “to demand
more than twenty thousand dollars for such an
easily performed service?”
"You idiot!" broke forth Jack, in sudden con-
tempt. He was no longer able even to play with
this rascal. “Your offer is just as good as one
of a million dollars would be. I wouldn't take
either!"
“What! You have been trifling with me?”
demanded M. Lemaire, starting forward.
Now the meaning of those few words in
Arabic became plain enough. For Mlle. Nadi-
boff, who had bent over, her hand toying with
the sand, suddenly clutched a handful of the



.
દd
1
Mlle. Nadiboff hurled the sand in Benson's face.
a
115


AND THE SPIES
117
fine grains and straightened up, hurling the sand
full in Benson's face.
In that same flashing instant Gaston darted
behind the young American. As the half-
blinded young captain dodged back, the chauf-
feur caught him around the neck, dragging him
to the ground, while Lemaire sprang a-top of
the boy.
Jack fought desperately enough, but the two
men rolled him over, struggling to hold his
hands. Then-
Click! snap!
Jack Benson's wrists were handcuffed tightly
together.
Now M. Lemaire leaped up, looking down
gloatingly at the boy.
“Benson, you young fool,” scoffed the
Frenchman, "since you
refuse to be treated as a
friend, you shall know what it is to have us for
your enemies. You deem it easy to laugh at
us—to call us names ! Bah! You will soon be
glad to beg from us! Your hours of misery are
now before you—perhaps days of torment that
shall end in madness. Defy us?
Balk our
plans? Pouf (How little you know of the peo-
ple with whom you have now to deal!”
Then, at a sign from Lemaire, Gaston threw
himself upon Benson's legs, swiftly binding the
ankles together. This done, Lemaire himself


118
THE SUBMARINE BOYS
added a gag to Jack's mouth that shut off the
last chance of making a sound.
This done, the two men bore Captain Jack
to the larger auto, while Mlle. Nadiboff, chuck-
ling softly, covered him completely under
robes.
CHAPTER XI
JACK'S FRIENDS DO SOME FAST GUESSING
"S°
O that's the kind of people they are?”
Jacob Farnum smiled softly as Re-
porter Hennessy finshed repeating the
information volunteered by Mr. Graham, the
Washington correspondent.
To this Hal had contributed the little he was
able to tell of Mlle. Nadiboff's conduct.
“You will have to look to your young cap-
tain more closely after this," wound up Hen-
nessy.
“Why?" questioned the shipbuilder.
“Even at this moment he is away in the com-
pany of that clever woman.”
“Oh, he won't be cross with her," retorted
Farnum, with an easy smile. "Jack Benson is
always courteous with women.”
“But aren't you afraid your young captain
will have his head turned by her?” pressed the
reporter.


AND THE SPIES
119
“Who? Jack?” laughed Mr. Farnum. “Say,
it's very plain you don't know Jack Benson."
The shipbuilder, two of the submarine boys
and the reporter were seated by themselves at
one end of the Hotel Clayton's big front ver-
anda.
“Aren't you at all uneasy?" asked Hennessy.
“If I am,” proposed the shipbuilder, “I'm
going to cure my mental unrest with luncheon.
Won't you join us, Mr. Hennessy ?”
If appetite were any guide, none of the sub-
marine people felt the slightest uneasiness as to
information that the sprightly Mlle. Nadiboff
might be able to coax from Captain Jack while
on that auto drive.
By the time that the quartette came out again,
however, Farnum began to look bothered.
“After two,” he declared, “and Jack not here.
Now, at three o'clock, I've agreed to take out a
party of naval officers from the gunboat. We
want to show those Navy fellows some of our
prettiest work in the ‘Benson.'"
“It looks as though your young captain is
finding his companion so pleasant that he for-
gets to look frequently at his watch," suggested
the reporter, slyly.
“Jack Benson doesn't know anything about
the three o'clock appointment,” replied Mr.
Farnum.


120
THE SUBMARINE BOYS
“If he isn't here in season," put in quiet Hal,
"it won't cause us any real trouble, anyway.
Those of us who will be on hand can manage
the boat through any ordinary trial or trip.'
Eph was very silent-for him. After fifteen
more minutes had gone by young Somers saunt-
ered out into the road, where he could command
a long view in the direction in which he would
naturally look for Jack's approach in Mlle.
Nadiboff's car.
After some ten minutes Eph Somers came
running up the roadway.
“It's all right,” he announced. “The car is
coming."
In hardly a minute more the car rolled up to
the veranda, and stopped. Mlle. Nadiboff,
catching sight of the little party, smiled and
nodded graciously as she stepped to the ver-
anda.
“Where's Captain Benson?” inquired Hal,
starting toward her.
“Captain Benson?” repeated Mlle. Nadiboff,
looking a trifle surprised. “Hasn't he re-
turned?"
“Not yet," Hal Hastings answered her, his
gaze fixed steadily on the young woman's face.
“How could he return ahead of your car, Made-
moiselle?"
“Why, he left me more than half an hour ago,


AND THE SPIES
121
and within two miles of here," replied the young
Russian woman, easily. “I proposed going to
another hotel, a few miles from here, for lun-
cheon. So he asked me to put him down, saying
he would walk in. That was not more than two
miles from here, was it, Gaston?”
“Much less than two miles,” replied the chauf-
feur.
“And he hasn't returned ?” queried Mlle.
Nadiboff, looking mildly curious.
“He has not yet come,” Hal replied.
“Then he must be a slow walker, or -but
will you take my car and go back to look for him?
Gaston will take you to the spot where your
young captain left us on foot?”
Hal Hastings's first impulse was to accept the
offer of the car. Yet Mlle. Nadiboff's acting
was so perfect, her air so unconcerned save for
mild curiosity, that any suspicion Hal may have
felt for a second or two was quickly banished.
“No, though I thank you, Mademoiselle," he
replied. “Captain Benson will doubtless be
here before we could make a fair start.”
Nodding pleasantly, the Russian vanished
through the ladies' entrance. Hal went back to
his companions.
“Say,” ” broke in Eph, presently, "if she left
Jack to go several miles for her luncheon, she
got it and returned mighty quick.'


122
THE SUBMARINE BOYS
“Probably used a woman's privilege, and
changed her mind about driving to that other
hotel,” suggested Mr. Farnum.
For some minutes more the party waited, then
went down into the road, but there was no sign
of Jack coming along.
“Mighty strange!" muttered Hal, uneasily.
“Well, we've got to aboard, now," announced
Jacob Farnum, after glancing at his watch.
“Sorry we can't very well invite you to go with
us, Mr. Hennessy."
"I shall see you, if you come ashore in the
evening,” replied the reporter. "In the mean-
time I shall be about the hotel. If I see Ben-
son, I'll tell him where you all are."
Being well provided with cigars, Reporter
Hennessy did not quit the veranda after he had
once taken his seat there. So it happened that
he noted the arrival of M. Lemaire, alone in a
runabout, just about an hour after the time when
Mlle. Nadiboff had returned.
Jack Benson, however, did not put in an ap-
pearance.
The submarine torpedo boat, with its naval
party aboard, sailed out of the harbor, returning
just before dark.
Then, as soon as could be, Messrs. Farnum
and Pollard and Hal and Eph came ashore,
heading straight for the hotel.


AND THE SPIES
123
“Your young captain hasn't succeeded in
walking the two miles' distance to this hotel,”
announced Mr. Hennessy, who was waiting for
them.
“Confound it, I don't like the looks of this,'
muttered Farnum, uneasily. “It looks as though
something had been done to Benson."
“Will you notify the police?" questioned the
reporter.
"I don't believe that would be wise. At any
rate, not quite yet,” interposed Hal.
“Then what would you do?" demanded Mr.
Farnum, turning upon the young engineer.
“If Jack has come to any misadventure
through that pair of spies,” uttered Hal, anx-
iously, “it seems to me it will be a heap more
promising if we keep a sharp, unseen watch over
every move made by M. Lemaire and Mlle.
Nadiboff.”
“Right-o, every time!" clicked Eph. “If
anything has happened to good old Jack through
that pair, then they're the only ones to be
watched!”
Dinner, that evening, wasn't as confident a
meal for the submarine party as luncheon had
been. Both Mlle. Nadiboff and the Frenchman
were in the dining room, though they did not sit
together.
Later, the young Russian woman appeared in


124
THE SUBMARINE BOYS
the ballroom.
She was
as eagerly sought
as a partner as she had been the night be-
fore.
Farnum and his friends did not enter the ball-
room, not having brought evening dress ashore
with them.
Yet, some of the time, they remained near the
entrance to the ballroom. It was here that M.
Lemaire, in evening clothes, saw them and
bowed most amiably.
"You do not care for the gayety of the
dance?” he inquired.
“No," replied Jacob Farnum, evasively.
“We are looking for Captain Benson, and
thought it just possible he had entered the ball-
room.
“Did he not tell you, this afternoon, whether
he would be at the dance?” Lemaire inquired,
in a tone of polite curiosity only.
“We didn't see him this afternoon,” replied
Mr. Farnum, rather curtly.
“You astonish me,” cried the Frenchman.
“In fact we have not seen Captain Benson
since we left him on an automobile ride this
morning.”
“Ah! I had not heard of that," murmured
the Frenchman. “I trust nothing is wrong with
the gallant young fellow."
“Oh, that's hardly likely," drawled Jacob


126
THE SUBMARINE BOYS
curely, and this was chained to a stout staple
driven in the floor.
It was a curious place in which young Benson
lay, a place with a strange history.
Years before a tunnel had been bored into
the side of a hill. After the tunnel had been
lined with a masonry of stone it was not more
than three feet in diameter. This tunnel led into
an artificial cave some eighteen feet square and
nine feet high. This cave had been shored up
and boarded as to ceiling, floor and walls.
A great deal of labor had been expended in
building this curious place under a low hill. Yet
the original builders had figured that their time
so spent would yield large returns. This part
of the Florida coast lay conveniently near to
Cuba. On moonless nights a small sailing craft
would put in along the coast, laden with smug-
gled Havana cigars. There being no safe place
along the shore in which to store the cigars, this
place, hidden well in a forest, had been con-
structed as a safe depository. For some time
the cigar smugglers had prospered. Then, as
was to have been expected, Uncle Sam's sharp-
eyed customs men ran the illegal business down,
arresting the smugglers, all of whom were sub-
sequently imprisoned.
For a while afterwards this cave had been
visited by the curious. All this smuggling,


AND THE SPIES
127
however, was now a thing of many years past,
and curiosity-seekers had come to leave the place
alone.
M. Lemaire, however, in studying the sur-
rounding country, had heard of the artificial
cave. He visited it. At need, he saw that it
would suit his purposes. And now Jack Ben-
son lay there, having been brought hither in
Mlle. Nadiboff's automobile.
The young submarine captain was now not
gagged. He had yelled for help perhaps two
hundred times in the long hours since his ene-
mies had left him there. Yet there had been
no response. Benson was now willing to believe
that there was now no likelihood whatever of
his being able to summon help.
Unable to consult his watch, and lying there
in complete darkness, the submarine boy had
lost track of time. It was now nearly two in
the morning. He had not eaten since early the
morning before. He was famished, and, what
was much worse, was parched for want of a
drink of water.
“I wonder if they intend to leave me here to
die?” thought Jack Benson, for perhaps the
five-hundredth time. “It would be fiendish
Yet looking for mercy in Lemaire would be like
looking for a lake of pure water in the Sahara
Desert!!


