The parent vessel and her two submarine charges now lay at anchor in the harbor at Port Clovis, one of the towns down the coast from Dunhaven. This mooring overnight was to be repeated each day until Annapolis should be reached.
Within fifteen minutes the craft were surrounded by small boats from shore. Some of these contained merchandise that it was hoped [pg 072] sailors would buy. Other boats “ran” for hotels, restaurants, drinking places, amusement halls, and all the varied places on shore that hope to fatten on Jack Tar's money.
“I'd like to go ashore, sir,” announced Sam Truax, approaching Captain Jack.
“When?”
“Now.”
“For how long?”
“Until ten o'clock to-night.”
“Be back by that hour, then,” Jack replied. “If you're not, you'll find everything shut tight aboard here.”
Truax quickly signaled one of the hovering boats, and put off in it. Eph watched the boat for a few moments before he turned to Captain Jack to mutter:
“Somehow, I wouldn't feel very badly about it if that fellow got lost on shore!”