“I'm inclined to believe you,” nodded the surgeon. “They have splendid, clear skins, eyes bright as diamonds, sound, sturdy heart-beats, and they're full of vitality. I've met boys from the slums, once in a while—beer-drinkers and cigarette-smokers. But such boys never show the splendid physical condition that your friends possess.”
“You know, then, as well as I do, Doctor, that neither of my chums are rowdies, and that, whatever happened to them to-night, they didn't get to it through any bad habits or conduct?”
“I'm much inclined to agree with you, Mr. Somers.”
“I hope, then, you'll succeed in impressing all that on Lieutenant Commander Mayhew in the morning.”
With that the submarine boy passed on to the starboard stateroom. He would have given much to have stepped into the room opposite, but felt, from the doctor's manner, that the latter did not wish his patients disturbed.
Eph slept little that night. Though Jack and [pg 198] Hal fared better in that single respect, Somers looked far the best of the three in the morning.
Jack and Hal came out with bandages about their heads, which buzzed and ached.
The two, however, told their story to Somers and Williamson as soon as possible.
“Just as I supposed,” nodded Eph, vigorously.
“Why, how did you guess it all?” asked Benson, in astonishment.