128
THE SUBMARINE BOYS
Jack shifted, as much as the chain at his left
ankle would permit. He groaned with the dis-
comfort of it all.
As if in answer there came another groan,
low, hollow, yet unmistakable. Captain Jack
raised himself on one elbow, listening keenly.
The groan was repeated.
“Who's there?” he called.
By way of answer there came still another
groan.
It was hollow, gruesome, and sug-
gested the grave itself. But Jack Benson was
a healthy, intelligent boy, with sound digestion
and well tuned nerves.
“If you're trying to work any ghostly trick
on me,” called Benson, derisively, “try some-
thing else!”
Again the groan, a bit louder, but Jack's an-
swer was a merry, ringing laugh, in which there
was not a trace of dread.
“Thank you for the company, Mr. Groan,"
he called cheerily. “I was beginning to feel a
bit lonely. But say! Can't you bring a light-
even a ghostly one?"
“I am the spirit of Paul Jones,” breathed a
low, wailing voice.
“Oh nonsense!” jeered Jack. «Paul Jones
never spoke with a cheap French accent."
“I come toto warn-you," sounded the
same sepulchral accents.


AND THE SPIES
129
“Bring the warning right in and let's have
a look at it,” begged Jack, heartily.
Some convulsive sobs sounded out by the pas-
sageway.
“Oh, say,” chuckled Jack, “as a vender of
blood curdling noises you're in need of repairs.
Listen! I'll sound a much better line for you!”
With that, and in a deep, blood curdling voice,
Captain Benson started in on the first verse of
"Down among the dead men."
He was interrupted then by a more tangible
sound. Beyond, a match was scratched. Then
a lantern was thrust in from the low tunnel, fol-
lowed by the appearance of the rather long body
of Gaston, the chauffeur.
“I thought my singing would bring some-
thing," chuckled Jack. “In a large town it al-
ways brings the police. Well, how are you?
I'm really glad to see anything human, and I
suppose you'll answer to that description, eh?”
In silence the chauffeur stepped forward rest-
ing the lighted lantern on the floor a few feet
from the boy. Then the Frenchman seated him-
self on the boards, next brnging out a paper
package from one of his pockets. As he un-
tied the string Jack watched with lively inter-
est.
“Sandwiches, eh?” chuekled Jack.
"Thank
you. I'm ready."
9-The Submarine Boys and the Spies.


130
THE SUBMARINE BOYS
>
“This is my supper, answered Gaston, tak-
ing a bite of one of the sandwiches. “You
don't get any."
“Oh, I don't?” demanded Captain Jack, feel-
ing the pangs of hunger worse than ever.
Gaston's next move was to take a bottle from
another pocket, uncorking it.
“As you're a Frenchman, I suppose that's
wine," muttered Jack. “I don't use that kind
of stuff, but water-
“This is water,” replied the Frenchman,
pouring a few drops onto the floor before the
submarine boy's eyes.
Jack's throat ached at sight of the water.
“I suppose you've come here to eat and drink,
in order to torment me?" asked Captain Ben-
son.
“It must give you huge pleasure to watch
me,” suggested Gaston, taking a swallow from
the bottle.
“About the only pleasure I could get from
watching you,” retorted the boy ironically,
“would be if I could see you swinging from the
end of a rope that was tied in a tight noose
around your neck !”
"Perhaps that will happen to you--yet,”
hinted Gaston, looking keenly at the boy.
“Humph!” muttered Jack. “How would
that help your rascally crowd?”


AND THE SPIES
131
It was plain that the chauffeur didn't really
want to eat or drink, but that he had been tor-
menting the captive. Now Gaston carefully
placed the sandwiches and the bottle of water
where young Benson couldn't possibly reach
them.
"You've been having too pleasant a time
here,” glared the Frenchman, bending over the
boy. “You haven't yet suffered enough to be
ready for the plans that we have for you."
With that the chauffeur threw himself a-top
of the boy, striking him a blow in the face.
“You lean, long-legged coward!” sneered
Jack, angrily. "You know about how much
spunk you'd have if I had my hands and legs
free, and stood before you on even terms. How
you'd beg, you wretched craven!”
For answer the chauffeur clutched with both
hands at Jack's hair, giving a hard pull. Jack
gritted his teeth, panting, until at last the tor-
ment forced him to utter a pain-wrung "ouch!”
"Perhaps you will soon learn better than to
insult me," leered Gaston.
“You wretched dog,” shot back the subma-
rine boy, “you're past insult by any decent
man!”
“Careful,” warned the Frenchman, "or I will
soon make you shriek your apologies to me. I
can do what I please with you, and sometimes I


132
THE SUBMARINE BOYS
have an ugly temper. But listen. I come for
one purpose only—to find out what answer I
am to take to my master, M. Lemaire."
“Take him," retorted Jack, dryly, “the as-
surance of my undying contempt for him and all
of his kind.''
“You will be left here another twenty-four
hours, without food or drink, if you do not give
me a better answer to take,” warned Gaston,
ʻleering down savagely into the boy's face.
“Now, consider! Will you send word that
you will be glad to see M. Lemaire in the morn-
ing?"
“Yes; if he's going to be in state prison,”
mocked Benson, “and locked in a cell, as he
should be."
“Will you see him here?"
“I can't help myself.'
“If M. Lemaire comes, will you be sensible?
Will you tell him all that he wants to know about
your boat and your work?”
"Not if I'm in my right mind!”
“If you continue stubborn, Captain Benson,
you will die here, of thirst and hunger.”
"Perhaps," admitted Jack, more soberly.
“But it will be a full-size man's death, won't
it
“Oh, you think, then, that you are not afraid
to die of thirst and hunger?”


AND THE SPIES
133
I can,
“Since others have done it," retorted Jack,
“I suppose I if I have to."
“If you have to?” rasped the Frenchman.
“Do you doubt, then, that we would bring such
a fate upon you!"
“I don't believe there's anything too low and
cowardly for your crowd to stoop to it," ad-
mitted Jack Benson, with spirit.”
“Have a care, young man!”
“You asked me a question,” growled back
young Benson, “and I answered you. If it
doesn t suit you, don't ask any more questions."
Gaston regarded the boy with a still more
sinister look.
“I think, Captain," continued the chauffeur,
“that a little pain—will have a good effect in
disciplining you.
Jack Benson did not reply.
“tome, now! Let us see if any
of
will stay in your scalp?” proposed the French-
man. “Yet, first of all, boy, have you anything
to say that will stop me?”
“If I had, I'd say it,” muttered the subma-
rine boy, ruefully.
“Then you might give me that message I
asked for."
“Is that all that will stop you?” demanded
Jack.
"Yes. All."
your hair


134
THE SUBMARINE BOYS
“Then go ahead with whatever you have in
mind,” retorted Jack. “As long as my sane
mind stays by me I shall never betray the Pol-
lard secrets to any other government!”
“Let us see, then!"
Once more Gaston fastened the long, sinewy
fingers of each hand in the submarine boy's
hair. He began to tug, gently at first, but grad-
ully increasing the force of the yank.
Jack Benson stood it as long as he could, then
at last let out a yell that was dragged from the
depths of agony.
“I'm in time, it seems ! Stop that! Now,
turn and fight like a man—you contemptible
hound!”
It was Hal Hastings's voice that rang through
the little cave. Hal had just crawled in
through the tunnnel. Now, the
young engineer,
his frame shaking with indignation, stood up at
nearly his full length, prepared to spring upon
Gaston, who, also, had leaped to his feet.
“I thought it would be worth while to watch
and shadow you to-night,” jeered Hal, angrily.
“It turns out I was right. The bushes planted
before the mouth of the tunnel bothered me, a
while, in finding the way in here after you-
but now I'm here!'
Of a sudden Hal leaped forward, intent upon
pouncing on the chauffeur. But Hal's foot


AND THE SPIES
135
caught in a break in the flooring. He pitched
and fell forward.
With a snarl of glee Gaston hurled himself
upon the prostrate body of the second subma-
rine boy, pounding him furiously.
CHAPTER XIII
THE FELLOW WHO SHOWED THE WHITE FLAG
H
AL lay face down, and subjected to all
the brutal fury of the Frenchman's
assault.
For a few seconds young Hastings did all in
his power to fight back. He was rapidly los-
ing consciousness, however, and poor Jack lay
unable to lend as much as a finger's weight to
the defense of his chum.
Then, with an oath in a foreign tongue, Gas-
ton forced Hal's hands back, snapping hand-
cuffs on the engineer's wrists.
“Now, then, you young pest!" snarled Gas-
ton, springing to his feet. “Instead of one of
you,
I have two. But two shall give me no more
trouble than one. So you thought you could
subdue me-me, did you?”
“I'd have thrashed you all right,” muttered
Hal, his senses returning under the storm of
taunts, “if my foot hadn't caught and thrown


136
THE SUBMARINE BOYS
me.
You wouldn't dare to free my hands and
let me to my feet, just to see what would happen
to you! You can't fight-unless all the advan-
tage is handed to you. You're a coward-not
a fighter!”
“Careful, my young firebrand, or I'll teach
you to be more polite to me,” sneered the
Frenchman.
“Polite to you?” jeered Hal. “Polite to a
spy-to a thief of nations ! Polite to a scoundrel
who wants to steal the biggest secret of defense
that the United States Navy has !!
“Oh, we'll have your secret all right,” an-
nounced the Frenchman, his voice harsh with
triumph. “We now have the two boys who
know all about the secrets of the Pollard .
boats!”
“This sounds so good, I reckon we'd bet-
ter go right on in, Jerry," broke in another
voice.
Gaston started, as did the two submarine
boys. Then the chauffeur leaped to the mouth
of the tunnel, only to draw back in dismay as a
big form emerged and loomed up before his
startled vision.
The last comer wore the dress and insignia
of a petty officer of the United States Navy.
“Get back there!" warned this big appari-
tion, waving a warning hand that looked big


AND THE SPTES
137
enough to be a ham. “Nobody can't go out
until we look into this cargo."
After the big sailor a smaller one crawled out
of the tunnel, rising to his feet. Though he was
smaller, this second sailor was not exactly what
could have been called a little man.
“Now, then," demanded the big sailor,
“whose captain of this craft?”
Gaston, his eyes threatening to bulge from his
head, had fallen back against the wall opposite.
His mouth was wide open, but he ventured no
answer.
“Stow my sidelights, Jerry,” muttered the
big sailor to his mate, “but this is a queer look-
ing hold! And two young men here who'd look
like officers of the service, if they wasn't so
young."
“There never was anybody more delighted to
see you,” broke fervently from Jack Benson's
lips. “You belong to the Waverly'?"
“Aye, aye, shipmate."
“Then you know the submarine, of course?”
“Aye, shipmate.”
“I am the captain, and my friend the engi-
neer, of that craft."
The big sailor's reply was an explosive yell.
“Don't let that snake-in-the-grass Frenchman
get away, mates,” begged Jack, earnestly.
“Jerry, I reckon you can hold the only gang-


138
THE SUBMARINE BOYS
way that opens in on this place, can't ye?” de-
manded the big sailor, turning to his sturdy-
looking shipmate.
“I reckon, Hickey,” said the other.
“This Frenchman is one of a gang of foreign
spies, who have taken this means to force us to
furnish plans, drawings and all information
about the Pollard submarine boats," Jack con-
tinued. “You see how he has us ironed down
here."
“Got the keys to them irons, Frenchy?”
demanded the big sailor, turning upon Gas-
ton.
“Yes,” shivered the fellow, looking yellow
with fright.
*Then turn our shipmates loose. Not too
much delay about it, either," ordered Hickey.
Gaston obeyed as meekly as a lamb. There
was a look in Hickey's steady eyes which would
lead one to suppose that the big sailor might
be able to use his strength in tearing a worthless
human being apart.
“I hope you can understand all the thanks
I feel like giving,” remarked the young subma-
rine captain, as he rose to his feet, then offered
his hand to the big sailor.
“Oh, stow the thanks, anyway,” laughed
Hickey. “But Jerry and me ain't in for what
we thought might be coming to us.'


