Sam saw a flash in the eye of one big cadet when the question of "sir"
came up.
Presently the squad filed into the engine room. Here Hal Hastings had the
floor for instruction. He did his work coolly, admirably, though he asked
Jack Benson to explain a few of the points.
Then the questions began, directed at Hal. This time none of the cadets,
under the watchful eyes of Mr. Mayhew, forgot to say "sir" when speaking
to Hastings.
Sam Truax edged up behind the big cadet whose eyes he had seen flash a few
moments before.
"Go after Benson, good and hard," whispered Truax.
The cadet looked keenly at Truax.
"You can have a lot of fun with Benson," whispered Truax, "if you fire a
lot of questions at him, hard and fast. Benson is a conceited fellow, who
knows a few things about the boat, but you can get him rattled and
red-faced in no time."
CHAPTER X: A SQUINT AT THE CAMELROORELEPHANT
The big cadet wheeled upon Jack.
"Mr. Benson, how long have you been engaged on submarine boats, sir?"
"Since July," Jack replied.
"July of this year?"
"Yes."
"And it is now October. Do you consider that enough time, sir, in which to
learn much about submarine boats?"
"That depends," Skipper Jack replied, "upon a man's ability in such a
subject.
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