Forward, on the tug, stood a major of engineers, a young lieutenant beside him.
"Good morning, Mr. Benson," hailed Major Woodruff. "We're going to try to come in close enough to put a gang-plank over. Can you take a bow line from us?"
"Yes, sir," Captain Jack saluted the Army officer, and Eph hurried to receive the line.
In less than two minutes Major Woodruff and Lieutenant Kline were on the platform deck of the "Spitfire."
"This is the first one of your craft we've seen," declared the major, as Eph cast off the bow line, and the tug backed water. "Will you show us over?"
This the submarine boys gladly did, as the Army shares with the Navy in the defense of the country.
"You see what you have to do, Kline," said Major Woodruff, presently.
Then the older officer turned to Jack to say:
"Mr. Benson, since Mr. Farnum has been kind enough to place you and the boat at our orders, Kline is going to remain on board, today, during the tests. He will give Mr. Somers whatever orders are necessary in order to make the tests most successful."
"Why not give the orders to me, sir?" Jack asked.
"Why, you see, Mr. Benson," replied the major, "I plan for you to be on shore, out on the neck, to make certain observations regarding the work of your craft. Those observations you will turn in to me."