"I'll come back by ten o'clock to-night, though," volunteered Sam Truax.
"One of the crew ought to be aboard."
"We'll stay ashore," decided Jack, "and return in the morning."
"I'm coming back to-night," retorted Truax.
"Keep still, and follow orders," muttered Eph, digging his elbow into
Truax's ribs. "The captain gives the orders here."
Jack, however, had turned away. Within five minutes a boat put off from shore, bringing two soldiers of the marine guard alongside with them, in the shore boat, was a corporal of the guard.
"Any of your crew coming back to-night, asked the corporal.
"None," Benson answered. "Will you instruct the sentries to see that none of the crew are allowed aboard during the night?"
"Very good, sir."
The shore boat waited to convey them to the landing. Before going, young Captain Benson closed and locked the manhole entrance to the conning tower. A sullen silence had fallen over Truax. The instructions to the corporal of the guard, and the prompt acceptance of those instructions, told Sam, beyond any doubt, that he was not coming back on board that night. Truax followed the others as they passed through the Academy grounds. Beyond the large, handsome buildings, there was not much to be seen at night. Lights shone behind all the windows in Cadet Barracks. Nearly all of the cadets of the United States Navy were in their quarters, hard at study. Here and there a marine sentry paced. A few naval officers, in uniform, passed along the walks. That was all, and the submarine party had crossed the grounds to the gate through which they were to pass into the town of Annapolis.
"Coming with us, Truax?" asked Williamson, as the party passed out into a dimly lighted street.