140
THE SUBMARINE BOYS
Hal was on his feet, by this time, and shak-
ing hands with the two rescuers. Gaston, at
the furthest end of the little room, again cow-
ered against the wall, frightened and surly.
Jack Benson told as much of the story as he
thought wise, though he felt it best to leave out
the names of M. Lemaire and Mlle. Nadiboff.
Next Hal described how, at the hotel, he had
set himself to watching Gaston; how he had
shadowed the fellow.
“Did he come out here in an auto?" asked
Jack.
“No; if he had, I couldn't have followed,"
Hal responded. “But this place is barely four
miles from the hotel. We can get back in an
hour."
“What ye goin' to do with this feller, any-
way?" demanded Hickey, jerking a thumb in
the direction of the frightened Gaston.
“Turn him over to the police," spoke Jack,
promptly. “Even if we fail to prove anything
else Hal can help me fasten a charge of feloni-
ous assault on the scoundrel. That will be
enough to keep him locked up for a couple of
years to come.”
Gaston heard this with a falling jaw, though
he did not venture to say anything.
“Well, Jerry and me are ready whenever you
are, mates," hinted big Hickey.


AND THE SPIES
141
Jack nodded, and they filed out, Jerry com-
ing last of all to make sure that the Frenchman
did not lag behind.
“Now, stand up, me bucko," ordered Hickey,
seizing the chauffeur's collar as that worthy
crawled through the bushes at the outer end of
the tunnel. “Tryin' to steal submarine secrets,
was ye? So some foreign nation'd have the
trick of blowing our battleships to pieces, and
the sailors on 'em? Jerry, wot d'ye reckon 'ud
be about right for Frenchy?”
“Pass him over to me and I'll see,” grinned
the smaller sailor.
Hickey grasped the frightened chauffeur in
both hands, then fairly hurled him at the smal-
ler sailor. Jerry struck him once, with each
lively fist, then sent the fellow spinning back to
Hickey. The latter caught Gaston, tossing him
up in the air, then striking him hard as the fel-
low came down. This done, the chauffeur was
again hurled back at Jerry. For some time the
two sailors kept this up. It was rough, heavy
punishment. Gaston bellowed like a sick bull
under all the strenuous handling. He must
have ached in every bone in his body when
Hickey finally caught him, on a rebound, and
held him off at arm's length.
“Had about enough, Frenchy?" demanded
the big sailor.


AND THE SPIES
143
you do," retorted Jack, coldly. “Hal, you
brought the handcuffs out with you?”
Hal held
up
both pairs.
“No, no, no !” pleaded Gaston, almost tear-
fully. “Not such disgrace as that!”
“Let me have a pair of the bracelets,” re-
quested Hickey, holding out one of his hands.
“Now, my fine bird, let me clip yer wings."
Gaston submitted meekly enough, then was
dragged to his feet.
While Hal had brought out the lantern and
the handcuffs, famished, thirst-tormented Jack
Benson had looked after the water bottle and
the sandwiches. Now, as all hands trudged
along toward the beach the young skipper ate
and drank to his full content.
Arrived in town, they roused a cottager.
From him they learned where to find the police
station. Gaston was thrown into a cell, and
Jack entered formal complaint against the fel-
low.
Jacob Farnum still awake, was found at the
hotel. When Hickey and Jerry
Jerry returned
aboard the gunboat neither felt so sorry about
not having located a smuggler's camp in full
operation. Jacob Farnum had taken the sailor
pair apart, presenting each with a hundred-dol-
lar bill.


144
THE SUBMARINE BOYS
CHAPTER XIV
A REMEMBRANCE FROM SHORE
T was a drowsy looking submarine party that
retired to a room in the hotel to talk over
the situation.
“Now, of course, first of all,” declared Jacob
Farnum,“we must take word of this whole af-
fair to the commanding officer of the gunboat.
As the representative, here, of the United
States Government, he can give us some advice
as to what to do. I am wondering whether M.
Lemaire and Mlle. Nadiboff can be arrested."
“Hal,” demanded Jack, turning to his chum,
“when you were prowling about at the cave, did
you hear Gaston mention the name of M. Le-
maire?'
“No,” replied Hastings, shaking his head.
“Then there wouldn't be any witness to con-
firm my testimony,” sighed Captain Benson.
"Without such a witness to aid me, I don't see
how we could expect to prove anything legally
against M. Lemaire."
“As for that pretty young Russian woman
” began Mr. Farnum.
“We haven't a single line of proof we could
put out against her," interposed Benson. “She


146
THE SUBMARINE BOYS
the gunboat, Jack and Hal threw themselves
into the berths of one of the staterooms. That
brief, sound nap proved the saving of them
when, finally, with Messrs. Farnum and Pol-
lard, they went on board the “Waverly."
Lieutenant Commander Kimball received
them in his own cabin, hearing Jack's story
with utter amazement.
“What I advise you to do, gentlemen, is to
go ahead and prosecute the fellow Gaston on
the charge of felonious assault. I would, how-
ever, try to avoid having any testimony brought
out in court to-day. I will send one of my offi-
cers to see the public prosecutor, and ask that
official to have the case continued for one week.
I will also wire the Navy Department at Wash-
ington, and await the reply of the Secretary be-
fore taking any other steps or offering you any
other advice. But do not needlessly alarm Le-
maire or the young woman away from here."
So well did the lieutenant commander accom-
plish his purpose that, when Jack and Hal went
to the local court that forenoon, the public
prosecutor promptly asked to have the case
against the chauffeur continued for one week,
and the court as promptly assented.
Gaston was taken back to jail. Though the
fellow was well supplied with money, he did
not have anywhere near enough to put up the


AND THE SPIES
147
five thousand dollars cash bail demanded by
Florida justice.
At the jail a watch was kept to see whether
Gaston would have visitors, but none came. M.
Lemaire and Mlle. Nadiboff were known to be
still at the hotel, but they did not go near their
man in trouble. Neither did Lemaire or the
Russian appear about the grounds of the hotel.
At noon a letter from Lieutenant Commander
Kimball came aboard the submarine, inquiring
whether Captain Benson could make it conveni-
ent to take him and several officers out to sea
that afternoon and give an exhibition of the
boat's diving powers.
“After we've taken the boat out ourselves, and
tested her," was the answer Captain Jack sent
back. “With so many spies about we want to
be sure that the boat is in safe running order
before we risk the lives of half a dozen naval
officers."
A luncheon was eaten, after which, the young
submarine captain hastily climbed the stairs to
the conning tower.
“Throw on the gasoline, Hal,” he called back
over his shoulder. “And, as soon as we get
under way, test all the electric connections, be-
fore we attempt to do any diving. Be sure of
everything, old fellow."
Forward in the engine room the gas motors


148
THE SUBMARINE BOYS
were soon moving merrily. By the time that
Eph had cast loose from moorings Jack sig-
naled for slow speed ahead, and the grim-look-
ing little Benson moved on out of the harbor.
Once out of the harbor Captain Jack rang,
successively, for two higher speeds. The “Ben-
son” answered both like a charm.
“The gasoline part of the craft is working all
right,” declared the youthful skipper to Eph,
who had come up into the tower.
Fifteen minutes later Hal shouted up:
“All electric connections appear safe, Cap-
tain. And all the air compressors are work-
ing."
“Are you ready to shut off the gasoline mo-
tors?'
“Yes, sir."
“Go ahead, then, and we'll take a dive."
Down they shot below the surface, the boat
going on a diving keel. Then, for some minutes,
Captain Jack ran his submarine pride along at
a depth of fifty feet below surface.
“Might as well rise, Captain," called up Mr.
Farnum, coming from his stateroom.
So Eph, at the young commander's orders,
stood by to let the compressed air gradually
into the water tanks. As gracefully as ever the
“Benson” rose to the surface. Gasoline power
was turned on again.


150
THE SUBMARINE BOYS
Though he laughed, young Benson carefully
untied the string that held the lid on, also care-
fully removing the latter. Inside he discov-
ered a handsome bouquet of roses, with a card
attached.
“Well, of all the assurance in the world ?"
gasped Jack Benson.
“What's the matter?” queried Farnum.
“Read what's written on this card, sir.”
The inscription ran:
“Mlle. Sara Nadiboff is delighted at learning
that Captain Jack Benson has returned in safety
from his long walk."
“Any answer, sah?" demanded the darkey is
the boat.
“None, thank you,” replied Captain Jack, in
an even tone.
The boat continued on its way to the
shore.
“Say, what do you think of that?" demanded
Eph, after he, too, had taken a look at the card
tied to the flowers.
“It is plain enough that our charming young
Russian doesn't mean to drop Captain Benson's
acquaintance just yet, if she can help it,'
laughed the shipbuilder.
“What are you going to do with the flowers,
old man?" asked Hal.
“Flowers should be put in water, to make


152
THE SUBMARINE BOYS
board, even to running beneath the surface.
Will you do that, for a party of our friends,
to-morrow afternoon?"
“We've been a good deal beset by spies lately,
as you have means of knowing,” replied Mr.
Farnum, slowly. “You'll guarantee all of the
guests, of course.
“As a naval officer I wouldn't bring anyone
aboard here whom I doubted,” replied the lieu-
tenant commander, flushing.
“I didn't mean to be offensive, Mr. Kimball.
But I have as great a reason as Uncle Sam can
have for wanting to preserve the secrets of this
boat from all but sworn officers and men of the
Navy. You and I are one in that desire, Mr.
Kimball, so we'll gladly take out any party, la-
dies included, that you bring on board."
“Thank you,
" answered Kimball. “And I
can assure you that I shall be very careful in
making up my party. Oh, but won't there be
fluttering hearts at Spruce Beach to-night. And
I'm more than half afraid that I shall make an
enemy of every lady of my acquaintance whom
I have to leave out of the affair.
guests can you take, Mr. Farnum?"
“Not above fourteen, all told,” replied the
shipbuilder.
"Then I shall go ashore myself this evening,
to deliver my invitations."
How many


AND THE SPIES
153
The shipbuilder also went ashore that eve-
ning, just to see whether he could learn any-
thing about M. Lemaire and Mlle. Nadiboff. Al-
most the first person Farnum encountered was
Reporter Hennessy.
“Oh, your people are still here," answered
Hennessy, in response to the shipbuilder's ques-
tion. “They're both keeping in the background,
though. It looks as though they feared to run
away, and were waiting to see whether the
lightning were going to strike them. Now, that
I've told you so much, Mr. Farnum, can't you
give me a little more of the inside of this whole
strange business?"
“If I did,” smiled the shipbuilder, "you'd
send it to your paper.
“Of course," admitted the reporter, honestly.
“I'll tell you the best I can do, Hennessy.
You keep your eyes and ears open for us, and
I'll give you this news story before I give it to
any other newspaper man.”
“You surely will?” demanded the newspaper
man, eagerly.
“I will."
"Then I'm here to help you.
As the lieutenant commander had predicted,
the ladies at the hotels were in a flutter of ex-
citement that evening. Everyone who heard
of the projected trip on the submarine boat, it


156
THE SUBMARINE BOYS
ever you may have thought, my Captain, I beg
you will not believe that I had any notion of
helping to cause you real discomfort."
Her tone was so sincere in its ring, her eyes
looked so honestly and appealingly into the
boy's that Jack, for an instant, had to wonder
whether he were dreaming.
“My Captain,” continued the Russian girl,
in a voice that trembled softly, “I see, now, that
I have been fearfully-cruelly-misunderstood
by you. That is more than I can bear. Come,
let us take a little walk together in the grounds.
I want you to tell me just what part you thought
I had in some affair against you. I insist; it
is my right to know this. Your arm, my Cap-
tain!"
As she spoke, Mlle. Nadiboff slipped her
soft little right hand inside of Captain Jack's
arm.
Captain Jack took hold of that hand to dis-
engage it. But Mlle Nadiboff merely held the
tighter, while the boy was conscious that she
was gazing up at him appealingly.
“I don't wish to be rude, Mademoiselle; don't
force me to be," the submarine boy' urged.
“Will you kindly release my arm?"
Then, with a subdued though angry exclama-
tion, the girl obeyed.
“You will not even hear me?” she cried,


AND THE SPIES
157
stamping one foot lightly against the veranda
boards, while now her eyes brimmed with tears.
“By jove, but she's a bully actor," thought
Benson, with a sort of admiration.
“I am sorry, Mademoiselle,” he replied, “but
I am wanted now. I am forced to say “good
evening.'"
With a bow he turned and left her, replacing
his cap as he strode away.
“Oh, that fool, that unnatural young man!”
she cried, angrily, to herself. “He prefers
what he calls 'duty' to the friendly glance of a
pretty eye. Bah! Perhaps he is laughing at
me at this moment. If he is, he is laughing
much too soon, for I shall teach him a lesson or
two. You are not yet beyond my reach, my
brave young Captain!”
The veil that Mlle. Nadiboff carefully wound
so that two folds fell across her face concealed
a hard, sneering, almost barbaric look that had
crept quickly into that handsome young face.
But Jack joined his own party at once.
Through the rest of the evening he did not en-
counter either the young woman or M. Lemaire.
The latter, in fact, had made himself practically
invisible of late.
The next afternoon, early, a launch from the
gunboat brought off the pleasure party that was
to make the trip on the submarine boat.


