"
"Just that, dear old chap!" beamed Abercrombie, enthusiastically. "But
how could you guess? Fact, though! And not only you, but Hastings
and Somers as well, don't you know!"
"You're the fourth to spring this on us tonight," answered Jack Benson,
soberly. "And the answer will have to be the same for all of you."
"The same for all of us, dear chap?" demanded Abercrombie. "How can
that be?"
"The answer in every case is the same," retorted Jack. "If our own
government doesn't want us, no other government can have us. We stand
by our own Flag."
"Eh? What is this?" muttered Lieutenant Ulwin, coming unexpectedly upon
the pair. "Foreign government competing for you lads, Benson? This
won't do!"
"Which is what I have just had the honor of telling Mr. Abercrombie,"
smiled Jack, earnestly.
CHAPTER XXIV
THEIR LIVES DEEDED TO THE FLAG
Secretary Sanders, Secretary of the Navy, looked up at the three young
men who stood in line at the right-hand side of his desk.
It was two days later; two days during which Jack, Hal and Eph had had
little to do except roam about Washington and see all the sights of the
National Capital.
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