p.

aging. They had been to places besides Elmvale; and several of their old

ing longshore bred, they naturally preferred salt water service. So they enliste

ing others into the service. Their release from duty might end any day. Under ordinary circumstances the chum woul

a short cruise. If he succeeded the friends might be obliged to pack their kits and leave home

before considered these rather harum-scarum boys of so much importance as now that they were in the Navy and becoming real "Old Salts

his friends into the Navy. At that time the United States was not in the war, an

as no steady and congenial work for them about Seaco

severe and thorough than the Seacove High School. They were learning something pretty nearly

hoped to get into the gun crew of the Kennebunk for practice if they were fortunate enough to cruise on that shi

opposed Ikey's desire to enlist in the Navy. He always declared he needed the boy to help in the store and to take out orders. Ikey

help at all in the store. If a customer came in, the fat little stor

u could not find it, p'r'aps, vot de lady vants. Tell us again, Ikey, apout shootin' de camouflage off de German r

dventures; and he was not obliged to "draw the long bow"; for the

that he could not learn to speak English properly. But German names he abhorred and German signs he would no lon

such a sailorish roll to his walk, that Al Torrance hinted more than once that the Irish lad could not get to sleep a

u know about that? Bridger's let 'em have his cat for the day. Never was known to do such a thing before," and Frenchy chuckled. "Oh,

ng to wash the store windows. Whe

They say the bass ar

Ikey said solemnly. "I don't believe they've got this coast half p

ubmarine instead of ba

, who was listening with both ears and his eyes wide open. "If there iss one of

Papa, to the naval authoriti

his father. "Nefer mindt yet de wind

d, Papa," said Ikey, wi

sure you bring along your submarine tackle-I mean your bas

yer after his son. "Ham, undt bologna, undt

ed his son. "No

to eat, as well as his fishing tackle. It was not far to Bridger's fl

. He never wanted me to have a bit of fun before. He didn't have no fu

anything German now-not even

ther makes the kids git up and give me the

p out

piden

. M'Ginnis

d's gettin' that swelled I couldn't

ing when Frenchy hailed their mates. Whistler was loosening

ere?" demanded Ikey. "

his sleeves rolled up, came aft and t

ll pay out the mooring cable.

own," answered Frenchy solemnly. "You fellow

house," Al confessed.

house, and sometimes the housekeep

istler. "I had no idea we could get this boat when I left the

ndeed, lovingly. He allowed his mate to catch the l

the basket handle with his greasy hands. "Le

tler as the two struggled for possessi

"They will the basket haf ove

and. In the struggle Frenchy came near going overboard, bu

pants! This old tub is lea

g into the basket. Their de

smacking his lips. "You must have

pride. "He would like to feed the whole Ame

e day will be gone soon. Don't worry about your wet pants, Frenchy. Get up and pump out t

ng to work as he was told with the tin pump. "I bet I

o Whistler and Ikey got up the sail, it filled, and they cast off the moorings. The catboat began t

ller. "Toot away once in a while. We don't want to stub our toe

soon becoming pacified. "Ikey's father thinks

marked Torry, finding the horn in the forward locker. He tooted it rauc

ot in the way," commented Whistler. "Mind you!

e anything on water ever does go fa

How about a hydro?" Phil said, w

her sister ships 'torpedo boat destroyers'? We don't s

why-for? All naval craft are supposed to

e oracle on t

exclusive business was to run up close to an enemy battleship and deliver aga

boat-the torpedo boat destroyer. Our Admiral Sims called th

ed Frenchy Donahue. "That's

" Torry observed. "They tell me they ca

uncture. "Speak of the Old Harry and hear

was lifting. They got a sight of a patch of open sea across wh

aut!" shou

t," Whistler agreed. "Their base is at

s rays shone brilliantly upon the patch of blue sea on whi

igures painted so big upon the side of the

ighty-eig