158
THE SUBMARINE BOYS
Mr. Farnum and David Pollard were ashore
at this time. Captain Jack and Eph Somers
stood on the platform deck to receive and wel-
come the party.
The first young woman to whom Benson ex-
tended his hand to help her aboard held up a
camera for him to take first of all.
“Thank you,” responded the young skipper,
gravely. “We will send this camera to the en-
gine room. It will be returned to you at the end
of the trip.”
As he spoke, he slipped the camera box back
to Eph, who started for the conning tower with
it.
“But I wish to take some photographs with
it," cried the young woman, indignantly. “Es-
pecially, a flashlight when we are below the
surface of the ocean.'
“I am most sorry, madam," Captain Jack
replied, politely, “but it is wholly out of the
question for any photographs to be made aboard
the boat.”
“No cameras? No photographs?” cried two
other young women, in something like consterna-
tion. Then one of them added :
“But we want two or three photos as souve-
nirs-Mr. Kimball, we appeal to you."
“I am wholly powerless in the matter,"
plied the lieutenant commander, gravely. “Mr.
re-


AND THE SPIES
159
>>>
Benson commands aboard this boat, and en-
forces all the rules. I may add, however, that
I am wholly in sympathy with his decision.
You will understand, ladies, that there are many
secrets in the handling of a submarine craft
like this. It would be absolutely out of the ques-
tion to allow anyone to carry away photographs
of the interior or the working parts of the 'Ben-
Son.
With that, two more cameras were passed up.
Eph as quickly handed them through the con-
ning tower to Hal, who took them down to the
engine room.
Then Jack helped his visitors aboard, while
Eph slipped forward to let go the moorings at
the order.
“Now, ladies and gentlemen,” announced
Captain Jack, “I think there will be room for
all on deck. If it pleases you, therefore, I pro-
pose that all remain on the platform deck while
we make our run out to sea. Then, when it
comes time to dive and run under the surface,
we can go below."
This plan appeared to suit nearly every-
one.
“But I believe I'll go below, now,” proposed
one tall, blond, strongly built young woman
who looked somewhat Swedish. "I am afraid
of too much chill air on the sea."


160
THE SUBMARINE BOYS
“Then, if it please the rest, we will all go be-
low," Jack answered amiably.
There was instantly a chorus of dissent. The
tall, blond young woman had already made her
way to the conning tower, accompanied by a
young man of English appearance. But Eph
unconcernedly barred their way.
Step aside, if you please, young man," urged
the Englishman. “The lady wishes to go be-
low."
“Captain's permission necessary, sir," re-
plied Somers, quietly.
“You see, ladies and gentlemen," Jack ex-
plained, "it won't be quite possible to let visi-
tors roam at will over the boat. It would be
against my instructions from the owner. Either
all must remain on deck, or all must go below."
As he spoke the young skipper thought he saw
a swift look pass between the young Swedish
woman and her English escort.
“Oh, well,” replied the young woman, shrug-
ging her shoulders, “I do not intend to be dis-
agreeable. If the others wish to remain on
deck, I will do so, too."
“Very good, Miss Peddensen," murmured the
young Englishman.
Jack Benson took his place at the deck wheel,
and Eph, after Hal had come to the conning
tower opening, hurried forward once more to
>>


162
THE SUBMARINE BOYS
At last all had passed down the iron staircase
save Eph, who remained by the wheel in the
conning tower.
“Pass directly aft, everybody, please,” called
Jack, quietly.
“What's that for?” asked Miss Peddensen.
“We cannot allow anyone except naval offi-
cers to see how our diving apparatus is worked,"
replied Jack. “Some of you step into the
staterooms on either side, please. All of the
visitors must be aft of this curtain."
The extreme after end of the cabin had been
rigged with a heavy curtain that could be
dropped into place.
“Why, I feel as if we were all being penned
up here and held for the slaughter,” gasped one
American girl, in a tone of fright.
“Yes, indeed!” protested Miss Peddensen.
“This is going too far."
“It strikes me as being a good deal like an
outrage,”
blurted the young Englishman.
“Mr. Kimball, can't you—won't you interfere
in this matter q
“I am very sorry," replied the lieutenant com-
mander, “but I cannot. This step is necessary,
in order to prevent anyone from having an im-
proper view of the working of the craft. I am
going behind the curtain with you. Mr. Feath-
erstone will remain out in the cabin to aid in


164
THE SUBMARINE BOYS
meant to keep a sharp, though covert, eye on the
passengers.
The young skipper noted, swiftly, that Miss
Peddensen had taken the seat furthest aft in the
cabin, while the young Englishman was seated at
the forward end of the party of guests.
“Oh, I say, Captain Benson," called the Eng-
lishman, “are you permitted to show me how you
know just how far below the surface you are?”
“The gauge tells that,” replied Jack. “But
I will ask you to excuse me from describing it,
as I wish to keep my mind on the running of the
boat. Mr. Hastings will oblige you; or, I don't
doubt, one of the naval officers will."
Even this momentary distraction, however,
had given Miss Peddensen time to slip some-
thing out of one of her wide sleeves into her lap.
And now the young Swedish woman sat so that
the object taken from her sleeve was concealed
behind the woman who sat next to her.
It wasn't many moments ere Jack noted some-
thing about the young Swedish woman that
caused the young skipper to turn, every now and
then, for a swift though hidden glance in her
direction.
“What on earth is Miss Peddensen doing?”
wondered the submarine boy. “Hang it, I be-
lieve she's up to something that she ought not to
be doing !"


AND THE SPIES
165
Though he did not turn and walk in her direc-
tion, Jack, thereafter, kept the young Swedish
woman much more under secret observation.
“By Jove, I know what she's doing, now,"
muttered the young skipper. “That movement
of her elbow betrays her, and her eyes are fixed,
much of the time on her lap. If she isn't sketch-
ing something, on the sly, then my eyesight isn't
as good as it used to be!"
Captain Jack Benson found himself quickly a-
quiver with suspicion and indignation.
“Yet I can't afford to make any mistakes,"
he told himself, uneasily. “I've got to be abso-
lutely sure before I can take the risk of starting
a human cyclone about my ears!”
CHAPTER XVI
THE GOVERNMENT TAKES A HAND
Y"
ET, for a brief interval more, Jack Ben-
son hesitated.
“Is the young woman sketching, or is
she merely writing ?” he wondered, anxiously.
He watched her a little while longer.
“No; she's sketching. Those are drawing
strokes she's making.”
Then, looking wholly blank, Jack Benson
turned on his heel. He looked first at one me-


166
THE SUBMARINE BOYS
>
chanism, then at another.
Yet, presently, he
stood close to Lieutenant Commander Kimball's
ear.
Only a few words were said, but the naval
officer understood instantly.
As Captain Jack turned and went back, Mr.
Kimball also sauntered along, although he did
not appear interested in the submarine boy's
movements. Yet it was not long when both ap-
peared before the young Swedish woman.
“Miss Peddensen," murmured the lieutenant
commander, “may I see what you are writ-
ing?"
The woman looked up, her face composed,
her eyes dancing with mirth.
“Why, surely, Mr. Kimball," she replied,
laughing. “And very silly stuff you'll find it,
too. I have been jotting down my impressions
upon finding myself riding under the surface
of the sea. I do not handle your English lan-
guage very well, as you will see."
Mr. Kimball glanced hastily through the three
or four pages of rather closely written note
paper. It was, as the young woman had stated,
a very amateurish composition, in very stilted
English.
The naval officer felt a sense of mortification,
and his face reddened slightly. He had been
led to expect that he would find something crimi-





AND THE SPIES
169
nal on these sheets of paper. Instead, he
scanned a stupid piece of composition.
“I would die of humiliation, to have that read
before all these people," murmured the young
woman.
Lieutenant Commander Kimball gave Jack
Benson a covert elbow-dig in the ribs, a move
that said, as plainly as words:
“The joke is on you!”
Jack, however, through half open eyes, had
been watching on his own account. Suddenly
he made a dive forward, shooting his hands down
close to Miss Peddensen's well-booted feet.
“That same old ship-rat!” exclaimed the sub-
marine boy. "I'll catch the beast before he
goes under your skirts, Miss Peddensen."
At the mention of a rat so dangerously close
the young woman almost shot out of her seat in
her anxiety to get away.
As she bounded something dropped down out
of the wide right sleeve of her coat. It was a
small memorandum book.
This was just what Jack Benson caught, in
place of the pretended rat. Moreover, the young
skipper was clever enough to catch the book so
that it fell into his hands open.
“It wasn't a rat, after all, Miss Peddensen,"
smiled Jack, straightening up and holding the
open memorandum book so that both he and


170
THE SUBMARINE BOYS
Kimball could see what was traced on the two
pages that lay exposed.
There were sketches of the compressors,
sketches of the mechanism by which the com-
pressed air was forced into the tanks to drive
the water out-in fact, sketches of many vital
features in the control of the boat. Nor was
more than a glance needed to make it plain that
this young woman artist possessed expert knowl-
edge of machinery.
At the cry of “rat” three or four women
jumped from their seats. The one nearest Miss
Peddensen moved hastily to the forward end
of the cabin.
“My dear young woman," " murmured the
lieutenant commander, dropping into the vacated
seat beside the Swedish girl, "you won't mind,
will you, if I keep these little matters to look
over at my convenience ?”
There was something so compelling in the look
that flashed briefly in the naval officer's eyes
that Miss Peddensen lost color, and stam-
mered:
“No-o-o, certainly not; if such silly things
interest you.
"They interest me very much indeed,"
mured Kimball, thrusting “composition” and
sketches inside his blouse.
As the naval officer plainly intended to re-
mur-


AND THE SPIES
171
main where he was, Jack Benson tarned, saunt-
ering forward.
“Another spy nailed, beyond a single doubt,”
muttered the young submarine commander.
“Will there never be an end to them."
As Captain Jack glanced at the young Eng-
lishman, Drummond by name, he saw an unmis-
takable flash of hostility in the Englishman's
eyes.
“So you're a spy, too?" quivered Benson, in-
wardly, turning on his heel. After that, how-
ever, the submarine boy took good care to keep
Drummond under covert watch.
In time the “Benson" returned to the surface,
being now much nearer land then when the
craft had made its dive. A few minutes later
the boat ran into the harbor and made fast at
its moorings.
“What are you going to do about the young
woman?” Jack found a chance to whisper, as
all hands gathered on the platform deck.
“I don't believe I have actual authority to do
anything," Kimball returned, also in a whisper.
“But we have the drawings, and that writing,
which may be a clever cipher. With that I'm
afraid we'll have to remain content."
A launch from the gunboat was in waiting.
In this the shore guests were taken back to land.
Hardly had the launch left the side of the sub-


172
THE SUBMARINE BOYS
marine when a cutter, also from the gunboat,
put in alongside. Two men in ordinary citizen's
dress clambered aboard.
“Lieutenant Commander Kimball?" inquired
one of the pair.
“Yes,” acknowledged the naval officer.
“May we see you below, in the cabin of this
boat."
“No!” replied Kimball, sternly.
“Oh, as you please, of course, "smiled the
one of the pair who had first spoken. “Prob-
ably I am at fault, though, in not introducing
my companion and myself. My friend is Mr.
Packwood; my name is Trotter. We are Secret
Service men sent down here by the Secretary of
the Navy, in answer to your dispatch."
As Trotter spoke he threw back the lapel of
his coat, displaying a badge.
“I have also some papers to show you, Mr.
Kimball,” continued the Secret Service man.
“Oh, of course you may come below,” smiled
the naval officer. “And, Benson, I guess this
business belongs to you, too."
So Jack descended with the party, while the
other submarine boys and Williamson remained
on deck.
“You have been bothered with spies, Cap-
tain ?” asked Trotter, turning to young Benson,
when they had reached the cabin table.


