The Submarine Boys' Lightning Cruise / The Young Kings of the Deep

oarsely, he felt himself bo

d one of the sailors, holding a big hand over the submarine boy's mou

light illumined the dark

e of the sailor pair

consternation amon

on was forgotten. Freed from

two bull's-eye police lanterns,

s, men! Grab them!" shou

in police uniforms. Four other men

ors headlong down the stairs. But the submarine boy did not pause there.

f 'em put up a fight," commande

in. There was no fight, beyond the blows that young Benson struck. Cowed by the unexpected appea

g him fairy stories over the telephone," l

ch as you described were happening in Colfax, then I'd better come along myself to investigate

f my friends have disappeared by the same trick that was tried on me.

the chief, turning to glare at his prisoners, lined up along the wall in the lower

the sub-cellar of this place," spoke o

e informant. "Officer Davis, you come with me. You may c

the lock forced. Passing down into the cellar, their way lighted by one of the bull's

d, and lying on piles of old rags. It was not long ere the two

you ever find us here?

e get away from here,

time, had gone out to telephone for a covered police van. Int

did not go with the van soon v

a very important submarine test, and that it would be wholly inconvenient for you to have to appear in court. So I won't expect you. On the testimony that my men and I can give the judge will continue the case until such time as you can appear. My men al

by the way of the Somerset House. They went down to the water-front by a different route.

g security of their little cabin, "don't you dare think of anythi

r, Eph, that we left you on that corner-and you vanished. Then we left Hal on that same corn

e sailors?" broke in Hal. "I ne

m that is very much like the uniform of a naval officer, all but the insignia of rank. What is the consequence? Every sailor we meet sees the uniform, and says 'sir' to us by sheer force of habit. W

me, I never thought of that

nued Captain Jack, "that I'd run down to

e where you were go

he chief of police. I happened to get the chief himself on the wire. He thought I was a drunken sailor, or else that

" pursu

tives a chance to reach the scene. Then I went ba

ely enjoyed by the young su

p such a queer job o

s speed test, of course," nodded Jack. "It seems like a mean thing to say,

they were inclined to fall in line with the guess t

ain Jack, his eyes flashing ominously. "But come, now, fellows, we must go to bed

srs. Farnum and Pollard, still with John

ob Farnum. "But their room keys are gone from the clerk's

secretly removed the keys in order to crea

he locked door of another room. They chuckled

we know, were safely

. It was about twenty minutes later that Farnum and Pollard

ring, minus coat and vest. "Ah, good morning, gentlemen.

to their rooms this morning, and could get no answer. We've had their doors opened with

ace to express more surprise

s will be boys, you know-espe

torted Mr. Farnum, sharply. "The

r boats," proposed Mr. Rhinds, innocently. "Just t

. All four went to the breakfast room together. Messrs. Farnum

left the table. "If our youngsters are not on one of our boats, then we've got

ys all right on one of

, conf

nt together. It was well after nine o

el so much better, gentlemen, when you find your crew all right. I'l

latform deck of the "Benson," leaning against the c

to Grant, and ask him,"

wait until we get alongside, and you'll see your young men poppi

te suddenly, the three submarine boys projected themselves th

John C. Rhinds,

. He stared as though he were seeing ghosts, while a

ped Jacob Farnum, turning. "Thank you,

lard!" chorused the three submarine boys. Then,

rning-ge

h, disgustedly, under hi

to look pleasant, they hadn't gotten their

rriedly below, where Jack

hand, then giving the other boys the same hearty gripping handshake. "Your note that

ght sight of you boys," added David Pollard, "we can form a p

glowered Farnum,

se fellows try such a trick on us? Because they hoped,

s fast submarines. I know that, from the reports I've had. Plain

oudly. "More than afraid, sir. When the figures of to-day's di

he engines so hot we blow the whole deck

pain in my head, from a crack I received last night, that will put me in

winning fire all right, for to-

boats in to-day's race?" as

ople and ourselves are the only makers who have more than one boat here, today's race will be confin

the 'Hastings' and the 'Benson' there isn't a hair's breadth to choose. But with either b

such confidence in their boat

* * *

usly ill at home, and the machinist had to leave at once, going north by the next train. As it happened, the brother spee