Eph, however, had his own private idea of vengeance to execute. Up the stairs he went, holding hard to the spiral rail, for he was still a bit dizzy. Kamanako, having dropped into the stern of a sh.o.r.e boat, looked unconcerned as he was pulled away.
"Yah!" grunted Eph, shaking his fist. "You kimono! Kimono! Kimono!"
"What does that mean when it"s translated?" inquired Hal, looking interested.
"That"s a j.a.panese insult," grinned young Somers.
"Do you think Kamanako understands it?" queried Hastings.
"If he doesn"t then what good does it do him to be j.a.panese?" Eph demanded.
Jacob Farnum listened with great interest to what his young captain had to tell him. David Pollard, being still asleep, had no notion, as yet, of what had happened.
"I reckon," muttered the shipbuilder, "It won"t be any use to have any j.a.panese aboard here as steward, or as anything else."
"I shan"t hire any more of them," Benson replied. "I shall always suspect a spy, after this, when I see any j.a.panese aboard any kind of a war craft, or serving at any military post."
"I"m sorry I missed seeing Eph do the flying somersault act, though,"
laughed Mr. Farnum.
"I missed it as much as you did," admitted Jack Benson. "At the moment my face was buried in the carpet."
When the two ascended to the platform deck Captain Jack asked, soberly:
"Well, Eph, what is your present opinion about the ability of a j.a.panese to look after himself?"
"Don"t rub it in," muttered Somers, with another sheepish grin.
"Oh, that"s all right," retorted Jack. "I came in for pretty nearly as much as you did. I may meet Kamanako again, however. If I do, I"ll pay him back."
"What?" gasped young Somers. "Jack Benson, I thought you knew enough to be sure when you"ve had plenty!"
"I"ll pay that little fellow back, just the same, if I ever get a half-way chance," insisted Benson.
"Please yourself," muttered Eph, grimly. "As for me, I"m not looking for any damages. I"ve had plenty of "em already."
Not much later the submarine people were favored by a visit from some of the officers of the gunboat.
Plans were discussed for making some displays of the submarine"s strong points on another day. When the officers had gone, Mr. Farnum turned to the boys to propose:
"You"ve never seen any of the country around Spruce Beach. Neither have I. What do you say if we go ash.o.r.e? I"ll charter an auto, and we can have quite a trip before it"s luncheon time. Then we"ll come back and eat at the hotel."
Right under the shadow of the gunboat, Williamson could be relied upon as being sufficient guard. But David Pollard declined to go ash.o.r.e, on the plea that he had some letters to write, which left a guard of two on board.
It was eleven o"clock, just to the minute, as the automobile chartered by Mr. Farnum came around the corner of the hotel veranda. At that same instant another and handsomer car came rolling into sight. The door of the ladies" parlor opened, and Mlle. Sara Nadiboff, arrayed with unusually pleasing effect, came out.
As she caught sight of Jack she started, then came eagerly over to him, holding out her hand.
"Here comes my car," she murmured. "And I see, my Captain, that you have changed your mind. You will drive with me this morning."
"I"m sorry that I can"t," Benson replied, and he meant it. "But I am engaged to go with Mr. Farnum and our party."
"You prefer to avoid me?" cried Mlle. Nadiboff, reproachfully, raising her eyes swiftly to his.
"Now, please don"t say that," begged Benson. "I wish you could understand, Mademoiselle, how far from the truth it is."
"Say but the word, and Mr. Farnum will pardon you," coaxed the charming young Woman.
"I couldn"t even think of that," replied Benson. "It is business to go with one"s employer."
"Business?" repeated Mlle. Nadiboff, with an accent half of disdain.
"Surely, you are not sufficiently a petty shop-keeper or serf to think always of that word, "business!""
"I fear I am," Jack nodded.
"Bah! Then you will never be a success with the ladies," taunted Mlle. Nadiboff, though her eyes were laughing, challenging.
"Of course, I"m only a green country boy," Jack replied, with admirable coolness, and without any tone of offence. "So my highest ambition is to be a success in the submarine business."
The young woman had tact enough to perceive that she had not quite scored by her contempt for business. She was about to change subject adroitly, when Mr. Farnum called, laughingly:
"Are you coming with us, captain? Or, have you found pleasanter company for a drive?"
Jack"s hand started toward his uniform cap. He was about to excuse himself, when the young woman answered for him:
"He was just a.s.suring me, Mr. Farnum, that he would gladly go with me, but that you had the right of prior engagement."
"Oh, I"ll release, him," volunteered Mr. Farnum, his eyes twinkling.
"Now, my Captain, you can no longer find excuse, unless you truly prefer other company to mine."
Though Jack was interested in the vivacious manner of Mlle. Nadiboff, he had not yet lost his head under any of her flatteries. He was secretly irritated against Mr. Farnum for letting him off so easily. So Jack swiftly determined upon his own plan of evening matters.
"The way the affair has turned out, Mademoiselle, I shall be delighted to go in your cars. Yet I am going to ask one every great favor."
"A thousand, if you wish!" cried the young woman spy, graciously.
"Will you permit me to invite my chum, Mr. Hastings?"
"a.s.suredly," she replied, with a very pretty pout, "if you feel that you will find my company, alone, too dull."
"It isn"t that," Jack replied, with ready gallantry. "I am anxious to have Hastings share my rare good fortune."
Then raising his voice he called:
"Hal, Mlle. Nadiboff desires me to invite you to come, too."
Young Hastings was quick-witted enough to understand that this was all but a command from his chum. So he hastily left Mr. Farnum, stepping over to join the other party. Mlle. Nadiboff"s little booted right foot tapped the flooring of the veranda impatiently, but that was the only sign of displeasure she gave. Her eyes were as laughing and as gracious as ever. She extended her hand to Hal, who bowed low over it in knightly style--a trick he had caught from his observation of naval officers.