AND THE SPIES
173
"Haven't we, though!” muttered Jack.
“And even took one out with you on this last
trip of yours," laughed Mr. Trotter, producing
from an inner pocket a book bound in black
cloth.
“Miss Peddensen, the Swedish
young
woman?” demanded Captain Jack.
“Here's the one I mean, replied Trotter,
opening the book, which proved to be an album,
and turning the pages over rapidly. He pointed
to a photograph.
“That's Miss Peddensen,” cried Jack, look-
ing up at Lieutenant Commander Kimball for
confirmation.
“Well, Peddensen is one of the names she has
used,” smiled Trotter.
“What foreign government does she serve?”
demanded Benson.
Trotter shrugged his shoulders.
“Well, the Department has pretty good in-
formation that she has served England, France,
Germany, Austria, Russia-oh, these spies
have no country! They serve the fattest inter-
national purse!”
“Here is what we took from Miss Pedden-
sen,” said Kimball, gravely, laying down on the
table the sketchbook and the “composition.
Taking up the latter, Mr. Trotter, after a
glance, declared :


174
THE SUBMARINE BOYS
“This is written in a secret cipher, most
likely. Packwood, this comes in your peculiar
line of work. The sketches are easy enough to
understand. They are of the mechanisms dis-
played in this cabin.”
"Yes, this is a cipher,” declared Packwood,
thoughtfully, after scanning the sheets a few
moments. “With some study I can make it
out."
“Who's the young Englishman who escorted
Miss Peddensen?” demanded Captain Jack.
“Never saw him until I glanced at him in the
launch just now,” replied Trotter. “He may
be another spy, unknown to us, or he may be
merely a good-natured and wholly innocent
young chap whom the Swedish girl has lured
into her service."
“What are these other pictures?" inquired
Mr. Kimball, beginning to turn the leaves.
“All of 'em photos of people known to be en-
gaged in stealing naval secrets for foreign pow-
ers,” replied Trotter. “Captain Benson may
keep this album for future use. I've another
copy
for you,
Mr. Kimball."
“Why, here's a good likeness of Mlle. Nadi-
boff,” cried Jack Benson, pausing in turning
the leaves and glancing down at the picture of
a face he had good cause to remember. “And
here, opposite her, is M. Lemaire!"


176
THE SUBMARINE BOYS
“Well, that isn't the usual way,” replied
Trotter. “The young woman is more likely to
be taken to New York, given a passage ticket
across the ocean, and notified that, if she tries
to return to this country, she will find that her
photograph is on file at every port of entry. It
will spoil her games, without making much of a
fuss."
The cutter waiting alongside conveyed
Kimball and his brother officer, Featherstone,
back to the gunboat. Then it ran into shore,
putting Mr. Trotter and his silent companion
once more on land.
For some minutes after that Jack, Hal and
Eph remained absorbed in the pictures in this
album of known naval spies. There were more
than two dozen of these photographs, some of
men, some of women. On the same page with
each picture was given the subject's true name,
if known, also the spy's aliases, and other infor-
mation.
“Sara Nadiboff, twenty-nine, yet looks like
twenty," muttered Hal, studying the informa-
tion under the young Russian woman's photo-
graph.
“And Kamanako is really Lieutenant Osuri,”
muttered Jack. “Yet the fellow was working
in the hotel kitchen until he could get a chance
to apply for a job on this craft.'


AND THE SPIES
177
"I don't recognize any other spies among
these pictures," muttered Hal. “The only ones
here that we know we had already guessed.”
“Look at that time," muttered Jack, jumping
up. “I must get on shore and see what Mr.
Farnum's orders are. And—” thrusting the
album in his coat pocket and buttoning it up,
“I'll take this picture gallery along. Our em-
ployer will be highly interested in it."
It was dusk by the time that Benson reached
the platform deck. After a few moments he
succeeded in hailing a harbor boat. Yet it was
quite dark by the time that Captain Jack stepped
on shore.
Instead of going around by the road Jack de-
cided to cross the grounds. As he was walking
briskly toward the hotel, an athletic-looking
young man stepped out suddenly, from behind
one of the big trees, blocking the submarine
boy's path.
“Good evening, Mr. Drummond," Jack
hailed, quietly.
“Now, you halt and stand right where you
are," retorted the Englishman, nervously hand-
ling a heavy walking stick that he carried. “I
don't know whether it's going to be a good eve-
ning for you, or not, young man. Do you know
that your cursed meddling has resulted in the
arrest of a most estimable young woman?”
14The Swomarine Boys and the Spies.


178
THE SUBMARINE BOYS
“Who?” asked Jack, coolly.
“Miss Peddensen,” replied Drummond, an-
grily.
“Oh, I guess the secret service men know what
they're about,” said Jack somewhat sarcastic-
ally.
“And I know what I'm about, too!" roared
the enraged Drummond, raising his cane, wrath-
fully. “Benson, you young sneak, I'm going to
brain you!"
CHAPTER XVII
I
"
DRUMMOND'S LITTLE SURPRISE-FOR HIMSELF
T didn't happen just that way.
As Drummond swung his cane and
brought it down with crushing force, aimed
at the submarine boy's head, Jack wasn't there.
Instead, Benson sprang about two feet to one
side. It would have been a fearful blow had
Jack's head been in the way. As it was, the
cane hit the ground with such force as to be
thrown from the Englishman's hand.
With a growl, the fellow leaped forward and
snatched up his stick. Jack Benson stood lean-
ing carelessly against a tree, in a way that en-
raged Drummond all the more.
“I'll show you!” snarled the Englishman.
With that he aimed a blow, sideways, at Ben-


AND THE SPIES
179
son's head. Jack ducked, then dodged out. The
cane hit the tree with a force that jarred the as-
sailant and all but dislocated his wrist. Again
he dropped the stick.
Benson gave a hearty ringing laugh and this
enraged the Englishman past endurance. Then
Jack added, “Is that the best you can do?”
“I'll show you!” roared the other, making a
leap forward. He charged straight at the sub-
marine boy, who wheeled and darted on toward
the hotel.
“Don't run, you coward!" came the flying
taunt.
Just then Jack Benson fell, though he did it
on purpose. Straight in the path of the irate
Englishman the submarine boy dropped, curling
himself up.
It was too late for Drummond to halt, or to
change his course. He tripped over prostrate
young Benson, then lurched forward landing on
his face.
Up sprang Jack Benson, planting two sterling
good kicks.
“You beast! Wait until I get up!” roared
the victim, in a voice like a bull's bellow.
“What's the matter here?” demanded an
astonished voice, and Mr. Trotter, after a short
dash, bounded through the darkness, arriving on
the scene just as Drummond was getting up.


AND THE SPIES
181
“I'll go all the way to Washington, by to-
night's express, to see the young lady freed
from this outrageous mistake,” stormed the Eng-
lishman.
“I don't know about your going to Washing-
ton—to-night,” replied Trotter, yawning.
“What have you to do with that?" demanded
Drummond, harshly.
“Why, I reckon, Mr. Drummond, you're my
prisoner. You won't very easily go anywhere
to-night, without my consent."
“Your prisoner?” demanded the Englishman
angrily.
“Yes."
“By what right do you arrest me? What
have I done?”
“Well, for one thing, you've tried to injure
the captain of the submarine boat, all because
he caught your woman friend at strange tricks
on board the ‘Benson.' For another reason, be-
cause we suspect anyone who defends or upholds
the spy. Be good enough to step along with me,
Mr. Drummond.”
“I'll do nothing of the sort,” blurted the as
tounded Englishman.
“You'll go all the same,” warned Mr. Trot-
ter, first of all displaying his Secret Service
badge, next running a hand back briefly to a
revolver that rested in a hip pocket. “I don't


182
THE SUBMARINE BOYS
much care, Drummond, whether you walk with
me, or whether I have to send for an ambulance
to bring you along. But you'll go just where I
want you to!”
The Englishman was too much terrified to
reply. Two or three times he opened his mouth
as though to speak, but, instead, merely swal-
lowed.
“Come, now-forward march!” advised Mr.
Trotter. Drummond, without allowing himself
to hesitate, went away at the side of the Secret
Service man.
“Don't you want your cane?" called Jack
Benson. Drummond did not condescend to an-
swer, so the submarine boy slipped back to the
tree, where he found the stick. It was a hand-
some piece of polished partridge wood, sur-
mounted by a handsomely wrought head of gold.
"This will make an interesting souvenir to
keep aboard the boat,” mused Benson, swinging
the stick as he continued his walk.
At the veranda Jack came face to face with
Mlle. Nadiboff, just returning from an unac-
companied stroll down by the water front. To
the submarine boy's astonishment the handsome
Russian greeted him most amiably.
“You have not forgotten old friends, I hope,
my Captain?” she added, smiling and with a
pretty little coaxing way.


184
THE SUBMARINE BOYS
nako, as natty and trim as though he had just
come from the tailor's.
Looking up with a most friendly smile, the
little Japanese saluted.
Why, how do you do?" Jack greeted him,
halting. “I had an idea you had left Spruce
Beach."
“I should have done so, but I started too
late," replied Kamanako, still smiling. Noth-
ing ever daunts that Japanese smile. One of
these little men, being led away to have his head
chopped off, goes with a smile on his little brown
face.
“Started too late?” asked Jack. "How was
that?"
“Now, you laugh at me,” replied the Japa-
nese.
“Laughing at you? Not a bit!"
"You have told some one that I am a spy,'
replied Kamanako, without a trace of grudge in
his voice. “So now, I cannot leave Spruce
Beach. Ticket agent, he will not sell me. If I
try to go on foot, the roads are watched. If I
take to woods, even, I shall be found.”
“Sorry," nodded Jack Benson, and passed
“So the Secret Service net is around the
place, and no suspected person can get away?”
muttered the submarine boy. “Well, that's as
it should be. I wonder if there are any more
on.


