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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/17054.txt b/17054.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..c8e9ab8 --- /dev/null +++ b/17054.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6906 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Submarine Boys on Duty, by Victor G. +Durham + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: The Submarine Boys on Duty + Life of a Diving Torpedo Boat + + +Author: Victor G. Durham + + + +Release Date: November 12, 2005 [eBook #17054] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SUBMARINE BOYS ON DUTY*** + + +E-text prepared by Jim Ludwig + + + +Note: This is book one of eight of the Submarine Boys Series. + + + + +THE SUBMARINE BOYS ON-DUTY + +Life on a Diving Torpedo Boat + +by + +VICTOR G. DURHAM + +1909 + + + + + + + +CONTENTS + +CHAPTERS + I. Two Boys Who Planned to Become Great + II. The Fighting Chance + III. Josh Owen Starts Trouble + IV. The Trick of the Flashlight + V. One Man's Dumfounded Face + VI. Along the Trail of Trouble + VII. When Thieves Fall Out + VIII. A Swift Stroke for Honor + IX. The Submarine Makes Its Bow to Old Ocean + X. Under Water, Where Men's Nerves are Tried + XI. The Try-Out in the Depths + XII. The Discovery From the Conning Tower + XIII. A High-Sea Mystery + XIV. An Up-To-Date Revenge + XV. The Courage That Rang True + XVI. The Last Second of the Nick of Time + XVII. In the Grip of Horror +XVIII. The Last Gasp of Despair + XIX. Jack Strikes the Key to the Mystery + XX. "One On" the Watch Officer + XXI. The Man Who Dropped the Glass + XXII. A Dive That was Like Magic +XXIII. Wanted, Badly--One Steward! + XXIV. Conclusion + + + + +CHAPTER I + +TWO BOYS WHO PLANNED TO BECOME GREAT + + +"So this is Dunhaven?" inquired Jack Benson. + +"Ye-es," slowly responded Jabez Holt, not rising from the chair in which +he sat tilted back against the outer wall on the hotel porch. + +"It looks like it," muttered Hal Hastings, under his breath. + +"Doesn't look like a very bustling place, does it?" asked Jack, with +a smile, as he set down a black, cloth-covered box on the porch and +leisurely helped himself to a chair. + +The box looked as though it might contain a camera. "Tin-type fellers," +thought Holt to himself, and did not form a very high estimate of the +two boys, neither of whom was more than sixteen years of age. + +Just now, both boys were dusty from long travel on foot, which condition, +at a merely first glance, concealed the fact that both were neatly +enough, even if plainly, dressed. + +"Huh!" was all the response Jabez Holt made to Jack's pleasant comment. +Hal, however, not in the least discouraged by a reception that was not +wholly flattering, set down a box not unlike Jack's, and also something +hidden in a green cloth cover that suggested a camera tripod. Hal +helped himself to one of the two remaining chairs on the porch +of the little hotel. + +"Takin' pictures?" asked Jabez Holt, after a pause spent in chewing at +a tooth-pick. + +"Yes, some of the time," Jack assented. "It helps out a bit when two +fellows without rich fathers take a notion to travel." + +"I s'pose so," grunted Jabez. He was not usually considered, by his +fellow-townsmen, a disagreeable fellow, but a hotel keeper must always +preserve a proper balance of suspicion when dealing with strangers, +and especially strangers who follow callings that do not commonly lead +to prosperity. Probably "Old Man" Holt, as he was known, remembered +a few experiences with the tribe of itinerant photographers. At any +rate he did not mean to make the mistake of being too cordial with +these young representatives of the snap-shot art. + +"Is there any business around here?" asked Jack, after awhile. + +"Oh, there's a Main Street, back uptown, that has some real pretty +homes," admitted the hotel keeper, "an' some likely-lookin' cross +streets. Dunhaven ain't an awful homely town, as ye'll see after +you've walked about a bit." + +"But is there any business here?" insisted Hal Hastings, patiently. + +"I guess maybe you're business photografters, then?" suggested the +hotel keeper. + +"What kinds of business are there here?" asked Jack. + +Jabez Holt cast away a much-mangled toothpick and placed another in his +mouth before he replied, with a chuckle: + +"Well, I reckon about the only business here that the town is doing any +talkin' about at present is one that don't want no photografters +around." + +"And what may that business be?" persisted Jack. + +"Well, down to Farnum's boatyard they're putting up a craft that's +known as 'Pollard's Folly.'" + +"And why wouldn't they want that photographed?" demanded young Benson. + +"Because it's one of them sure-death boats they hope to sell the +Government, and the United States Government don't care 'bout havin' +its war craft secrets snap-shotted," replied Jabez Holt. + +"Didn't you speak of Pollard's boat?" demanded Jack, his eyes agleam +with sudden interest. + +"Ye-es," admitted Mr. Holt, slowly. "A boat that'll drown its score +of men, I reckon, an' then lay somewhere an' eat itself out with rust." + +"A submarine boat, isn't it?" continued Jack, quickly. + +"Yep; submarine torpedo boat: One of them crazy craft that men _will_ +build against all sense of what's decent on salt water." + +"Why, I've read about _that_ boat;" Jack ran on, eagerly. "And, from +what the newspapers said, I've gathered the idea that David Pollard's +boat is going to put the United States completely ahead of all other +nations at sea." + +"That's the way Dave Pollard talks," returned Mr. Holt, grimly. "But +folks 'round Dunhaven, I must say, don't think over an' above of him +or his boat. They--" + +"Oh, bother the folks around Dunhaven!" broke in Jack Benson, +impatiently. "If the place is the best they know how to do in the way +of a town, I don't care a heap about their ideas of boats. And--but I +beg your pardon, Mr. Holt. My tongue's running a bit ahead of my +manners, I guess. So this is where that famous submarine torpedo boat +is being built? And she's a diving boat, at that?" + +"Well, I guess mebbe she'll dive, all right," chuckled Jabez Holt. "But +as to her comin' up again, I reckon the 'Pollard' ain't goin' to be so +certain." + +"Where are they building her? Farnum's shipyard, you said?" + +"Right over yonder," explained Mr. Holt, pointing to a high board fence +that enclosed a space down by the water front. Farnum's "boatyard," +as thus seen, was about an eighth of a mile from the little hotel, and +looked as though it might be considerable of a plant. + +"Who's in charge of the boat?" was Jack's next question. + +"Well, now, that's a conundrum," replied Jabez Holt, pondering. "Jake +Farnum owns the yard. Jake is a young man, only a few years out of +college. He inherited the business from his father, who's dead. Jake +is considered a pretty good business man, though he don't know much +'bout boats, an' can't seem to learn a heap, nuther. So Jake leans on +Asa Partridge, the superintendent, who was also superintendent under +old man Farnum. However, old man Farnum's line was building sailing +yachts, small schooners, and, once in a while, a tug-boat. That's in +Asa Partridge's line, but he won't have nothin' much to do with new +schemes like diving torpedo boats." + +"Then--" hinted Jack. + +"I'm a-comin' on with the yarn," replied Jabez Kolt, patiently. "Now, +Dave Pollard, the inventor of the boat, is a powerful bright young man, +on theory, some folks says, but he ain't much use with tools in his +hands. But he an' young Jake Farnum hang 'round, watching and bossing, +and they have a foreman of the gang, Joshua Owen, who knows he knows +most everything 'bout buildin' any kind of boat. So, barrin' the +fussing of Farnum and Pollard, I guess Josh Owen is the real boss of +the job, since the riveters' gang came an' put the hull together, an' +went away." + +"Then I suppose Mr. Owen--" began Jack. + +"Ja-a-abez! Jabez Holt! Come here!" rang a shrill, feminine voice from +the interior of the hotel. + +"Must be goin', for a few minutes, anyway," grunted Jabez, rising and +leaving the two boys. But no sooner was he out of sight than Jack +Benson turned upon his chum, his eyes ablaze. + +"Hal Hastings," he effused, in a low voice, "I had forgotten that +Dunhaven was the home of the Pollard boat. But, since it is, and since +we're here--why, here we'd better stay." + +"Do you think we can get in on that job?" asked Hal, dubiously. + +"Not if we just sit around and wonder, or if we go meekly and ask for +a job, and turn sadly away when we're refused," retorted Jack Benson, +with a vim that was characteristic of him. "Hal, my boy, we're simply +going to shove ourselves into jobs in that boatyard, and we're going +to have a whack at the whole game of building and fitting out a +submarine torpedo boat. Do you catch the idea? We're just going to +hustle ourselves into the one job that would suit us better than +anything else on earth!" + +"Bully!" agreed Hal, wistfully. "I hope you can work it." + +"_We_ can," returned his chum, spiritedly. "Team work, you know. +We've worked around machine shops, and at other trades, and we know +something about the way boats are handled. Why shouldn't we be able +to make Farnum and Pollard believe we know something that will be of +use to them?" + +"I guess the foreman is the one we want to see, first of all," suggested +Hal. + +"Well, we'll camp right down here and go at the thing," almost whispered +Benson. "And, as this hotel is right at the water front, and within +two jumps of the boatyard, I guess we'd