Читать книгу The Radio Boys with the Iceberg Patrol; Or, Making safe the ocean lanes онлайн

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“So was I,” said the other boys in chorus.

“How was that?” asked the captain. “You see I’m not in uniform. What made you think I was an officer?”

“Oh, I don’t exactly know,” replied Bob, in some embarrassment. “We just felt it. Something in the way you spoke while you were in the car made me at least feel that you were used to commanding men.”

“You sounded as if you weren’t a bit afraid,” put in Jimmy.

“And then, too, you waited till all the others were out before you got out yourself,” added Joe. “That reminded me of the navy, where the captain is the last man to leave the ship.”

The captain’s face showed a slight flush of embarrassment beneath the tan.

“Tradition of the service,” he laughed, waving away the implied compliment. “I see I’ll have to watch my step with such sharp eyes and ears about. But now let’s get back to the present situation. How far are we from the town?”

“Not more than a couple of miles,” answered Bob. “What can we do to help you? We can send the hospital ambulance down for your friends, if you like.”