AND THE SPIES
185
of this strange crew—men or women spies that
I don't happen to have suspected so far? If
there are, I don't believe they'll wriggle through
the meshes of old Uncle Sam's Secret Service
net, anyway."
His mind full of the doings of the day, Cap-
tain Jack Benson found Messrs. Farnum and
Pollard, to whom he surely had much to tell.
)
CHAPTER XVIII
REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED TO THE 'MAINE'!"
“
WE
E’LL have no more trouble, I imag-
ine,” nodded Jacob Farnum, with a
satisfied air, when Jack, at a table in
the corner of the dining room, had told, in low
tones, all that had happened.
"The spies are all on the defensive, now, be-
yond a doubt," added David Pollard. “They'll
be too busy keeping their wrists out of hand-
cuffs to devote any of their time to trying to
get at the secrets of the ‘Benson.'”
“I hope you're both right," said Captain Jack,
gravely.
“Why, what leads you to think that we may
not be?" asked Farnum, curiously.
“Nothing in the way of facts," Jack admitted.
“Yet there may be others of this infernal spy


186
THE SUBMARINE BOYS
gang who have not yet shown their hands, and
of whose existence the Secret Service knows
pothing.'
“Well, what can they do, if you don't allow
any strangers on board the boat?” asked Mr.
Farnum, point blank.
“Nothing much,” muttered Benson, “un-
less
“Well, unless what?"
“See here," asked the submarine boy, “what
is usually done to such spies by the United
States Government?"
“Why, the law provides that, in war time,
such spies can be shot in mighty quick order,
replied Mr. Farum. “In peace times the law
doesn't allow anything but sending spies to
prison.”
“But what does the Government usually do?”
pursued Captain Jack. “It seems to me I've
read of suspected spies being caught around
American fortifications, trying to make notes,
or take photographs.”
“Yes,” nodded the shipbuilder.
“And I think I've read, also, that such spies
are generally warned and then let go."
“That's the usual procedure, I believe," ad-
mitted Farnum.
"Then, after the spies who have been bother-
ing us have all been rounded up and scolded,


AND THE SPIES
187
they'll be given railroad tickets and allowed to
go on their way?” asked Jack.
“Frankly, I'm afraid that's just what will be
done in the present case,” admitted Jacob Far-
num.
"Then,” grumbled Captain Jack, making a
rather wry face, “it would seem that being a
foreign spy, in this country, provides one with
a calling that is a good deal safer than being
just a lightning rod peddler or a bill collector."
“Yes; it's really so,” admitted the ship-
builder, thoughtfully.
“If that is the case," muttered Captain Jack,
"the spies here at Spruce Beach will probably
keep a bit quiet until they see how things are
going to turn out. As soon as their minds are
made easy by our generous government, then
they'll plot their next moves. If they can't ac-
complish anything more, they may content them-
selves with a general revenge of some sort on
the whole lot of us.'
“You're not afraid of their vengeance, are
you?” asked Mr. Farnum, looking up, and into
the eyes of his young captain.
“I'm not afraid, of anything, sir," retorted
Jack. "The master of a submarine boat has no
right to be afraid of things. Even if these
scoundrels should get me, in the end, all I can
do is to smile, and say: 'So be it.'”


190
THE SUBMARINE BOYS
lighted his pipe and started his slow walk back
and forth along the deck.
There did not appear to be overmuch sense
in keeping this deck watch. Only a short dis-
tance away lay the United States gunboat,
“Waverly," with her alert marine guard.
Though there was no moon, the starlight was
bright enough to enable a marine on the gunboat
to see anything that might skim over the water
toward the “Benson."
Yet Williamson was on watch, under instruc-
tions, and he was a faithful fellow who meant to
do his full duty.
“Seems kinder tough, of course, to be so long
out of one's bunk in the middle of the night,"
the machinist admitted to himself.
Yet, had his vision been keen enough to know
what was happening on shore, almost directly
opposite the “Benson,” Williamson would have
been tenfold more alert.
Over there on the shore, in a clump of flower-
ing, semi-tropical bushes, crouched two men.
On the ground with them lay a metal cylinder
some two feet long and seven inches in diameter.
There was also a coil of wire and a boxed mag-
neto battery.
One of the pair held to his eyes a pair of night
marine glasses. Incessantly this watcher kept
his gaze focused on Williamson.


AND THE SPIES
193
CHAPTER XIX
A JOKE ON THE SECRET SERVICE!
"W"
HAT'S that noise?” wondered Wil.
liamson.
He stopped, listening intently, for
he was still below.
Against the bottom of the “Benson’s” hull
he heard a steady, slow, monotonous bumping.
As he listened, his face took on an anxious look.
“We're in a friendly port,” muttered the
machinist. “It can't be anything very wrong,
and yet
That slow steady bumping continued.
“Anything bumping against the hull of a boat
at anchor, in that fashion may be wrong," con-
cluded the man, swiftly.
His mind made up to this much, the rest was
not difficult to decide. The cause of that bump-
ing required instant investigation. Williamson
caught up the tool that came quickest to hand,
a pair of nippers, thrust them into his jumper
and raced up to the deck.
“If it's any real mischief,” he muttered, “I
hope I won't be too slow—too late!”
With that he dived overboard, at the star-
board rail, the side nearest the gunboat. There
13–The Submarine Boys and the Spies.


194
THE SUBMARINE BOYS:
was a splash-then the waters closed over the
machinist.
He came up at about the point he had planned,
where he had heard the bumping.
Held below water as he was by the under-hull
of the submarine, he could move with certainty,
though but slowly.
Groping, the machinist encountered the metal
cylinder. Quickly he felt for its connections
which, like a flash, he knew must exist. He
found the wire, but reached for another. It all
had to be done swiftly, for his reserve “wind”
was fast giving out. Not finding a second wire,
he fastened his nippers. against the first wire-
then cut. Now, steering the metal cylinder, he
pushed it out from under the hull. Cylinder and
man rose together.
Whew! What a powerful breath the man
took ! Then he steered the cylinder carefully
against the hull, and managed to hold it there
until he could reach a piece of cordage and make
the cylinder fast.
This done, he dashed below, thumping hard on
the door of the stateroom occupied by Captain
Jack Benson and Hal Hastings.
“Eh? What is it?” called Jack, almost in-
stantly.
“You're wanted deck, Captain-in-
stantly,” replied the dripping machinist.
on


AND THE SPIES
195
“Oh, all right, Williamson,” and Benson's
feet hit the stateroom floor.
A minute later he was above, Hal following
only some twenty seconds behind his young
chief.
Williamson swiftly told how he had heard the
bumping against the hull, and how he had found
the cylinder, with a wire connection.
“Gunboat, ahoy!” roared Captain Jack,
snatching up a megaphone and holding it to his
lips.
The response was prompt. In less than three
minutes a cutter, containing an officer, a corporal
and four marines, was alongside.
“The first thing for us to do is to take that
cylinder aboard the ‘Waverly' and investigate
it,” decided Ensign Foss. “I'll leave the ma-
rines here until I get further instructions from
the commanding officer.”
'Anything happening?" demanded Eph,
reaching deck just after the cutter had put off.
He eyed the marine squad curiously.
“Just what we're trying to find out,” replied
Jack.
“It must seem to you that I acted amiss in
leaving the deck," put in Williamson.
“But you didn't,” retorted Jack. “Had you
been on deck you wouldn't have heard that in-
fernal machine bumping against the hull."
99


AND THE SPIES
197
next going below again. At last, however, Wil-
liamson came up, calling :
“I have a part of the wire in my hands.”
Lieutenant Foster ordered his marines into
the cutter, inviting Jack and Hal also to go with
him. They rowed out alongside of Williamson,
picking up the machinist and his wire.
“We'd better put your man back on the boat,
hadn't we, Mr. Benson?” inquired the marine
lieutenant.
“I'm not such weak stuff as that, sir,” almost
grumbled the machinist. "I can stand a few
minutes more in wet clothes, and I want to go
along to see where this wire leads."
“Good enough,” nodded Lieutenant Foster,
and gave the order to row along slowly, while
two marines in the bow of the cutter slowly
gathered in the wire, at the same time signal-
ing back the direction in which it lay.
Only a few minutes were needed thus to fol-
low the trail straight to the clump of bushes on
shore.
“Nobody leave the boat until we have a lan-
tern ready," directed Lieutenant Foster. “We
don't want to tramp out the trail of the rascals
who laid that mine."
The marine lieutenant himself was the first
to step ashore, and Jack Benson was with him.
“Here are the footprints of the rascals, an-


202
THE SUBMARINE BOYS
9
“Anyone taking my name in vain?" demanded
the machinist, smiling as he put in an appear-
ance at that moment.
“We're trying to see," Eph explained,
“whether we can do any better guessing than
the Secret Service men as to the fellows who
were kind enough to lay that mine under us last
night.”
“Got it figured out?" asked the machinist, as
he transferred a generous helping of bacon, eggs
and fried potatoes to his plate.
“For myself," put in Hal, “I'd suspect that
fellow Gaston, in an instant, if he had only been
at liberty. That fellow has an eye that looks
like all the letters in the word 'r-e-v-e-n-g-e.'
“That's so," nodded Jack, thoughtfully, as
he ate. “But we happen to know that Gaston is
very safe under lock and key. By the way, fel-
lows, I don't suppose Mr. Farnum and Mr. Pol-
lard have heard the news yet, or they'd be out
here on the double quick.”
After breakfast Jack went ashore alone, to
carry the exciting news to his employers. He
found Messrs. Farnum and Pollard in the break-
fast room at the Clayton. Both were astounded
when they heard the news of the night's doings.
“Who on earth could have put up such a job
against the submarine?" gasped David Pollard.
“I don't know, sir,” Captain Jack replied.
719


AND THE SPIES
203
“But I've left Hal on board, in command, and I
mean to find out something about this business,
if there is any way to do it.”
With that he excused himself, rising and leav-
ing the table at which his employers were seated.
Jacob Farnum gazed after his young subma-
rine captain, then whispered to the inventor:
“That youngster has some notion in his head
of where to look for the infernal criminals. And,
ten to one, his idea is a good one that will bear
fruit!”
CHAPTER XX
A BRIGHT LOOK AND A DEADLY WARNING
ACK'S employer gave him rather too much
credit in supposing that the boy had al-
ready worked out the problem of finding
those who had made the attack on the “Ben-
JA
7
son.
As the submarine boy left the breakfast room
he felt as much in the dark as ever. The only
known spies who were still at large, for some
reason known only to the Secret Service men,
were M. Lemaire, Mlle. Nadiboff and Kamanako.
“This is rather earlier than either of that pair
are in the habit of showing themselves," mut-
tered Benson, as the first two names crossed his
thoughts. “I wonder whether I could get the


AND THE SPIES
205
>
exception of his lawyer, the only people who
have been here to see Gaston were two fellows
who came yesterday, about noon.
“Oho!" muttered Benson. “Who were they?”
The jailer turned to reach for a memorandum
book.
“I keep the names given by all who come here
to see prisoners, so I shall be able to answer you.
Ah, here are the names. One fellow called him-
self Leroux, the other Stephanoulis.
“One name French, and the other Greek,”
muttered the submarine boy, thinking hard.
“What did they look like?”
The jailer quickly and carefully described the
pair. Jack listened attentively. Then rose,
briskly.
"Did
you
hear
any of the conversation they
had with Gaston?"
"No."
“If they come again to-day can you lock them
up and hold them ?"
“If I have proper authority.”
“If you get a telephone message from Mr.
Trotter, would that be good enough authority?”
“Yes; on that I could hold them long enough
to give Trotter a chance to come here and take
them, or else to get them committed on a regular
warrant.'
“If you keep within sound of your telephone