better stay here until we +get settled." + +While the two chums were discussing the whole matter in eager, low +tones, a few things may be told about them that will make their present +situation clearer. Jack Benson, an only son, had been orphaned, three +years before, at the age of thirteen. With the vigor that he always +displayed, he had found a home and paid for his keep and schooling, +either by doing chores, or by working at various occupations in his +native seaport town of Oakport. He had kept at school up to a few +months before the opening of this narrative. With marked genius for +machinery, he had learned many things about the machinist's trade +in odd hours in one of the local shops. He was remarkably quick at +picking up new ideas, and had shown splendid, though untrained, talent +for making mechanical drawings. + +Hal Hastings, of the same age, had a stepmother who did not regard him +kindly. Hal, too, had worked at odd jobs, almost fighting for his +schooling. His father, under the stepmother's influence, paid little +heed to his doings. + +For two summers both boys had done fairly well working on yachts and +other boats around Oakport. Both had learned how to handle sail craft, +to run motors and small marine steam engines. + +During the spring just passed Hal Hastings had worked much of his +time for an Oakport photographer who, at the beginning of summer, had +failed. Hal, with a considerable bill for unpaid services, had taken +some photographing material in settlement of his dues. + +At the beginning of summer both boys decided that Oakport did not offer +sufficient opportunity for their ambitious hopes in life. So they had +determined to take Hal's newly acquired camera outfit and "tramp it" +from town to town, earning their living by photographing and all the +while keeping their eyes open for real chances in life. Both had some +money, carefully saved and hidden, from the previous summer's work, so +that in point of attire they presented a creditable appearance. + +During these few weeks of tramping from place to place they had made +somewhat more money than their expenses had amounted to. Jack Benson, +who was the treasurer, carried their entire hoard in a roll of one and +two-dollar bills. + +"I tell you, Hal Hastings," Jack now wound up, "this submarine torpedo +boat business is already a great field. It's going to be bigger and +bigger, for a lot of inventors are at work. If we can hustle our way +into this Dunhaven boatyard, we may be able to--" + +"Earn a very good living, I guess," nodded Hal, thoughtfully. + +"Earn a living?" sniffed Jack, rather scornfully. "Hal, I've got faith +enough in both of us to believe that we could make our fortunes in a +few years. Look at some of the poor young men who had sense enough to +get into the automobile business early. The prizes go to the fellows +who get into a field early and have ability enough to build up +reputations." + +Jabez Holt came out upon the porch at this moment. + +"Still here?" he asked, looking at the boys. + +"We're going to be here a little while, I guess, if it's agreeable to +you, Mr. Holt," Jack answered; with a smile. + +"What d'ye mean? I don't want no tin-types taken." + +"We haven't asked you to have any photos made, Mr. Holt," Benson ran +on. "We're just talking about becoming guests here." + +"For twenty-four hours," supplied Hal Hastings. + +"For at least two days," Jack amended. + +"But, see here," explained Landlord Holt. "Rates here are two dollars +a day. If ye hain't got no other baggage I'll have ter look into +them camera boxes before I take 'em as security for board." + +"You can't have them as security, Mr. Holt," Jack laughed. "I'm going +to pay our charges two days in advance. For two persons it's eight +dollars, isn't it?" + +Then young Benson carelessly produced the young partners' roll of +banknotes. He quickly counted off eight dollars, handing the money +to Mr. Holt. + +"Come right in an' register," said Landlord Holt, springing up and +leading the way. The hotel sometimes prospered when yacht owners +or boat designers came this way, but at any season eight dollars were +eight dollars. The boys were now in high standing with their host. +When matters had been settled in the office Holt led them to the wash +room. Here the young men dusted themselves off, washed, polished +their own shoes, donned clean collars and cuffs, and, altogether, +speedily made themselves so tidy that they looked quite different +from the dusty travelers who had trudged into Dunhaven. + +Jabez Holt then conducted them back to chairs on the porch, remarking: + +"It's after four o'clock now, and supper'll be ready sharp at six." + +"What time do they knock off work in the boatyard?" queried Jack. + +"Five, sharp," the landlord informed him. + +"Does that foreman on the submarine boat job ever come along this way?" + +"Goes right by here on his way home," Mr. Holt informed the boys. + +"I'd be glad if you'd introduce us to him," Jack suggested. + +"I sartain will," nodded Jabez Holt. "An', ye know, Dave Pollard is +stoppin' at this hotel." + +"Oh, he is, eh?" Jack snapped up, eagerly. "Then we'll certainly try +to make his acquaintance to-night." + +Hal, too, looked pleased at this prospect. Mrs. Holt again calling, +from the depths of the kitchen, the landlord was forced to hurry off. +He left behind two boys who suddenly fell to planning their futures +with all the rosy enthusiasm of youth. The longer they talked about +the submarine boat, the more both Jack and Hal felt convinced that they +were going to succeed in getting into the work. In fact, both planned +to become great in that special field. + +It was a bright July day, one of the kind when the world looks at its +best to young, hopeful minds. Absorbed in their vague but rosy plans, +both boys forgot the flight of time. + +They were roused out of their talk, at last, by hearing heavy footsteps +on the gravel close at hand. Looking up, they saw a heavy, broad +shouldered, dark-complexioned youth of about eighteen years. He had a +swaggering way of carrying himself, and undoubtedly considered himself +of much importance. His clothing proclaimed him to be a workman. As +he caught sight of the two happy looking boys this older and larger +youth looked them over with a sneering expression which soon turned to +a scowl. + +"Strangers here, ain't ye?" demanded the scowling one, as he halted on +the edge of the porch. + +"Yes," nodded Jack Benson, pleasantly. + +"Thought so," vouchsafed the other. "Any body but a stranger hereabouts +would know ye were in my chair--the one I sit in when I come along +this way." + +There was something decidedly insolent both the tone and manner of the +stranger. But Benson, not quick at taking offense, inquired: + +"Are you a guest of this hotel." + +"None of your business," came the rough retort. + +"Oh!" said Jack. + +"Did ye hear me say ye were sitting in my chair?" + +"Yes." + +"Going to get up out of it?" + +"Not until I know your rights in the matter," replied Jack. "You see, +my board is paid in advance at this place." + +"Huh!" growled the other, sneeringly. "Reckon ye don't know much 'bout +Dan Jaggers's way of doin' things." + +"Who on earth is Dan Jaggers?" demanded Benson, curiously. + +"That's me! It's my name," rejoined the swagger. "An', sense ye're +so fresh--" + +Jaggers didn't finish in words, but, taking a firm hold on the back of +the chair, he suddenly pulled it out from under Benson. So swiftly was +the thing done that Jack went down on all fours on the porch. But, +thoroughly aroused, and his eyes flashing indignantly now, that boy was +quickly on his feet. Dan, however, with a satisfied grin, had dropped +into the chair. + +"Going to get up out of that, Jaggers?" challenged Jack Benson. + +"Not as I know of," rejoined Dan, with a broader grin. "Why?" + +"Because I'd hate to hit you while you're sitting down," replied Jack +so quietly that his voice sounded almost mild. + +"What's that?" demanded Jaggers, with a guffaw of laughter. + +"You heard what I said," Jack insisted. "You'd better get up." + +"Spoiling for a fight, are ye?" questioned the bully. + +"Not at all," Jack replied, still keeping his temper in check. "I never +go about looking for trouble. I suppose you didn't know any better than +to do what you did." + +"What's that?" scowled Dan Jaggers. + +"If you want to apologize, and get out of the chair, I'll let it go at +that," pursued Jack, coolly. + +"Hey?" demanded Dan Jaggers, aghast. "_Me_--apologize?" + +He sprang up suddenly, resting a broad paw heavily on Jack's shoulder. +But Benson, without flinching, or drawing back, returned the ugly look +steadfastly. + +"You're behaving like a pretty poor grade of tough," spoke Jack, in deep +disgust. + +"I am, hey?" roared Dan. He drew back, aiming a heavy fist for Benson's +chest. It was a mistake, as he quickly realized, for Jack Benson, from +much practice in boxing, was as agile and slippery as a monkey and an +eel combined. Jack dodged, then came up under with a cleanly aimed +though not hard blow on Jaggers's chin. + +"I'll learn ye!" roared Dan, returning two ponderous blows in quick +succession. To his intense astonishment Jack wasn't in the way of +either blow, but came in with a neck blow on Jaggers's left side that +sent the bully reeling to the gravel beyond the porch. + +"Come right down here!" challenged the bully, hoarsely. "We'll find out +about this." + +Jack Benson hesitated. He did not care about fighting. Yet, seeing +that Jaggers meant to have a final encounter, Jack dropped nimbly +down to the gravel. + +Dan Jaggers rushed