ass, the gig was impelled over the smooth expanse of the sheltered waters; for, although outside in the

of mechanism. Before long they could make out, lying in under the

asked Ned of

that's th

a trim litt

r; she's all

g

ft. She was certainly not very large or imposing, but to them just then t

a smart yacht than a craft of war. She had a sharp, overhanging bow and a beautifully modeled stern. Her

ca had been used by a former President as a sort of

orpoise-like backs of the two submarines of which she was the parent ship. The sight of them brought back to[Pg 50] him the st

eedy eyes, when the gig swept around to the starboard gangw

tioned at the head of the

! What boa

came from

assengers, the reply to the hail would have been: "No! no!" For the captain and for other hi

out first. He was followed closely by Herc. A rattling sound[Pg 51] and an

hat unlucky sword had become entangled in his long legs, and for a time he hovered on the brink of disaster. But t

angway. A corporal and four other marines besides the sentry now stood the

ch more of this," thought Herc, as he ackno

ines saluted. This, of course,[Pg 52] called for another ans

his is Ensi

who was Ensign Summerville, suggested that

lves at home as soon as poss

ed, speaking for himself and Herc, for

will come thi

s men who preceded the party along the deck and turned into an alleyway, from which

on which was likely to fade out at[Pg 53] any moment. But the sight of the snug cabin with its big double p

ob of delight that this was no ordinary junior officer's cabin into which he had

gnificent stateroom,"

er of this vessel has always occ

gave one of his winn

, "I can hardly wake up to the fact that

t a notion that I'm rather a dab at strategic navigation, so they've passed me on to t

good," replied Ned; "but

u and your shipmate, and I am as glad as anyone of your

iner than Ned's and contained no desk and only two chairs. But had it been Aladdin

ng. Your orders are on your desk. You will also find a secret code book, to which[Pg 55] you, onl

ngrossed copies of their commissions and a document which stated that Lieutenant Edward Strong was to take charge of the gunboat Seneca till "further

ummerville, "the Seneca is under s

e words. This trim little craft

officers. There is Mr. Drayton, chief[Pg 56] engineer; M

Ned with a certain g

e no audible comment, but those who knew Ensign Summerville would have guessed from a peculiar expression that came

es is Mr. Kenworth, not long out of Annapolis. Ah! th

t young man in a midshipman's uniform w

told you. He assumes my command.[Pg 57] This is M

the next instant, for Kenworth had drawn back slig

mate," said Kenworth, with a disagreeable intonati

good cause to recollect Mr. Kenworth. For a moment the

d dislike on Kenworth's face, a look that might have meant anything on Ned's c