AND THE SPIES
207
Then Mr. Packwood left to walk through the
little town around Spruce Beach, to see whether
he could encounter any two worthies who an-
swered to the description of Leroux and Steph-
anoulis.
Before half-past nine, however, word came
that local constables at a little railway town a
dozen miles away had arrested a couple of sus-
pects and were bringing them to Spruce Beach.
The prisoners had been taken while waiting for
a north bound train, and had tickets all the way
through to New York.
Then Jack hastened back to Messrs. Farnum
and Pollard to report what was in the air.
“By Jupiter, Jack, I knew you had some-
thing strong in your mind when you left
us,” gasped the shipbuilder. “But I didn't
imagine you'd run down the wretches as swiftly
as that.”
"We don't yet know that we've got the right
pair,” replied Captain Jack.
“I'm willing to wager money on it, if it comes
to that,” retorted Mr. Farnum.
Before noon the two prisoners were brought
into Spruce Beach. Trotter and Packwood
stopped, in a 'bus with the prisoners, to show
them to Jack at the hotel.
“That pair look rascally enough to do any
dirty trick,” declared Jacob Farnum, in high


208
THE SUBMARINE BOYS
disgust, as he looked over Leroux and Stephan-
oulis.
The prisoners were, indeed, “hard looking.'
Both were men below average size, with sullen,
defiant eyes.
Both were dressed roughly, like
laborers. Yet, when taken, each had been
found to have a considerable sum of money
about him.
“We can't make either of the fellows talk, but
maybe they will later, when we begin to employ
some of the third degree on them,” whispered
Mr. Trotter to Jack. “My boy, I think you've
put us on the real trail. If the jailer identifies
them as Gaston's callers of yesterday, we'll
know where we stand.”
Fifteen minutes later the Secret Service men
returned. The jailer had pronounced the pair
to be Gaston's callers of the day before. 'More-
over, the jailer had obligingly locked up the pair
until Trotter and Packwood could obtain proper
authority for him to hold them. Leroux and
Stephanoulis had been placed in cells from
which they could not possibly communicate with
Gaston, whose cell lay in another wing of the
jail.
“As soon as that pair found that, for some
reason, their mine failed to explode under you
last night," Trotter hinted, "they knew that their
game was up. They hurried away and lay con-


AND THE SPIES
209
cealed in the distance. Then they saw the party
from the ‘Waverly' hunting on shore, with lan-
terns, and they took to the woods. That pair
of rascals knew how risky it would be for them
to try to leave at the local railway station to-
day, so they struck off through the woods on
foot making for another town at a distance. The
constables who brought them down here say that
Leroux and Stephanoulis were a surely aston-
ished pair when they found themselves nabbed.
We are getting into a bigger nest of trouble
down here than we expected when we left Wash-
ington.”
After the Secret Service men had gone,
Jacob Farnum turned as though to go inside
the hotel.
"I'm wondering whether there are any letters
for me,” he said.
"I'll go to the office and inquire," proposed
Jack Benson. At the desk he received two let-
ters for his employer, and turned away with
them in one hand when his steps were arrested
by the sound of a sweet feminine voice at the
further end of the desk.
The speaker was Mlle. Nadiboff.
“She looks as sweet and as contented as
ever,” thought the submarine boy, with some
wonder. “Really, she doesn't look as though a
care had crossed her path.'
14-The Submarine Boys and the Spies.


AND THE SPIES
213
his cell in jail, could plan the attempt to blow
up the ‘Benson’ last night."
Hal, too, soon came up and heard. He turned
an anxious gaze upon his chum.
“Jack, old fellow," he pleaded, “I know
you're not much given to being afraid of things.
But, at least, look out for yourself a bit. Be
more prudent than you usually are about your-
self. That crowd of foreign spies, having failed
and having brought themselves into trouble,
mean to have revenge. Any of us are liable,
but you'll be the shining mark of all to be picked
out."
“There can't be many more of that crowd left
at large," laughed Jack, lightly.
"I wonder why the Secret Service men don't
arrest Lemaire and the Nadiboff
young
woman?” asked Mr. Pollard, the last to rejoin
the little group.
"Trotter and Packwood must have some good
reasons of their own," Jack replied, thought-
fully. “For one thing, they hardly have any
evidence that they could use against the pair.”
“They could at least drive them from Spruce
Beach,” retorted the inventor.
“Perhaps the Secret Service man are giving
the pair enough rope for their hanging,” pro-
posed Jack.
At that moment the two detectives were es-


214
THE SUBMARINE BOYS
pied going past in a buggy. They waved their
hands to the party. Jack replied by a signal to
halt. He and Hal ran down to the road to speak
to the detectives.
“If it's a fair question to ask,'
" demanded
Hal, “what are you going to do with Lemaire
and Mlle. Nadiboff ?"
"To tell you the truth, we don't know," Trot-
ter answered. “We haven't anything we could
very well fasten on them. But of this you may
be sure; our various moves are known to them,
and they're on the tenterhooks of anxiety won-
dering what's going to break loose next. More
than that, both are sharp enough to have guessed
that it would be impossible for either of them
to get away from Spruce Beach, now, without
our leave. But we'll have to leave you, now,
boys. You've been of so much help to us that
I don't mind telling you what we're up to at this
moment. We're driving back to jail, and we're
going to try to put the screws on Leroux and
his Greek companion. If we can make 'em think
we've gained new evidence against 'em, they
may get scared and begin to talk. If they talk
fast enough, they'll begin to tell some truth.”
The buggy rolled along again.
"You didn't tell them a word about Mlle.
Nadiboff's threats to you," muttered Hal.
“I didn't mean to," Jack replied, simply.


AND THE SPIES
215
“Why not?”
“Well, for one thing, I couldn't swear that
she did threaten me. She may have meant it
all for nonsense.'
“Yes," mocked Hal Hastings. “That would
be just like her!”
The submarine not being due to go out that
day, the chums decided to remain on shore, in
order to keep in touch with the march of events.
The day was so balmy that Mr. Farnum dropped
into a chair on the porch, Pollard occupying the
chair next to him. Hal, buying a magazine at
the hotel news stand, sat on the edge of the
porch, his feet touching the ground. Jack, his
mind too full of problems to permit him to
read, paced up and down the grounds. Finally
he strolled out past the gate, crossed the
road and began to stroll along the shingle of
beach.
Jacob Farnum removed his cigar from be-
tween his lips long enough to remark:
“As long as the lad keeps in sight, Pollard,
it will be worth our while to keep an occasional
eye on him."
“And when he goes out of sight - ?" asked
the inventor, slowly.
“It will be high time to call him back. Some-
how, Dave, I'm growing uneasy over the boy.
I can't help the feeling that he's running into


216
THE SUBMARINE BOYS
a good deal of danger that's likely to explode
under him at any moment, just as that mine was
intended to last night."
“It makes one feel uncanny to be at Spruce
Beach,” growled the inventor, savagely.
“Well, we can't run away,” retorted Jacob
Farnum, blandly.
“Why not, if we feel like it?"
The shipbuilder laughed.
“Why, Dave, a spirited lad like Jack Ben-
son would be furious over anything that looked
like a retreat. He'd be savage. Now, Dave,
we can hardly afford to put such a slight on the
boy who has had so much to do with our suc-
cess."
“I suppose not,” grunted Mr. Pollard, set-
tling back in his chair.
“The odd part of it,” said Farnum, presently,
"is, that while we're the center of an interna-
tional cyclone, so to speak, the rest of the folks
at Spruce Beach don't know a word about it.
Look at the crowds of folks around us who
haven't even a breath of an idea of what has
happened, or is likely to happen. Not a soul
around here, except our own few, have any idea
that an attempt was made, last night, to blow
up that mysterious-looking little submarine craft
riding at her moorings out yonder.”
“I wonder what the crowd would do, if it did


220
THE SUBMARINE BOYS
into his pocket. “Some fellow fired an acci-
dental shot, very likely, and is at this moment
the most scared man at Spruce Beach. What's
the use of jumping on anyone just because he
had a moment of carelessness ?”
“That's right, young level-head!” nodded
another man, approvingly.
Messrs. Farnum and Pollard hung back some-
what. They were near enough to hear and see,
and they had their instant suspicions. But the
crowd knew nothing of the spy outrages, and
it was not necessary to inform strangers.
So, within a few minutes the crowd broke up,
straying off in quest of something more inter-
esting. The submarine party kept on up to the
hotel porch.
“That was a revengeful move, pure and sim-
ple," declared Jacob Farnum, in a low voice.
“Of course,
" assented Jack. "It's going to
be something of a task though, to find out, for
certain, just who fired that shot."
Even as the four stood there on the veranda
a door opened, and M. Lemaire, faultlessly at-
tired for an afternoon stroll, stepped out.
“Ah, good afternoon, gentlemen," was his un-
concerned greeting, as he recognized the quar-
tette.
This French spy had evidently dressed him-
self with a good deal of care. He carried himself


AND THE SPIES
223
with much precision and lightly twirled a natty
cane.
re-
“Pardon me, monsieur," spoke Jack, stepping
forward, and looking past the Frenchman; "is
that one of your friends down the road?”
As the Frenchman turned to look, young
Benson swiftly and adroitly took his cane from
him.
Like a flash, his eyes full of fire, Lemaire
wheeled about, then leaped at the young sub-
marine captain.
But Hal Hastings stepped between them so
neatly that the Frenchman collided with him in-
stead.
“Hold this fellow a moment, please,”
quested Captain Jack. “I've found something
interesting.”
Hal Hastings grabbed Lemaire's right arm.
Jacob Farnum instantly possessed himself of the
other. David Pollard sprang forward so that
he could take a hand, if need be.
Captain Jack stood holding the spy's walking
stick, ferule end upward. It was a rather long,
slender-looking ferrule of steel. But what inter-
ested young Benson most was that he had found
that the ferrule was hollow.
Quickly the submarine boy examined the rest
of the cane.
"Release me! Hand that stick back to me!"


224
THE SUBMARINE BOYS
hissed the Frenchman. “Oh, some one shall pay
for this unpardonable outrage!”
But Hal and Mr. Farnum only gripped the
spy the more tightly.
“I believe I've found out something," an-
nounced Jack, in a low voice. “Wait a second
or two."
He had come upon a concealed spring near
the head of the cane. Stepping to the edge of
the porch, the submarine boy pointed the ferrule
end at the ground, then pressed upon the spring.
A sharp, though not loud report followed,
and a bullet plowed into the ground. There
was a flash at the end of the ferrule, though but
a barely perceptible amount of smoke.
“So, M. Lemaire, you carry a pistol cane, that
uses smokeless powder and shoots steel-jacketed
bullets ?” inquired Jack, turning to the prisoner,
who, white-faced, stood gnashing his teeth in
helpless rage. “I wonder if the bullet IIastings
dug out of the tree trunk will be found to fit
this weapon?”
“You miser-r-r-rable dog!" screamed Le-
maire. "Thief! Liar!”
“Oh, keep cool about it, do," urged Jack,
smilingly.
“What's this?" demanded Trotter, suddenly
appearing on the scene. Packwood was just be-
hind him.