at him, both fists up on guard, his whole attitude +more cautious since he had had a taste of the smaller youth's quality. +Jack was about two inches shorter and fully thirty pounds lighter, but +he made one think of a dancing master as he skipped away before the big +fellow's rushes. + +"Stand still, won't ye, drat ye?" roared Dan, driving in another heavy +blow. + +But Benson dodged, then came in under the bully's guard, landing a +stinging blow on the tip of his nose. Under punishment Dan let out a +noise resembling the bellow of an angry bull. Glowering, he stood +uncertain, for a moment, but Jack was tantalizingly just out of his +reach, smiling confidently. Then Jaggers leaped forward, hopeful of +winding his arms around this foe and crushing him into submission. +A second later, however, Dan fell backward, yelling with pain, for +Jack Benson had landed a left handed blow just under his opponent's +right eye, partly closing it. Dan bent over double, still groaning. + +"Well, I swan!" said the astonished Jabez Holt, in the doorway of his +hotel. + +Jack stood his ground a few moments, watching until he felt sure that +his enemy did not intend to carry the affair further. Then the younger +boy stepped lightly back to the porch, standing just before the chair +from which he had lately been evicted. + +"Just bear in mind, I'll git square with ye for this!" uttered Jaggers, +wrathfully, glaring at young Benson with his undamaged eye. Then he +turned and stalked away, muttering under his breath. + +"Well, I swan!" remarked Jabez Holt again, now stepping out onto the +porch. "I guess that sartain done Dan Jaggers some good. He needs +some of that medicine, friends. An' say, here's Josh Owen coming up +from Farnum's boatyard." + +Jack and Hal both turned quickly to gaze down the road at a man just +coming out through the gate of Farnum's yard. + +"He's the man we want to meet," cried Jack Benson, breathlessly. + +"I dunno," replied Mr. Holt, shaking his head, ominously. "I dunno +as it'll do ye much good, now. Dan Jaggers is Josh Owen's nephew and +favorite!" + + + + +CHAPTER II + +THE FIGHTING CHANCE + + +"My type of torpedo boat is going to rule the seas in naval warfare," +declared David Pollard, his eyes a-kindle with the enthusiasm of the +sincere inventor. + +"I'm sure of it," replied Jack Benson, quietly. "That's why, Mr. +Pollard, Hal and I are so anxious to get into this work. Mr. Pollard, +when your type of submarine diving torpedo boat is understood by the +United States Government you'll need some reliable and intelligent +experts. Take us in now. Let us learn the work with you. Let us +go ahead, keeping pace with the progress in Pollard torpedo boats, +and you will never be sorry you have two young fellows you can depend +upon." + +"That's so, if you can come near to making as good as you promise," +admitted the inventor, thoughtfully. "But you're pretty young." + +"And that's the only fault with the Pollard submarine boat," rejoined +Jack Benson, artfully. "You've got to buck your boat against all the +older types that the Government already takes an interest in. Yet you +feel sure that you can do it. You don't believe the Pollard diving +boat is too young. Give us the same show you ask for your boat." + +"Well, I've never seen any of your work--except these drawings," +replied Mr. Pollard, indicating some sheets that lay on the table +before them. + +The chums had succeeded in making the inventor's acquaintance through +the aid of the landlord. It was now eleven o'clock at night. Jack and +Hal had been in the inventor's room for the last three hours. Benson +had done most of the talking, though Hal had now and then put in some +effective words. + +David Pollard was now thirty years of age, tall, lean and of pallid +countenance. He was a graduate of a technical school. Though not a +practical mechanic, he had a rather good lot of theory stored away in +his mind. He had inherited some money, soon after leaving school, but +this money had vanished in inventions that he had not succeeded in +marketing. Now, all his hopes in life were centered in the submarine +torpedo boat that was nearly completed. Pollard had had no money of +his own to put into the craft. Jacob Farnum was his friend and +financial backer. + +No one could grasp how much success with his submarine boat meant to +this wearied yet hopeful inventor. For years all his schemes had been +laughed at by "practical" men. It was success, more than mere fortune, +for which David Pollard hungered. The officials of the Navy Department, +at Washington, had promised to inspect and try the boat, when finished, +but that was all the encouragement that had come from the national +capital. + +If the "Pollard," as the new craft was at present named, should prove a +failure, then the inventor felt that he would be "down" indeed in the +world. Also, he must feel that he had buried one hundred and fifty +thousand dollars of the money of his loyal friend, Farnum. + +In his present anxious, worried frame of mind, with few real believers +in the possible success of his boat, it was little wonder that David +Pollard was grateful for any intelligent interest or faith in his plans. +These two friends were but boys, nor had they had any experience in +submarine boat construction. Yet they had shown the inventor that they +knew much about machinery and marine engines in general, and Jack, with +his handy knack of sketching machinery, had made a decided hit with +poor Pollard. + +"Just put us in as apprentices," begged Benson. "We'll be just the +plainest sort of helpers, fetching and lifting, and that sort of thing, +until we learn how to do more." + +"Well, you see, for one thing, boys," replied Pollard, "this building +of a submarine boat is very important and confidential work. Now, +while I like the looks and talk of you both, I really don't know a thing +about either of you." + +"Of course you don't," Jack Benson admitted, frankly. "And it's highly +important that you should. I know that. But you can telegraph the +principal of the school we attended in Oakport, and you can telegraph +the minister of our church, too. We'll abide by just what they say +about us. And"-- here Benson brought his little roll of bills once +more into sight--"we'll pay for the telegrams and the answers." + +"That looks right," nodded Mr. Pollard, with a slight smile. "There +is just one more point. The superintendent of the yard, Mr. Partridge, +isn't having anything to do with the building of the 'Pollard.' After +the steel workers and the riveters had finished on the hull, then +the inside work, including the fitting of the machinery, was turned +over to Mr. Owen, our present foreman. Sometimes he's a crotchety +fellow, and he might take a dislike to you youngsters." + +"I've got to tell you about something that I think _will_ make him +take a dislike to us," spoke up Jack Benson, candidly. Then he recounted +the afternoon's affair with Dan Jaggers. + +"Yes, that certainly will stir up some feeling," replied Mr. Pollard. +"In fact, it will make it very difficult for you to get along with +Owen, for he thinks a lot of that disagreeable, bullying nephew of his. +Yet, Benson, I like you a whole lot better for your honesty." + +The inventor was silent for some moments, puffing slowly at a pipe, and +then he removed the stem from between his teeth and continued: + +"You've made a good impression upon me, both of you, and particularly +with what you say about giving young fellows and young boats a chance +to prove themselves. You talk like youngsters with some experience and +some ideas in the matter of machinery. I admire your honesty. I also +like what you say about the need Farnum and I will have, in the future, +of young men who will understand our boats thoroughly. I don't know +what you can do until we try you out." + +He took a few more thoughtful pulls at his pipe and resumed: "See here, +you come to the yard at eight o'clock in the morning, ready to do +anything that's wanted of you. I won't wire, but I'll write, to-night, +to the references you've given. If we find you're not of much use +we'll drop you. If your references don't turn out to be unusually good, +out you go! But, if you make good, you'll have your chance. It's just +your fighting chance, you understand. I'll fix the matter with Mr. +Farnum." + +"And the foreman?" smiled Jack, wistfully. + +Mr. Pollard looked grave as he answered: + +"Look out not to invite any trouble with Joshua Owen, and avoid trouble +with Jaggers, who works in the boat-fitting crew. I think we can get +over the effects of your little trouble this afternoon. And now, boys, +give me the addresses of your references, and I'll write at once." + +A few moments later the chums bade the inventor good night, then hurried +to their own room, though not to retire at once. + +"Well!" demanded Jack Benson, his face radiant, as he thought of their +"fighting chance." + +"It was the way you put the whole matter to Pollard," replied Hal +Hastings. "Jack, you're a wonder with your tongue. I believe you could +talk a hole through a thick board fence." + +"We've got our chance, anyway. And, oh, Hal! I believe it's going to +be our real chance in life!" + +"You'll soon be as wild about the 'Pollard' as the inventor himself," +laughed Hastings, good-naturedly. + +"It isn't going to be just the one boat, Hal," urged his chum, seriously. +"It's the whole big problem of submarine warfare. It's going to be _the_ +warfare of the future, old chum! And, starting this early, we may +become Pollard's real experts--his leading men when he's famous, +successful