"I wonder if it will happen on the way, or at the station?" laughed Jack, as the government gas-wagon whirled them down Pennsylvania Avenue.
"Will what happen?" inquired McGrath.
"Why," laughed Benson again, "I know we've got to wake up out of this trance, but I can't figure when it's going to happen."
"I suppose all of you do feel excited," nodded Ensign McGrath, understandingly.
"Not excited," declared Jack. "I'm just simply unprepared to believe that any part of this has really happened."
At the railway station they were met by a messenger from the chief clerk's office, who handed each of the submarine boys a small parcel.
"Copy of the Regulations, sir" stated the messenger. "It is required that each officer of the Navy possess a copy."
"You'll want to scan the book good and hard most of the way down to Norfolk," advised Ensign McGrath. "You'll find much between the covers that you'll need to know right at the first jump-off. And now, for the tickets."
These McGrath bought, including parlor car seats. The ensign then saw them safely to their seats.
"Now, you've got enough to do, reading your new books," laughed the ensign, "So I'm not going to waste your time by staying here to talk to you. It's ten minutes, yet, to the time of your departure. Good-bye, gentlemen—and good luck!"