Eph allowed the "Farnum" to fall back a little way. Then he exerted himself to show his best in seamanship as he ran the submarine up to board the sloop by the starboard quarter. The two boats barely touched. Mr. Terrell, his three marines and two seamen leaped to the standing room of the yacht. Eph, all aquiver, let the nose of the "Farnum" fall back slightly. Then he trailed along, under bare headway.
Then a shout came from the sloop, as the two seamen reappeared, bearing the forms of Jack and Hal.
"We've found them aboard, Mr. Somers," shouted Terrell. "Drugged, I think, sir. Will you some alongside, sir."
Eph quickly rang the signal, then did some careful manoeuvering. As he touched, one of the marines leaped back to the platform deck, then passed a line to Mr. Terrell. The two craft were held together until Jack and Hal had been passed, still unconscious, over the side. The naval party quickly followed, then cast loose from the sloop.
"This whole proceeding is high-handed," growled Curtis, as soon as he saw that he was not to be molested.
"Oh, you shut up, and keep your tongue padlocked," retorted Midshipman Terrell, in high disgust. "You're lucky as it is. Now, Mr. Somers, are you going back to the bay, sir?"
"Aren't you going to take those two—body snatchers?" demanded Eph, glaring venomously at the pair on the sloop.
"My instructions don't cover that, sir," replied the cadet midshipman.
"Then hang your orders!" muttered young Somers, but he kept the words behind his teeth. Eph veered off, next headed about, while the two seamen bore Jack and Hal below to their berths.
"Will you take the wheel, Mr. Terrell?" asked Eph, edging away, with one hand on the spokes.