and rich! We may even become his partners, through getting +up improvements on his ideas. Hal, boy, we may even put through our own +design of submarine boat one of these days." + +"It'll be huge fun, anyway, if we can get a chance to cruise on a +submarine boat-under water and all!" glowed young Hastings. "Say, +there must be a wonderful thrill to going down deep in the ocean." + +Thus they talked for another hour. It was very late when the two +turned in, nor did they go to sleep at once. Yet, when the half-past +six call came in the morning, both boys turned out in a jiffy. Excitement +took the place of rest with them. They breakfasted with appetite. +Shortly after half-past seven, though the yard was so near, Jack and +Hal set out for their first day's work at boat building. + +The gate was open, though the yard, as they stepped inside, had a +deserted look. The partly finished hulls of two schooners lay on the +ways down by the water front. There were half a dozen sloops in +various stages of completion. There were two houses, close to the +water's edge in which, as the boys afterwards learned, motor boats +were built. But it was a rough shed, more than twenty feet high, and +at least one hundred and twenty feet long, running down to the shore, +that instantly caught Jack Benson's glance. + +"There's where they must be putting the 'Pollard' in shape," he cried, +eagerly, as he pointed. Both youngsters hurried toward that shed. As +they reached it the inventor came into sight around the end. He was +hollow-eyed, though alert; he looked even more worried than he had looked +the night before. + +"Ah, good morning, boys," was his greeting. "Early on hand, I see." + +"When a fellow's whole heart is set on a thing, he isn't likely to lie +abed until the last moment, is he, Mr. Pollard?" inquired Benson. + +That speech impressed the inventor most favorably. _He_ could appreciate +enthusiasm. + +"Come inside, and I'll show you something," he said, producing a key and +leading the way to a door in the side of the shed. + +Through the long, high windows of the shed an abundance of light fell. +But Jack, once inside the door, halted, looking with lips parted and +eyes wide open. + +"O-o-o-oh!" he murmured. + +"What is it?" inquired the inventor, curiously. + +"The very, wonder of the thing," replied Benson, frankly, looking over +the whole length of the "Pollard" as she lay propped up on the sturdy +ways. + +Nor did that simple speech make the inventor think any less of the +boy. Though Hal Hastings remained silent for some time, his fascinated +gaze rested steadily on the strange-looking outlines of the cigar-shaped +bull of the boat. + +The outer hull was of steel plates, carefully riveted into place. +The entire length of the boat was about one hundred and ten feet, +which in point of size placed her just about in the class of boats +of this type which are being constructed to-day. + +Near the center of the boat, on the upper side, was the conning tower, +about nine feet in outside diameter, and extending some four feet +above the sloping deck of the craft. Around the conning tower extended +a flat, circular "platform" deck. + +At the bow of the boat the torpedo tube projected a short distance. At +the stern the rudder was in place, and all was in readiness for placing +the propeller shaft and the propeller itself. On the floor of the +shed, near the middle of this strange, dangerous boat, lay +miscellaneous small pieces of machinery and fittings. + +At the starboard side of the boat stood a ladder that ascended to the +platform deck. In the top of the conning tower a man-hole cover stood +propped up. It was through this opening that the workmen entered or +left the boat. + +From outside the shed several wires ran in. In dark weather these +wires carried the current for electric lights in shed and boat. + +"I won't ask you aboard until the foreman and other workmen arrive," +explained Mr. Pollard. "It'll be only a few minutes to wait." + +While they were still examining the outer hull, and discussing the +submarine, Dan Jaggers, in his workman's clothes, reached the open +doorway of the shed. One look inside, and he halted short. He gathered +from the talk he heard that Jack Benson and Hal Hastings were to be +added to the "Pollard's" working gang. + +"Not if I know myself--and the foreman--and I think I do!" growled +the Jaggers youth, backing away unseen. + +The next of the workmen to arrive was Michael O'brien, red-haired and +about twenty-eight years of age. He was good-humored and talkative, and +the two boys took an immediate liking to him. + +Through the gate of the yard came Joshua Owen, a man of forty-five, of +medium height, broad-shouldered, black-haired and with a frame that +spoke of great physical power and endurance. Yet he had restless, +rather evil-looking eyes. He did not look like the sort of man whom +a timid fellow would want for an enemy. + +"Hold on there, Unc," greeted Dan Jaggers, motioning his foreman-uncle +aside. "Say, you know that cheeky young fellow I told ye about--the +tricky one that played the sneak on me, and gave me this black eye?" + +"Haven't you met him and paid him back yet?" demanded Mr. Owen. + +"Hadn't seen him again, until just now," complained Dan. "What do you +think? Pollard has engaged that feller and his friend to work on the +submarine." + +"Has, eh? Without speaking to me about it?" demanded Joshua Owen, +looking anything but pleased. + +"Of course you'll let Pollard know that you're foreman and take on +and lay off your own gang," hinted Jaggers. + +"Now, you leave me alone, Dan, boy, to know what to do," retorted Mr. +Owen. Then he stepped on toward the long shed, a very grim look on +his face. Going inside the shed, the foreman looked the two boys +over briefly. + +"If you young men haven't any business in here," he ordered, "get +out and on your way. Work is about to begin here. I'm the foreman." + +"Oh, Mr. Owen," hailed the inventor, "these are two very bright young +chaps, with some experience, that I've engaged to help us out with +installing the machinery in the boat." + +"Couldn't you have consulted me, sir?" asked the foreman, again looking +keenly at the youngsters. + +"When you've found out what they can do, Mr. Owen," replied Pollard. +"I believe you'll be rather pleased with them. They're hired only +on trial, you understand." + +"I can tell whether we want 'em before we start work," grunted the +foreman. With that he began to fire all manner of machine-shop questions +at both boys. Yet Jack and Hal, paying respectful heed, answered in +a way that showed them to be quite well informed about this class +of work. + +"They won't do Mr. Pollard--won't do at all," announced Foreman Owen, +turning to the inventor. "I know their kind. They're glib talkers, +and all that, but they belong to the know-it-all class of boys. I've +had a lot of experience with that kind of 'prentices, and I don't want +'em bothering our work here. So I say, sir, the only thing for you to +do is to send them about their business." + +Foreman Owen spoke as though that settled the matter. Jack Benson +and Hal Hastings felt their hopes oozing. + +"I've told the boys they shall have a chance Mr. Owen," replied Pollard +quietly, yet in a tone of authority. "So of course my word must be kept +with them." + +"But I'm the foreman," exclaimed Joshua Owen, irritably, "and I'm +supposed to--" + +"Exactly," interposed David Pollard. "You're supposed to obey all +instructions from your superiors here, and to give your advice when it's +wanted. I have much at stake in the success of this boat, and when I +find what looks like good material for our working crew I'm going to try +out that material." + +"But I don't want to be bothered with boys, like these young fellows," +retorted the foreman, angrily. "This is no job for amateurs!" + +"The boys remain until they've been well tried out," retorted Pollard, +firmly. "If they can't do our kind of work, then of course we'll +let them go." + +"I'll speak to Mr. Farnum about this business," muttered Foreman Owen, +turning on his heel. Three other workmen had arrived during this talk. +Now, at the order from Owen all climbed the ladder to the platform deck, +thence disappearing through the manhole. Electric light was turned on +inside the hull by the time that Jack and Hal appeared at the manhole +opening. + +Owen looked upward, from the floor of the boat, to scowl at them, but, +as Mr. Pollard was right behind them, the foreman said nothing at that +moment. + +Last of all came Dan Jaggers. As he caught sight of the two newcomers +he shot at them a look full of hate. + +"I thought ye said those fellers couldn't work here," he muttered +to his uncle. + +"Keep quiet and watch out," whispered Joshua Owen. "They're not going +to work here. I'll fix that!" + + + + +CHAPTER III + +JOSH OWEN STARTS TROUBLE + + +"Knock off!" + +As the deafening din of hammers lessened David Pollard shouted that +order through a megaphone. + +Confined in a limited space, inside that bull of steel, the clatter, +which outdoors would have been barely noticed, was something infernal +in volume and sharpness. Human ear-drums could not stand it for any +very great length of time. + +By this time Jack Benson and Hal Hastings had had a good chance to +see exactly what the interior of a submarine torpedo boat was like. + +A level floor extended throughout the entire length of the "Pollard." +Below this floor, reached by hatchways, were various small compartments +for storage. Under the level of this floor, too, were the "water tanks." +These were tanks that, when