Lieutenant Jack Benson, briefly of the U.S. Navy, strolled out to the
after deck for a short promenade. Here he was joined by Eph Somers, who,
in his naval uniform, did not forget to salute before accosting the
commanding officer of the U.S.S. "Sudbury."
"I'm really beginning to feel that I'm not dreaming," confided Eph,
almost in a whisper. "Whee! but it's fine to be out on a craft so big
that you don't get a cramp in your leg from walking! Say, do you know,
Jack," he whispered, "I am almost crazy to see one of this ship's big
guns fired!"
"You may have your wish," laughed Jack. "Who knows?"
Who knew, indeed?
How was it possible, for that matter, for any of these three young
officers to guess what lay ahead of them?
CHAPTER XIV
THE BOW GUN BOOMS AND EPH PUTS OFF
In the nineteenth century, when a vessel left port, her destination
unknown, that craft might get away from a pursuing squadron scattered
over the seas.
At best, knowledge of a marine fugitive's whereabouts could be gained
only from the masters of other vessels that had sighted the fugitive.
Usually, such information must be delayed until the informing master of
the sighting ship reached port.
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