the submarines, already on board the diving craft, took their stations. "Cap

rc ascended to the bridge. They found Midshipman Kenworth ther

ing the steam steering gear, was a small house in which th

rd,[Pg 68] and drew him into the doorway of the structure. There was a small port in th

Herc. "I don't like this spying busi

t wish to spy on the young man; I merely w

nchored. Beyond this island, the boys, somewhat to their surprise, saw that there was still quite an expa

ker color of the channels that threaded the numerous shallow places alternated with b

ed Herc; "about as bad a pla

ound of their voices. Kenworth was looking straight ahead. From time to time they could see him

annel perfectly, however, winding among th

this work," said Ned in a

as been in and out of here a hundred times. A

is companion wi

g

ant peace and harmony on thi

red Herc. "All right; from now on, I'm the

entary shock of surprise. Rankin appeared on the bridge. There was nothing extraordinar

explain, felt that more than that lay in this sudden conjunction of

ulsive red-headed youth was about, apparently, to break for

between them. Kenworth greeted him with an easy nod, and then, after giving some directions to the man

boys heard him say, "I don't want

hey merely stood close back against its metal wall. They had taken up positio

oached the steering-gear structure, he grabbed Herc and drew him down. Now they crouched quietl

ling tone; "a couple of snips that aren't dry behind the ears been set

e two interlopers succeeded

they started in the nav

olis. I'd like to know what the service is coming to when g

in coming down. They've no use for me, I fancy. I wish I

joinder, in a tone which wa

g

e wh

scheme to discredit them with th

ahead

up. Ned also ventured to steal a look through the port. He saw the shoal the hel

e was only one way to save

bounded out of the steering-gear hous

ought Boy, with a sinking sense of dread, guessed somehow that already the conspiracy[Pg 74] a

entleness. He turned and gazed after the figure of the young officer

" Ned heard K

he circumstances, would bring the bow of t

ver! For your life

recognizing the superior autho

ver to "Full speed astern." With a grating, jarring succession of bumps, the Seneca, Ned's first command

of failure and disgrace, even at the very out