the craft lay or moved on the surface of the +ocean, were to contain only air. Whenever it was desired to sink the +torpedo boat, valves operated from the central room of the boat could be +opened so that the water tanks would fill, and the weight of the water +would sink the boat. In diving, the forward tanks could be filled +first, and then, when the desired depth was reached, the other tanks +could be filled entirely, or partly, in such a way as to control depth +and position. + +With the boat below the surface, and the commander wishing to return to +the surface, compressed air could be forced into the water tanks, +expelling all the water in them, or a part of the water, if preferred. +The valves would then operate to keep more water from entering. + +On the surface the "Pollard" was intended to be run by a powerful +six-cylinder gasoline engine. When below the surface the boat was to +be propelled by electric power supplied from storage batteries. Below +the waves the gasoline engine could not be used, as such an engine +consumes air and also creates bad vapors. + +On the morning when our two young friends went to work the electrical +engine was fully installed, and had been tested. The gasoline engine +was in place, but the fittings had yet to be finished. In the course +of this latter work the necessary connections were to be made between +gasoline engine and dynamo. + +The many strong-walled receivers for compressed air had been placed, +and were now being more securely fitted and connected by the workmen. +The final work on the compressed air apparatus was yet to be done by a +special crew of workmen who were soon to come down from New York. A +powerful, compact plant for compressing air was a part of this outfit. + +Right up in the bow of the "Pollard" was the tube through which a +Whitehead torpedo, fourteen feet in length, could be started on its +destructive journey by means of compressed air force. One torpedo was +to be carried in the tube, six others in special lockers on either side. + +Back of the torpedo room was the rather cramped engine room in which +were the gasoline and electric motors, other machinery and work-benches. +Then came the central cabin, some twenty feet long and about ten feet +wide. Here was a table, while the seats at the side could be arranged +also as berths. Out of the cabin, aft, led a narrow passageway. Off +this, on either side, were a narrow galley, cupboards, ice-box and +toilet room. Nearer the stern were two compact state-rooms, one +intended for two "line" or "deck" officers, the other for two engineer +officers. There were other features about the "Pollard" that will be +described as need arises. + +For more than an hour the entire gang had been at work, though Joshua +Owen had seen to it that Jack and Hal had nothing more to do than lift +or hold heavy articles, fetch tools, etc. Still both boys stood this +good-humoredly, paying strict attention to orders. David Pollard, +watching them at times, and guessing how they might feel under such +treatment, found his good opinion of the two newcomers still rising. + +Stopping their work, when the order came, the workmen lighted their +pipes. Jack and Hal, not liking the clouds of tobacco smoke, ran up +the spiral staircase to the manhole, stepping, out upon the platform. +As they did so they encountered a man of about thirty years of age who +had just reached the platform deck from the shed flooring. + +"Hullo, what are you two doing here?" questioned the new arrival, looking +the boys over keenly. + +"Are you Mr. Farnum?" asked Benson. + +"Yes. Well?" + +"Mr. Pollard put us to work here, Mr. Farnum." + +"Oh! That's all right, then," replied the owner of the yard, amiably, +and entered the conning tower. + +"Tumble down here, you two lazy young roustabouts!" sounded Owen's +voice a few minutes later. + +"We seem to have made a hit with our foreman, don't we?" chuckled +Jack to his chum. + +"Mr. Owen," Pollard was saying to the foreman, as the boys rejoined the +crew below, "we can't stand the ringing of hammers all the time, so, +for the next job, I think you'd better fit some of the feed pipes +connecting the gasoline tanks with the motor." + +"All right, sir," replied Josh Owen, briefly. He turned to order +Jaggers and O'brien to bring forward one of the longer pieces of feed +pipe. This the foreman helped to fit in place. + +"Mr. Pollard," reported Owen, soon, "this pipe is a small botch on +the part of the contractor." + +"What's wrong" asked the inventor, quickly, springing forward and +bending over to examine. + +"The pipe is about a half inch too long," replied Owen. + +"But one of the superintendent's men over at the machine shop can cut +it to fit?" asked the inventor, looking uneasy. + +"Oh, he can cut it all right, but there's the new thread to be cut, +too," explained the foreman, pointing. "I'm sorry, sir, but if you +want a good job, without any danger of botch, you'll have to wire the +contractors to rush a new pipe, cut exactly to the specifications." + +"But that will delay us at least forty-eight hours, and the launching +date is so near at hand," protested the inventor. + +"You'd better put your launching off two days, Mr. Pollard, than take +any chances of having a bad connection in your fuel feed pipes," argued +the foreman. + +"Confound such luck!" growled Pollard, turning away. "Well, come over +to the office with me, and we'll wire a kick and a prayer to the +contractors." + +Just as he turned, the inventor barely failed to overhear something that +Jack muttered in an aside to Hal. + +"What's that you're saying, Benson?" demanded David Pollard. + +"Oh, nothing much, sir," replied Jack, quickly. "I'm not foreman here, +nor much of anything, for that matter." + +"Were you expressing an opinion about this pipe business?" + +"Ye-es, sir." + +"You agree with me that the pipe can be cut properly at the machine +shop of this yard?" insisted the inventor. It was strange to ask +such a question of a boy helper, but David Pollard, facing a delay +in the launching of his craft, was ready to jump at any hope. + +Jack Benson hesitated. + +"I want a reply," persisted Mr. Pollard. + +"Why, yes," Jack admitted. "I don't want to be forward, but I feel +pretty sure the pipe can be measured both for its own length and the +length it ought to be. If there's a good metal saw over at the machine +shop, and a thread cutter, this pipe ought to be ready for safe fitting +in half an hour." + +"That's the way it looks to me, too," broke in Mr. Farnum. "Send the +pipe over, anyway, with the proper measurements, and Partridge can tell +you what's what." + +"I won't make the measurements. I won't have anything to do with +it, or be responsible for a botched job," snarled the foreman. + +"You don't have to, then," replied Farnum, taking a spring steel tape +from his pocket. "Benson, you seem to have a clear-headed idea of what +you're talking about. Take the measurements. This tape has been +standardized." + +It was not a matter of great difficulty. Jack, with his chum's aid, +soon had the measurements taken. + +"Since you youngsters know so much about it," growled Joshua Owen, +"you two can carry the pipe over to the machine shop." + +Other workmen sprang to help in passing the pipe up through the manhole +and down over the side of the hull. When Jack and Hal got the pipe +up on their shoulders they staggered a bit under its weight. But +they were game, and started away with it. + +"That's a shame," growled Mike O'brien. "Boss, leave me go 'an be +helpin' the b'yes with that load." + +"Go ahead," nodded Mr. Farnum. O'brien went nimbly down the ladder, +placing one of his own sturdy shoulders under the forward end of the +pipe, while Benson got back with Hal Hastings at the other end. In +about three-quarters of an hour the trio were back, with the pipe cut +to the right length, and with a new screw-thread cut at the shortened +end. + +"Now, you can demonstrate your own work, Benson," laughed Mr. Farnum. +"Fit the pipe yourself, and call on the men for what help you want." + +At that, Joshua Owen folded his arms as he stepped back scowling. Yet +when the crew, under Jack's direction, had finished fitting the pipe +in place, not even this angered foreman dared say that it was not +fitted properly. + +The next work called for fitting some pipe-joints, and in this a red +lead cement was used. One of these joint-makings fell to Benson and Hal. + +"Here's yer cement," muttered the scowling Dan Jaggers, passing a rough +ball of the stuff to young Benson. + +"Is this the best you have?" asked Jack, eyeing the cement with disfavor. + +"Yes," growled Dan, "and it's plenty good enough." + +"I'd call it too dry," replied Jack, quietly. + +"Are you bossing this job all the way through?" demanded Joshua Owen, +angrily, stepping forward. "Mr. Farnum, Mr. Pollard, if these boys are +to have charge of this work, I may as well stop." + +"What's the matter?" asked Mr. Farnum, coining forward. + +"This younker is grumbling about the red lead cement," snapped the +irate foreman. + +"What's the complaint, Benson?" asked the boatyard owner. + +"No complaint, Mr. Farnum," Jack answered, quickly. "Only, I've got to +make the joint fast with red lead cement, and it seemed to me that this +stuff is too dry. If I use it, it won't fill out smoothly enough. It's +dry and crumbly, and I'm afraid the joint would be very defective." + +"Nothing of the sort!" snapped Joshua Owen. "Boy, you've no business +trying to do a man's work, anyway. Give me that cement, and I'll make +the joint fast myself." + +"All right," nodded Benson, stepping