This they had varied by dropping in at the United
Service Club.
"Gentlemen," remarked the Secretary of the Navy, "you have not yet been
relieved of your detail to the gunboat 'Sudbury.'"
"It's coming now," thought each of the three boys to himself, with a
great wave of dismay. "We are to be no longer of the Navy."
"I will give instructions at once," continued Secretary Sanders, "to
have orders issued relieving you from that duty."
"Yes; it has come," muttered Jack, drearily, to himself. "Our service
with the Navy is over."
"Gentlemen," and now, for a few seconds, the voice of the Secretary
seemed far away indeed, "I am sensible of all you have done for your
country, and above all, of the zeal you have shown. Besides, I have in
mind the fact that you have made yourselves among the most expert of all
handlers of submarine torpedo boats. If it can be arranged, I wish to
keep all three of you actively in the United States Navy."
Jack Benson looked up with a gasp. His comrades were not less astounded.
"I am aware," Mr. Sanders went on, "that we could not expect you to
enlist as mere apprentices.
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