226
THE SUBMARINE BOYS
earth will be a safe place for you. You can find
no place in the world where you will be safe from
destruction—unless you get us out of this one
bad fix!"
CHAPTER XXII
"YOTE
GALLANT, EVEN TO THE FOE!
TOU may have him now," announced
Captain Jack, ironically. "I reckon
he has spoken his piece.”
Trotter's answer was to leap upon the French-
man, pinioning his arms behind him. Pack-
wood snapped handcuffs over the prisoner's
wrists.
“Here is the bullet that Hastings dug out of
the tree—the one that was probably fired at
me," added Captain Jack. “And here is M.
Lemaire's cane-pistol. You can see whether the
bullet fits the cane."
Trotter took them, with a swift, admiring
look at Benson's cool, handsome face.
Then, guiding their prisoner, the Secret Sery-
ice men moved off hastily, for two or three hun-
dred beach walkers had just discovered that
something exciting had happened, and were hur-
rying forward.
Lemaire was forced into the buggy and driven
rapidly away.
Once out of sight the Secret


AND THE SPIES
229
thought of the lad being butchered to gratify
the grudge of any of the rascally crew that we've
offended here at Spruce Beach.'
A slight, rustling sound at the door caused
them all to wheel about. Jacob Farnum's eyes
beheld a slip of white paper lying on the floor,
just inside the door. Jack Benson saw it, also,
but he sprang past the paper, pulling the door
open.
Around a turn in the corridor the submarine
boy heard the sound of fleet footsteps.
Jack pursued, but could find no one, and the
sound of moving feet had also ceased.
As soon as he was satisfied that he could not
catch the prowler, the submarine boy returned to
the room.
“Do you see this?” asked the shipbuilder,
holding out the slip of paper.
“Another warning, I suppose?” Benson ven-
tured.
“Yes; and it shows that you are being fol-
lowed and watched. Something worse is almost
certain yet to happen.”
Jack took the slip of paper, reading these
printed words:
“You have been fairly warned. Are you go-
ing to be a fool? Obey, or—"
That was all. The meaning of the words was
plain enough, but Jack, with as cool a smile as


AND THE SPIES
231
recourse to a cigar. He lighted it, smoking with
a very solemn look on his face.
“What's all the excitement, I wonder?” mut-
tered Hal, presently.
The distant sound of running feet, then cries
came to their ears, though none in the little
party could distinguish the words.
“There's some big excitement on. Come
along," urged Jack, reaching for his cap.
“Humph! We've had excitement enough to
last reasonable people for a long time,” grum-
bled the shipbuilder, but he, too, sprang for his
hat.
Ere they had run far through the corridor
they encountered other guests fleeing.
"What's the matter?" called Jack.
“Fire in the south wing," called back one
man. “We don't know, yet, whether the hotel
is doomed."
Just then the fire alarm bell of the hotel be-
gan to sound loudly in all the corridors.
That brought the remaining guests on the run,
some appearing not completely dressed.
As the rushing throng began to thicken at a
door on the ground floor the sound of a whistle
and of clanging gongs was heard without. The
Spruce Beach fire department was responding
to the alarm.
Captain Jack bounded out. Hal kept close at


AND THE SPIES
235
CHAPTER XXIII
T".
"GOOD-BYE, MY CAPTAIN!”
HE first part of the climb was easy.
Unmindful of the cheers that followed
him the submarine boy raced up the
ladder.
Then he struck the belt of heavy smoke.
Flames, too, leaped out at him. He went through
that zone
of red with all possible speed,
yet swift as he was, he felt as though he were
being roasted.
Then, at a greater height, the boy was forced
to close his mouth, barely breathing, for the
smoke surrounded him. He felt as though he
were stifling, but he kept on.
Up on the sill the watching crowd below saw
him. Then Jack Benson leaped inside.
Ah! He could breathe, here, just a bit more,
though the smoke had followed him.
At the further end of the room, by the door
that opened upon the corridor, the flames were
eating their way up through from the floor be-
low. There was a red barrier there that shut
off any hope of retreat by the corridor.
Yet these things Jack Benson saw only as his
gaze swiftly swept the room.


238
THE SUBMARINE BOYS
orders, they found that this somewhat oily fluid
brought back a good deal of the missing power
to breathe. After a while both boys began to
move about again. Yet both felt a strange feel-
ing of oppression and weakness.
“For the rest, your feelings will simply have
to wear off,” the physician told them. “You'll
be all right in time. And it was a fine, manly
piece of work that you both did.”
After nearly an hour of stubborn work the
firemen saved the main building, though that
southern wing was practically destroyed.
When the danger was over hotel discipline as-
serted itself once more. News was passed that
the belated dinner was ready, and the lately ex-
cited guests filed in for their meal, though many
complained of a loss of appetite.
Neither Jack nor Hal felt like eating then.
They sat by Messrs. Farnum and Pollard,
though the submarine boys contented themselves
with sipping more milk.
“That was one way of answering the enemy's
threats,” laughed the shipbuilder, in an under-
tone.
“We don't know that Mlle. Nadiboff was in
any way connected with the threats," replied
Jack, in an equally low tone.
“She belongs in the enemy's ranks,” observed
David Pollard, dryly.


AND THE SPIES
239
As the quartette were leaving the table one of
the negro waiters stepped up to them.
“De lady dat was brought down outah de fiah
done wanter see Marse Benson in de parlor,”
announced the waiter.
“Mlle. Nadiboff?” inquired Mr. Farnum.
“Then I guess we had all better go in. Jack,
I'm going to keep you in my sight.
As they entered the parlor the submarine
people saw three or four women standing about
a sofa on which lay the pretty Russian.
At sight of the newcomers the Russian signed
to the attendants of her own sex to raise her,
and then to withdraw. Jack went forward to
the sofa, his friends taking seats on the opposite
side of the room.
“Pardon my not rising, my Captain,” begged
Mlle. Nadiboff, as Jack Benson left his friends
to go forward and greet her. "I find I have
not my full strength yet.
Since she offered her hand, Jack, under the
circumstances, took it simply, then released it.
He stood before her in the uniform that had suf-
fered in the fire.
“I am told that you, my Captain, nearly lost
your own life in saving my less than worthless
one,
continued the Russian
the Russian woman. “It
was a strange thing for you to considering.
Will you believe me when I tell you that I
99


240
THE SUBMARINE BOYS
greatly respect your courage and your man-
hood?"
“Yes,” bowed Jack. “Though it was noth-
ing but a sailor's easy
trick."
“You would make little of it, would you, my
Captain ?" smiled Mlle. Nadiboff, plaintively.
“True, you risked much for a life that has been
worth but little. Still, I sent for you to do more
than assure you of my appreciation of your
generosity."
As she spoke, the young woman thrust one
hand into the bosom of her dress. She drew
out a little envelope which she held in her hand
for a few moments.
“You have been threatened, my Captain?”
she whispered, looking up at him.
“Oh, ye-es," assented Captain Jack Benson,
shrugging his shoulders.
“And by very desperate people.
“So far," smiled the boy, "they have injured
only themselves."
“Yet you do not know how far their vengeance
can reach.”
“Nor shall I lose any sleep thinking over it,”
Captain Jack replied, looking down at her with
his baffling smile.
“Your enemies had one trick prepared for
you,” whispered the Russian, “that you might
have found it hard to meet."


AND THE SPIES
243
from Spruce Beach," promised Jack Benson.
"Have you more to say to me, Mademoiselle?”
“Nothing, but good-bye, my Captain."
She held out her hand. Once more Jack took
it, bending low over it. Tears shone in her eyes,
but Jack did not see them, for he turned, going
back to his friends.
Not until they were well away from the par-
lor did Jack Benson offer any account of the in-
terview that had just taken place.
“Let me have that envelope, then,” requested
Jacob Farnum, gravely.
“What are you going to do with it, sir?" Jack
asked, as he passed it over.
“Do with it?" repeated his employer. "I'm
going to take it to the nearest druggist, and
find out what the stuff is."
"We'd better take this latest news to our
friend Trotter," suggested David Pollard.
“By all means," nodded Farnum. "And
I'll meet the rest of you there."
The little house wherein the Secret Service
men had taken up their headquarters was not far
away. When the inventor and the submarine
boys rang the bell Mr. Packwood admitted them.
“Step right into the next room," advised Mr.
Packwood. “You'll find some one there you
know."
As the submarine folks entered the room they


244
THE SUBMARINE BOYS
saw Trotter seated at a table on which were writ-
ing materials. At the other side of the table
standing very erect, and in a very respectful
pose, was the Japanese, Kamanako.
CHAPTER XXIV
CONCLUSION
"G
OOD evening, honorable gentlemen,'
said the Japanese, turning when he
heard the new arrivals entering.
“Mr. Kamanako is going to leave us,” an-
nounced Trotter, with a smile. “He goes north
to-night. Here is the slip of paper, my boy, that
will take you past any meddlesome inquiry. But
it is good only until midnight, so I advise you
to be sure to catch to-night's express.
“I shall, and thank you, honorable sir,” re-
plied the Japanese, bowing.
“Then I won't detain you any longer, or you
may miss your train."
Once more the Japanese bowed, then turned
to Captain Jack Benson.
“Honorable Captain,” he said, “I had pleas-
ure to show you something about jiu-jitsu. You
did me honor to show me most excellent thing
you called American strategy. I shall not for-
get it."


246
THE SUBMARINE BOYS
themselves so well known that about all of their
value as spies will be gone."
“By Jove, but that's a clear-headed idea,”
muttered Trotter, rising from his chair. “It
will do the trick, too. Where is this
man,
Hen-
nessy?
“Stopping at the Clayton, sir.”
“Packwood, will you go over and get that
reporter?” asked Mr. Trotter, turning to his
associate.
In the next minute Jack was telling Trotter
of the fire-incident and the envelope that Mlle.
Nadiboff had given him. By the time the sub-
marine boy had finished his recital Jacob Far-
num hurried in.
“That stuff," he reported, “is morphine sul-
phate, and the druggist says there was enough
of it to take you clear out of this world and into
the next.”
“Hm! That Nadiboff woman!" muttered
Trotter. “She has been as dangerous as any of
them, and yet it is hard to be rough with her after
her one act of gratitude to you, Benson. I could
see that she went north on the train, of course,
but she'd be liable to suspicion and punishment
by some of the members of the gang of that in-
fernal Gaston. He has yet other men, I sus-
pect, who may be watching the trains further
on, and Mlle. Nadiboff, after saving you, Ben-


AND THE SPIES
249
the "Benson” bounded out over the waves, as
though even that grim little steel craft of war
could appreciate the fact that its dangers were
over.
In time Captain Jack picked up the Havana-
bound freighter by the rays of her searchlight,
and moved on out to intercept her. He signaled
that he had a passenger to put aboard. The
steamship lay to, lowering a side gangway, and
the “Benson” ran neatly in. The transfer was
made.
Just as she was helped over the side Mlle.
Nadiboff placed her hand in Jack's.
“Good-bye, my Captain,” she said, sadly.
“Good-bye, Mademoiselle," answered the
submarine boy. “And remember that you are
done with the spies.'
“Forever! Again, good-bye, my Captain."
As both craft moved off on their respective
courses Captain Benson saw a little white hand-
kerchief fluttering at the freighter's stern rail.
As long as it could be visible over the waters
that handkerchief fluttered.
"I guess the little Russian must have tied her
handkerchief there," observed Eph, dryly, and
Captain Jack smiled; while Jacob Farnum
turned to whisper to the inventor:
“Dave, our youthful captain has the greatest
respect in the world for a woman, but he'll never


250
THE SUBMARINE BOYS
be made a fool of by one of the wrong
kind."
Henceforth, as long as she remained at Spruce
Beach, the submarine craft was wholly unmo-
lested and avoided by spies. Gaston, who
turned out to be the real leader of one party,
instead of M. Lemaire, was sentenced to prison
for assault. Leroux and his Greek accomplice
confessed to the attempt to explode the mine
under the “Benson,” and were sent to the peni-
tentiary. There, also, journeyed M. Lemaire,
for a long term, on account of his all but suc-
cessful shot at Jack Benson.
With the exception of those sent to prison
none of the spies have as yet been heard
from.
For a considerable time the “Benson” re-
mained at, or near, Spruce Beach. Hennessy's
articles attracted great attention to the craft.
The Navy people were charmed by the new capa-
bilities shown by this latest of the Pollard sub-
marine boats.
Later the submarine boys were destined to
turn their attention to new and thrilling work
with submarine craft. And now came most
stirring times that put their grit, intelligence
and resource to the hardest kind of tests.
These newest happenings will be related in
full in the next volume of this series, which will


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