back. He started to pass the +chunk of cement to the foreman, but Mr. Farnum quickly took it from +him, then cast a look upward. Asa Partridge, the yard superintendent, +a man past fifty, stood on the platform deck, looking down through +the open manhole. + +"Come down here, Mr. Partridge," hailed the yard's owner, while Joshua +Owen's scowl became deeper than ever. "Mr. Partridge, Benson says +this cement is too dry to make a joint tight with. Owen says it isn't. +Who wins the bet?" the owner finished, laughingly. + +Asa Partridge, a man of long experience in steam-fitting, took the chunk +of cement, examining it carefully, then picked it to pieces before he +rejoined dryly: + +"Why, the boy wins, of course. Any apprentice ought to know that cement +as dry as this stuff can't make a tight joint." + +"Isn't there some better cement than this around?" called out Mr. Farnum. + +"If there isn't," volunteered the superintendent, "I can send you over +plenty. But the use of such stuff as that would leave some joints +loose, and make a breakdown of the boat's machinery certain." + +"You see, Owen," spoke the yard's owner, quietly, turning to the foreman, +"you're letting your dislike for these boys spoil your value here as +foreman." + +"I've stood all I'm going to stand here," shouted Joshua Owen, in +a tempest of rage, as he snatched off his apron. "You're letting +these boys run the job--" + +"Nothing of the sort," broke in Farnum, icily. "They haven't tried +to run anything. But any workman is entitled to complain when he's +expected to perform impossibilities with poor material." + +"There ye go, upholding 'em again," roared the foreman. "I'm through. +I've quit!" + +"I don't know as that's a bad idea, either, Owen," replied Mr. Farnum, +in the same cool voice. "When you don't care how you botch a job +it's time for you to walk out. You can call at the office this afternoon, +and Mr. Partridge will give you your pay." + +Joshua Owen glared, amazedly, at his employer. Then, seeing that +his threat had been taken at par, and that he was really through here, +the infuriated man wheeled like a flash, leaping at Jack Benson from +behind and striking the boy to the floor. But Grant Andrews, O'brien +and others leaped at him and pulled him away. + +Jacob Farnum pointed up the spiral staircase, as Jack Benson leaped +to his feet, hardly hurt at all. + +"You can't get out of here too quickly, Owen!" warned the owner. +"If you linger, I'll have you helped out of this boat! Grant Andrews, +you're foreman here from now on." + +"First of all, see that that fellow gets out of here in double-quick +time." + +"Come along, Dan!" called Owen, hoarsely to his nephew, as he started +up the stairway. + +"Yes, run along, Danny," added Farnum, mockingly. "You're no better +than your uncle!" + +After the pair had departed it took all hands at least five minutes +to cool down from their indignation. Then they resumed work, and +all went smoothly under the quiet, just, alert new foreman, Grant +Andrews. + +That afternoon, as Jack crossed the yard, going on an errand from +Mr. Pollard to the office, he encountered Josh Owen and his nephew. +The pair had just collected their pay from the superintendent. They +were talking together, in low, ugly tones, when they caught sight +of the boy. + +Though Benson saw them in season to avoid coming close to them, he +neither dodged the pair nor courted a meeting. He would have passed +without speaking, but Joshua Owen seized the boy by one arm. + +"I s'pose ye feel me and you had trouble, and you got the best of it?" +leered the former foreman, then scowled. "But listen to me, younker. +Ye're going to run into trouble, and quicker than ye think, at that. +That old cigar shaped death-trap won't float--not for long, anyway. +All I'm hoping is that ye'll go in for bein' one of the crew of that +submarine boat. Then I'll be even with a lot of ye all at the same +time!" + +With which enigmatic prophecy Joshua Owen let go of the boy's arm, +and tramped heavily away, followed by his precious nephew. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +THE TRICK OF THE FLASHLIGHT + + +"Have you seen anything of Owen, since he was discharged?" + +It was David Pollard who put the question, while the crew, under the +new foreman, Andrews, was busy the next day with more work on the +motor fittings. + +Then, for the first time, except to his chum, Jack Benson told of +his meeting in the yard. + +"Making threats against you, and against the boat, is he?" smiled +Mr. Pollard. "Well, he can't get near the boat. Partridge took the +precaution of getting the keys back from Owen yesterday afternoon, +when the fellow went to get paid off. But as for his threats against +you--" + +"It will be just as well to look out for the fellow, Benson, and you, +too, Hastings," put in young Mr. Farnum, who happened to be aboard. +"Owen is an ugly fellow, and a powerful one, and I imagine he possesses +a certain amount of rough brute courage." + +"I'm not afraid of him, sir," replied Jack, coolly. "At the same +time, of course, I'll keep my eyes open." + +"Owen probably can't hang around Dunhaven very long, anyway," continued +the owner of the yard. "I don't believe he has very much saved. Of +course, he can't get any work in his line in Dunhaven, now that this +yard is closed to him. So look out for a day or two, and, after that, +I guess he'll be gone." + +"I'll keep my eye open, but I shan't lose any rest," smiled young +Benson, confidently--too confidently, as the sequel proved. + +Work was now proceeding at a rapid rate. Andrews was an ideal foreman, +quiet, alert, watchful and understanding his trade thoroughly. He was +something of a driver, as to speed, but workmen do not resent that if +the one in authority be just and capable. + +"I wish we had had you as foreman from the start, Andrews," remarked +the inventor. + +"Well, I was here, and ready to be called at any time," replied the +new foreman, with a smile. + +"By the way, you don't seem to have any trouble with Benson or Hastings," +pursued Mr. Pollard. + +"Not a bit. They're good helpers. In fact, young as they are, they +are a long way on the road to being real mechanics." + +"You don't find them forward, or--well, fresh?" + +"They're not the least bit troubled that way," replied the new foreman +emphatically. "Owen didn't get along with them, and couldn't have +done so, because he's a nagger, and no self-respecting workman will +stand for a nagger. There were times when O'brien and I wondered +if we hadn't better pitch him out and then leave our jobs." + +Thus matters went along most smoothly. Jack Benson and Hal Hastings, +with a good general knowledge of mechanics, and willing to work hard +and tackle new problems, were learning much. Even before the "Pollard" +was launched and sent on her trial trip these two boys showed remarkable +proficiency in equipping and handling this wonderful class of craft. + +In the meantime the boys had left the hotel, taking up their quarters +at a comfortable boarding-house where Foreman Andrews lived. Though +Farnum was paying them fair wages, they were thrifty enough to be +on the lookout for any outside work with their camera outfit. So +it happened that, one evening after supper, Jack and Hal, carrying +their outfit, set out on a walk of more than two miles. They had +secured an order to go to a wealthy man's summer "cottage," as the +great, handsome pile was called, there to make some flashlight photographs +of some of the large, expensively furnished rooms. + +Time flew, and the owner of the cottage caused many delays by wishing +furniture shifted about before the photographs were made. It was +after eleven o'clock at night when the two submarine boys left the +cottage to tramp back to Dunhaven. As they neared the village they +heard the town clock striking midnight. That was the only sound they +could hear besides the movement of their own feet. Dunhaven was wrapped +in sound slumber. + +Their way led the boys close to Farnum's boatyard. As they came around +a corner of the fence, Hal, who was slightly in the lead, stepped +back quickly, treading on his friend's toes. + +"Sh!" whispered Hastings. "Keep quiet and take a sly peep around +the corner. Look up along the fence and see what you make out." + +Slipping off his hat, Jack took a hasty look, exposing very little +of his head, while Hal now crowded close to him from behind. + +"Someone trying to scale the fence," whispered Jack. "By Jove, there +he goes. He has a good hold, and is going--now he's over in the +yard." + +Such stealthy prowling could mean little else than mischief brewing. +To both the boys came instantly the same thought: + +"The submarine boat!" + +"Did you recognize him?" whispered Hal, quivering. + +"No; too dark for that, and, besides, he was too quick. But we must +hustle to alarm someone." + +"There's a watchman in the yard," Hal replied. "He ought to be getting +busy." + +"I don't hear any hail, or any shot," Jack replied. "Hal, old fellow, +we've got to do something ourselves." + +"Well, we can climb the fence as well as that stranger did." + +"We'd better. Here, take the flashlight gun. Pass that and the camera +up as soon as I get to the top of the fence. We can't leave our outfit +outside--it's worth too much money." + +With that Jack Benson swiftly found a knothole in which he could get +a slight foot-hold. With that start he was quickly up on top of the +ten-foot fence. Bending down he took camera and flashlight "gun." +Hal hurriedly followed. Down in the yard, they started speedily +though softly forward, going by impulse straight