"As gallant as ever, my Captain!" murmured the handsome young woman spy, gazing almost tenderly into Jack's face. "What a very strange craft! And now, conduct me below, please. I am much interested in seeing how you all live aboard such a little and odd vessel of war."
"I am utterly sorry, Mademoiselle," Jack Benson replied. "But my orders are that no visitors except naval officers, or those brought aboard by naval officers, may see the interior of the boat."
"Yet that Japanese has just gone below!" remonstrated Mlle. Nadiboff.
"The Japanese," replied the young captain, "is our cook and steward, and belongs below."
A light glowed swiftly in Mlle. Nadiboff's eyes, but disappeared almost instantly.
The handsome young woman opened her mouth as though to speak, then compressed her lips tightly.
CHAPTER V
EPH LEARNS SOMETHING NEW
"You are not as gallant as you were last night," murmured Mlle. Sara, in a low tone.
"Last night I was ashore, on social pleasures bent," replied Jack.
"To-day, I am on duty, and duty must go ahead of everything else."