But Jack
shook his head.
"I'm sorry, sir, but I'm positive our owners wouldn't approve of our
allowing any strangers to come on board."
"Had any trouble, so far, with strangers?" asked the man.
"I didn't say that," Jack replied, evasively. "But the construction of a
submarine torpedo boat is a secret. It is a general rule with our owners
that strangers shan't be allowed on board, unless they're very especially
vouched for. Now, I hate to appear disobliging; yet, if you've ever been
employed by anyone else, you will appreciate the need of obeying an
owner's orders."
"You're under the orders of the boss of that gunboat?" asked the stranger,
pointing to the "Hudson."
"On this cruise, yes, sir," Jack nodded.
"Maybe, if I saw the fellow in command of the gunboat, then he'd give me
an order allowing me to come on board."
"I'm very certain the lieutenant commander wouldn't do anything of the
sort," Benson responded.
The stranger gave a comical sigh.
"Then I'm afraid I don't see a submarine boat to-night--that is, any more
than I can see of it now."
"That's about the way it looks to me, also," Jack answered, smiling.
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