toward the submarine's +shed, though keeping in the shadow of other buildings. + +Arrived at one corner of the office building, young Benson, who was +in the lead, signaled a stop. Hal halted just behind him. + +"It's the submarine, all right, that the fellow's after," whispered +Jack excitedly, as he peeped. "Make him out over there, at the door? +Gracious! He's unlocking and throwing the padlock off. And, blazes! +Can't you make out who it is, Hal?" + +"Josh Owen! But he gave up his keys." + +"He had at least one duplicate, then," declared Jack, in a tremulous +whisper. "There, he's gone inside. Come on, Hal--soft-foot! We'll +take a near look at what he's doing." + +There was some distance to be traveled, and it had to be done with +the utmost stealth. Whatever Josh Owen--if it was truly he--was +doing in the submarine shed, the young shadows did not wish to put +him on his guard until they had caught him red-handed. + +"Where's the night watchman while all this is going on?" wondered +Jack as he tip-toed forward. It was afterwards discovered that the +watchman, who sometimes drank liquor, was at this moment sound asleep +in one of the sheds. There was no time to be squandered in looking +for him if Josh Owen was to be followed and foiled. + +Creeping to the now open door of the submarine's shed, Jack, who was +in the lead, took a peep inside. + +There was a dim light in there, though it came from the further side +of the hull. Benson signaled, and his friend followed him, stealthily, +a step or two at a time, around to the stern of the "Pollard" as she +lay on the stocks. + +By this time a noise that plainly proceeded from the use of tools +came to the ears of the boys. Their nerves were on the keenest tension +as they reached the stern of the propped-up hull. + +Then they came in sight of the quarry. Almost in the same flash they +realized what the night's mischief was. + +Depending wholly on the light of a dark lantern that lay on the floor +of the shed, Owen, with two or three tools, was swiftly, wickedly +tampering with one of the sea-valves belonging to one of the forward +water compartments of the submarine. + +This valve, if leaking badly when the craft lay submerged, would let +in enough water to cause the "Pollard" to lurch and then go, nose-first, +to the bottom. It was wholly possible, too, that a capable workman +could tamper with the valve so that, on casual inspection, the damage +would not be detected. + +Hal Hastings's heart beat fast as he viewed this dimly illumined piece +of cowardly treachery. His fingers itched to lay hold of Josh Owen, +uneven though the fight might be with both boys for assailants. + +But Jack Benson, though his first impulse was to let out a Comanche +yell, and then dart forward into the fray, instantly conceived a plan +that he thought would work better. + +Gripping his chum's arm for silence, Jack whispered in his ear: + +"Can you set the camera for universal focus, here in the shadow?" + +"I--I think so," came Hal's low, quivering reply. + +"Do it--like lightning, then!" + +In his hand Jack held the flashlight "gun." It was one of those patent +affairs, arranged to fire a charge of magnesium powder by the explosion +of a cap when the trigger was pressed. + +Dropping to one knee, Hal set the camera, half by instinct, half by +guess. While he did so, Jack fixed a charge of the powder in the +firing pan of the "gun." + +These preparations made hardly any noise; such as might have been +heard in a silent room was drowned by the tap-tap of a small hammer +that Josh Owen was at the moment using. + +And now, without glancing back at the stern, the ex-foreman half-turned +his head, so as to give a profile view of his face. + +Hal, kneeling, turned up quickly to nod the signal that the camera +was ready. + +Pop! Flare! + +As the cap exploded, a blinding flash filled that side of the shed +for a brief instant. It was as through a lightning bolt had plunged +into the place. + +Wholly unprepared for any such happening, Josh Owen let out a yell +of fear, rose up and leaped back so that he upset and extinguished +his dark lantern. + +"Wha-wha-what was that?" he faltered. + +In the intense darkness that followed the flash Jack and Hal stole away. + +Suffering all the terrors of a guilty conscience, increased by the +terror of the inky darkness under such circumstances, Josh Owen tremblingly +felt for his momentarily useless lantern. It took him some moments +to find it. Even then his fingers shook so convulsively that it needed +several trials before he got the light going. + +By this time Jack and Hal were safely outside. More than that, Jack +held in his hand the padlock of the door, with the false key in it. + +"Why not slam the padlock shut over the door and lock him in there +until we can get someone here?" whispered Hal Hastings. + +By this time the two boys were hiding behind the corner of a nearby +building. + +"I thought of that," whispered Jack, "and I'd like to do it. But Owen +has a fearful temper. If we locked him in there, and he knew he had +to be caught, he'd do thousands of dollars' worth of damage. As it is, +if you watch out, you'll soon see him quitting that shed and getting +away as fast as he can." + +Not more than a few seconds later Josh Owen appeared at the door of the +shed. He shut off the light from his dark lantern, then stole swiftly +towards the fence. Going up and over, he vanished from sight. + +"Now, we'll lock the shed, take this false key to Mr. Andrews, and let +him decide whether to rouse Mr. Pollard or Mr. Farnum," announced +Jack Benson. + +Grant Andrews, as soon as he was aroused at the boarding house, and had +been made to understand, took the false key, saying: + +"I'll go over to the hotel and call Dave Pollard. Then I'll do whatever +he says." + +The inventor was greatly excited over the news borne to him by the +new foreman. Together they hurried to the Farnum yard, unlocked the +door to the submarine's shed, entered and made a hasty examination. + +Thanks to the promptness of Jack Benson and Hal Hastings, Josh Owen +had not had time to inflict more damage to the forward sea-valve than +could be readily repaired. + +"I guess that was what the infernal rascal meant when he told Jack +Benson that the 'Pollard' would dive to the bottom and stay there," +exclaimed the inventor, in a shaking voice. He smiled a ghastly smile. + +"We'll put a stop to such pranks after this," replied the new foreman. +"Until your craft is launched, sir, I'll sleep here nights, beginning +with what's left of to-night." + +Before the inventor left the yard, he hunted for and found the drunken +night watchman, who was still asleep. That worthless guard was +discharged the following day. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +ONE MAN'S DUMFOUNDED FACE + + +When the new foreman's gang started on the "Pollard," at eight in the +morning, there was no outward ripple to show that anything unusual had +happened. True, Jacob Farnum arrived at the shed earlier than he was +accustomed to do, but those of the workmen who were not in the secret +thought nothing of that. + +Half an hour later Josh Owen, a peculiar, gleaming look in his eyes, +showed his head at the manhole opening over their heads. + +"Good morning, Mr. Farnum," he called. + +"Good morning, Owen," answered the yard's owner. "Come right down." + +Owen came down the spiral staircase, looking curiously about him. + +"I got your note, Mr. Farnum," began the ex-foreman. "What's the +matter? Find you need me here, after all?" + +"Not for long," replied Mr. Farnum, coldly. "Owen, before you gave your +keys in to Mr. Partridge you must have taken an impression of one of +them and must have fitted a key to the pattern. Why were you here last +night?" + +"Me? I wasn't here last night--nor any other night," Josh Owen made +haste to answer, though a look of guilty alarm crept into his face. All +of the workmen had ceased their toil, and stood looking on at this +unusual scene. + +"You say you weren't here last night?" demanded Mr. Farnum, sternly. +"And you didn't use any false key to get into this shed?" + +"Of course I didn't," retorted the ex-foreman, defiantly. "You wrote a +note to me that, if I'd come around here this morning, I'd hear of a job. +I didn't come here to be insulted." + +"The job I mentioned in my note," rejoined Mr. Farnum, with a meaning +smile, "is over at the penitentiary. Owen, you did come here last night. +You scaled the fence at the west side, crossed the yard, opened the door +of this building with this key--" + +Here the yard's owner held out the false key, that all might see it. + +"--and," finished Mr. Farnum, "you came in here and went to work to +damage a sea-valve forward on this craft. The valve shows, this morning, +very plain traces of having been tampered with." + +Josh Owen was summoning all his courage, all his craft. Instead of +looking frightened, he glared boldly at his accuser. + +"Who says I did such a thing?" he demanded, hotly. + +"Benson and Hastings saw you at your rascally work, my man." + +"Humph!" snorted the ex-foreman. "Who? Those boys?" + +"Yes." + +"Humph! I wouldn't believe those boys under oath, and you'll make a +huge mistake if you do, Mr. Farnum," continued Josh Owen, hotly. + +"Then you deny that you were here, and that you tampered with a sea-valve +last night?" insisted the yard's owner, looking his man keenly in the +eyes. + +"I'll deny it with my dying breath," asserted the former foreman, boldly. +"As for those lying boys--" + +"Do you believe _this_ can lie?" inquired Mr. Farnum, passing the +accused man a photograph