“It ain’t stopping ’em any,” muttered Eph, after a few seconds had gone by.

“Nothing would, unless fired into them,” volunteered Midshipman Terrell.

It did not take long, however, to run the submarine up alongside of the sloop, at a distance of about one hundred yards.

“Now, we want you men to stop,” called Midshipman Terrell, between his hands.  “We are United States naval forces, from the gunboat, and you will regard this as an order that you must obey.  No!” thundered the midshipman, suddenly, as the bearded one started to step down into the cabin.  “You will both keep on deck.  Otherwise we shall be obliged to fire into you.  We mean business, remember!”

“What do you want to board us for?” demanded Curtis, pausing.

“We will explain when we come aboard.”

“How are you coming, aboard?  You’ve no small boat.”

“We can land this submarine right up beside you,” responded the midshipman, “if you keep straight to your present course.”

“And scrape all the paint off our side,” objected Curtis.

“That has no bearing on my instructions, sir.  I direct you to keep straight to your present course.  We will come up alongside.”

“What if we don’t do it?” demanded Curtis, with sudden bluster.

“Then your danger will be divided between being shot where you stand and having your craft cut in two by the bow of our craft,” retorted Mr. Terrell.  “You will realize, I think, that there can be no parleying with our orders.”

The bearded one swore, but the corporal and his two marines stood at the rail with their rifles ready, waiting only the midshipman’s order to aim and fire.

Eph allowed the “Farnum” to fall back a little way.  Then he exerted himself to show his best in seamanship as he ran the submarine up to board the sloop by the starboard quarter.  The two boats barely touched.  Mr. Terrell, his three marines and two seamen leaped to the standing room of the yacht.  Eph, all aquiver, let the nose of the “Farnum” fall back slightly.  Then he trailed along, under bare headway.

Then a shout came from the sloop, as the two seamen reappeared, bearing the forms of Jack and Hal.

“We’ve found them aboard, Mr. Somers,” shouted Terrell.  “Drugged, I think, sir.  Will you come alongside, sir.”

Eph quickly rang the signal, then did some careful manoeuvring.  As he touched, one of the marines leaped back to the platform deck, then passed a line to Mr. Terrell.  The two craft were held together until Jack and Hal had been passed, still unconscious, over the side.  The naval party quickly followed, then cast loose from the sloop.

“This whole proceeding is high-handed,” growled Curtis, as soon as he saw that he was not to be molested.

“Oh, you shut up, and keep your tongue padlocked,” retorted Midshipman Terrell, in high disgust.  “You’re lucky as it is.  Now, Mr. Somers, are you going back to the bay, sir?”