The Submarine Boys for the Flag / Deeding Their Lives to Uncle Sam

do you thi

e question, and the time was

street of the village. He had told them, with a goo

t say a word, but

"but it was the Professor's cock-suren

old man?"

is our rival in building a large navy. About every other month the experts in Germany sit down to figure whether they are anything ahead of us in the tonnage of wars

n Hal, shaking his head. "I don't believe any countr

one, and so well built for paying war expenses," grin

tion where it will be easy for some other country

posed Hal, the one who could never see "war" on the horizon. "After a winter on ho

loring with spoons the bottoms of their glasses, the street door opened. Herr Pro

ish to see," he exclaimed, resting one ha

y for that privilege,"

see. I shall look for you at the hotel

escope?" inquir

" inquired the Ge

t in looking for

ur, I shall see

ky, if you do,

understand," responded Her

s," Eph went on, gravely, "I'm

What do you me

I said,"

so puzzled that Hal Has

ou want to see us about a proposition t

warned Radberg, looki

," Hal went on. "You have already spoken to

h!

ck has

is a fool!" cr

our captain," retorted Hal, quietly,

the hotel in one hour," decla

d you that you'll be using your eyesigh

do you

us to go to Germany and tell your people anything that we

shall be

e your price for selling

ked Hal, gazing fi

he German, his face grow

ing that we would sell our c

e as big fools as your

berg, almost

omised Eph,

n you come to the hotel in an hour," replie

"he has gone away firm in the beli

fter a while," l

bmarine boys started down the street toward the F

street corner the

s-s

pressible Eph, turning swiftly. Then he added, i

I'll bet that c

eye, the stranger's rather pallid face was partly covered, in front, by a short goatee, of the

hion; his clothes were of finest texture and latest Parisian type. His little, pointed shoes were almost as dainty as a g

the custom house?" was Eph So

coming toward them, all smiles and bows. "Av I have n

n torpedoes, as touchy as gun-cotton.

zzled at first, his face rapi

what is call ze American joke,

ughed in the utmost good humor. The boys found

" continued the French

d'O

olding out his hand, which the Frenchman took daintily. "I'm a 'shovelee

it interesting for the Frenchman. The Chevalier d'Ouray was doing his best to ret

ing to the Frenchman's hand so persistently that H

we can sit down and have ze talk about important matters. I

d Eph, "that you have heard we

Ouray looked int

y most secret thought. But yes! You have made ze one right guess

"You go along, now, and w

the chevalier, eagerly.

ike," suggested

ll you know w'ere

ance on that," propo

y, now, w'ere I shall be-" t

g place as well as we d

p

e chevalier. "Yet, for fear we m

nson felt called upon to interpose, for he and Hal both liked the twi

e happened to guess your errand, it was because we have

the Chevalier d'Ouray, a disapp

true," no

ot come to any

, n

the little Frenchman, delightedly. "So, as

n. We are Americans, and would never think of serving any other flag, even in peace time. Chevalier, I can save your

began the French

cross the Atlantic to hire

ze ho

an to Americans, Chevalier, after they had

s though he realized he had a harder

went on, "it will not be

us. Come what will o

. You yourself, Cheval

this country, Great

eferent, for I, mo

American," J

tone of disappointment. "But I shall not go away before to-morrow.

ack. "But don't waste

. And now

omewhat ashamed of his late nonsense, and, to prove it, hit the Chevalier

now hurried along the street, "I be

ave stood on the platform deck of a submarine for hours, stee

s soon going to rain foreign agents. I'd l

ny more of these fe

ign governments hire detectives to watch each other. When we hear from one, we're likel

sponded Eph, after halting and stari

the shipyard. If any more of these foreign agents show up-well, there are two boats i

submarine construction work, as he hurried across the yard. "Mr. Farnum told me to get out

s office?" q

es

we'll go rig

ntry it is whose agent

sked Eph,

e!" mock

'em all," mocked Eph. "But t

the shipbuilder's private office that Jacob Farnum, a youngish looking ma

I haven't had a laugh since I pounde

ly detailed the meetings

look a bit like a 'sho

that looked more in

" went on Mr. Farnum, after having enjoyed a few laughs with the boys

anning, at any time, he kept strictly to himself

use Craven's Bay as a possibly important naval station and shelter for vessels that have to put in. Now, for some time the Army engineer officers have been perfecting a system of submarine m

that could be done,"

w the engineer officers at that station will test it out with you whether a submari

ers will use dummy submarine

ven's Bay is only an eight-hour sail at a good gait, so y

art now, though, and go

though

lease, of course," no

e've been growing stale on shore, of late." Then he added, whimsically: "Besides,

p just about due

sed Mr. Farnum. "That will allow you to take the boat throug

you'd rather have us t

n rep

e,' by all means,"

ving been found, the crew was all r

wn below at the gasoline motors, started the twin propellers as

man and machinist, dropped below. Eph Somer

ys gazed out over the wa

being overhauled by a Jap

y. "See that launch over to port? Hanged i

well, with a few more turns of the screw

them on the port side. He noted only, at the distance, that the launch contained two

e my eyes going back on me, or is that

Eph Somers, in tu

iftly, young Somers selected the two flags representing "N" and "D." These he strung to the halliard of the short signal mas

the Japanese, smiling, and ho

the hail. "Will you slow down?

he breeze. Then Eph snatched up a megapho

back. "Just tell your folk

he fluttering flags

at does t

h Somers be

ing d