print. + +Josh Owen took the print, staring at it hard. In an instant his eyes +began to open as wide as it was possible for them to do. A sickly, +greenish pallor crept into the man's face. Beads of cold perspiration +appeared on his forehead and temples. + +"You see, your face shows up very clearly," went on the yard's owner, +in the same cold, crushing voice. "Moreover, it shows you right at one +of the sea-valves, and in the very act of tapping with a hammer. You +didn't know that Benson and Hastings are very fair photographers, did +you?" + +"I don't care what they are," cried Owen, in a passionate voice, as +before the print to small bits. "That isn't a photograph of me, even if +it does look like me, and I wasn't here last night. I--" + +"Any judge and jury will believe the evidence against you, my man," +cried Farnum, sternly. "As for the boys, maybe you don't like them, +nor they you. They've reason enough for not liking you. Besides, +they couldn't photograph anything that wasn't here to be photographed." + +"Then it was that flash--" began Josh Owen. + +He stopped instantly, biting his lips savagely. + +"Yes, they took the picture by flashlight, and you've just admitted +remembering the flash that interrupted your rascally labor," exclaimed +Mr. Farnum, triumphantly. "As for the print you've just torn up, Owen, +it doesn't make any difference. There are other copies of it. Now, +my fine fellow, you've been trapped just as nicely as the law requires, +and, in addition, you know you're guilty of the whole thing. Now--" + +But Owen leaped up the spiral staircase, shouting: + +"I won't be taken alive! I--" + +Andrews, O'brien and another workman sprang forward to seize the fellow, +but Mr. Farnum called them back. Josh Owen got down from the platform +deck, and out of the shed in a twinkling. + +"Let him go," ordered, the yard's owner. "He won't be seen around +Dunhaven after this. If he is, I can quickly enough put the law's +officers on his track. But he'll vanish and stay vanished." + +"I shan't soon forget the absolutely dumfounded look on his face when +he saw that photograph," laughed Mr. Pollard. "It was a look of +complete, incredulous amazement." + +"I'm sorry for the wretch's family," sighed Mr. Farnum. "However, if +Owen clears out promptly, and stays away from this part of the country, +I'll give him an opportunity for a new chance." + +Then the work went on again. Even with the thorough examination of the +sea-valve that had been, tampered with, there was not so much to be +done, for this was the last day of the work. On the morrow Dunhaven +was to be more or less alive, for the "Pollard" was to be launched +then. Many visitors, including a swarm of newspaper men, were expected. +An officer of the United States Navy was also booked to be present, to +witness the launching, and to note how the "Pollard" might sit on the +water afterwards. + +Before four o'clock the last stroke of work had been done. Mr. Farnum, +the anxious, inventor, the foreman and the others went all over the +submarine marine craft, inside and out, locking for any detail of the +work that might have been slighted. + +"It's all done--finished," cried David Pollard, nervously. + +"And, Mr. Andrews, you'll have a real guard here to-night to help you +keep watch," announced Jacob Farnum. "We've heard the last of Owen, +without a doubt, but we won't take a single chance to-night. Now, men, +all be here at seven in the morning, ready for work. The launching +is to be at ten o'clock, but at the last moment we may find that +something needs overhauling. Now, you've all worked hard and +faithfully." "Here's a little present for each of you, with much more +to come if the boat proves the success we hope." + +As the men passed him, Jacob Farnum handed each a crisp ten-dollar +banknote. Even Jack and Hal were thus remembered. + +"But we haven't been here, sir, long enough to earn this present," +protested Jack Benson. + +"You haven't been here long, perhaps," smiled Mr. Farnum. "But think +of what you did last night. By the way, Benson, and Hastings, I want +to see you at my office at once." + +Wondering somewhat, the youngsters followed their employer, and David +Pollard accompanied them. + +"Now, then, boys," began their employer, seating himself at his desk, +"I want to say to you that my friend Pollard hired you on the strength +of your general appearance and the impression you both made. At the +same time Pollard was careful to write to the references you gave in +your home town. This noon he received letters from your former school +teacher and your minister. Both speak in the nicest terms of you both, +as honorable, upright, hard-working young men." + +"It's fine to know that one is remembered in that way," Jack replied, +his face, and Hal's, showing their pleasure. + +"Now, to go on," continued Mr. Farnum, "as soon as the boat is in the +water there comes up the question of a crew for the 'Pollard.' +Some of our good hands, especially those with families, say very +frankly that their taste doesn't run to going down in diving boats, +on account of the possible chance that the Pollard might not be able +to get up to the surface again. But Pollard tells me that you've +applied for a chance to belong to the crew of the boat." + +"That's our biggest wish, gentlemen!" cried Jack Benson, his eyes +glowing. + +"Nothing else could give us half the delight," confirmed Hal Hastings. + +"Then we're going to give you the chance," announced Mr. Farnum, while +David Pollard nodded. "But, of course, you're not blind to the fact +that, even on the most perfect submarine torpedo boat, there's some risk +to your lives." + +"One isn't wholly safe, either," retorted Jack, coolly, "in crossing +a crowded city street." + +"Then you're both alive to the danger, but not afraid to chance it?" + +"We're ready for anything in the submarine boat line," declared Jack +and Hal, in the same breath. + +"Then that's settled. You're both engaged to serve aboard the 'Pollard' +when she floats--and dives," wound up Mr. Farnum, dropping back into +his matter-of-fact tone, and mopping his face, for the July afternoon +was exceedingly hot. "By the way, boys, how do you feel about taking +a little pleasure trip to-night? How'd you like to take one of my +horses and a buggy, after supper?" + +"Fine and splendid," replied Jack, with enthusiasm. + +"And, by the way, since your references are so good, I can give you a +chance to try to make a little extra money, if you like." + +"Extra money is highly prized in the town where we come from, sir," +laughed young Benson. + +"Well, see here, over at Waverly Center, eight miles from here, is a +man named George Forrester. Now, Forrester owes me, and has owed me, +for some time, eight hundred dollars for a little boat we built him +here. Forrester was always considered a safe man, but for some reason +he has let this bill run. If you care to, you may take the bill and +drive over to see him to-night. I'll pay you a commission of five +per cent. on the whole bill, or any part that you can collect. But I +warn you that you may find Forrester a bit shy about settling." + +No matter! A chance to get in forty dollars in an evening looked +extremely attractive to these young submarine boys. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +ALONG THE TRAIL OF TROUBLE + + +"I wonder if we shall find our man at home?" remarked Jack Benson, as +he and his chum drove over the road to Waverly Center in the early +evening. + +"I wonder if he'll settle the bill!" rejoined Hal. + +"If he has the money, and doesn't settle, it'll show what poor collectors +we are," laughed Jack. + +"Very few men keep eight hundred dollars around the house," objected +young Hastings. + +"And our man won't have that amount in cash, either. I'd be almost +afraid to take that amount of real money, at night. If Mr. Forrester +is willing to do something pleasant for us, it will be in the form +of a check, of course." + +"I'd like to come out all right with Mr. Forrester, of course," Hal +admitted. "But, to tell the truth, I haven't been thinking much about +Jack, old fellow, all my real thoughts are on our wonderful chance +to be part of the trial crew of the 'Pollard.'" + +"Same here," admitted Benson. "Say, money does look rather small, +compared with a chance like ours. Now, doesn't it?" + +So they hardly mentioned Mr. Forrester on the rest of that cool, +delightful drive. Arrived at Waverly Center, however, they had to +inquire the way to the Forrester house. They found it, a comfortable +though not pretentious house. The owner was at home, and saw them at +once. + +"May we see you alone, Mr. Forester?" asked Jack Benson, respectfully. + +"Is it as bad as all that?" laughed their host, I a pleasant-faced, +rather bald man past forty. "Come into my little den, then." + +He conducted them to a small room that looked as though it served +partly the purposes of library and partly of office. + +"Now, what can I do for you?" inquired Mr. Forrester. + +"We represent Mr. Farnum, of Dunhaven," began Jack, slowly. + +"Farnum? Oh, yes, the boat-builder. He must know that I don't want +anything new in his line, and on any other business I imagine he would +have sent someone--er--older." + +"Mr. Farnum believed you would find it wholly convenient, now, to +settle the account for the last bill," Benson went on, slipping the +statement from an inner pocket and laying it on the desk before Mr. +Forrester. That gentleman frowned slightly. + +"I trust we haven't called at the wrong time, and that it will be +wholly convenient for you this evening," Jack continued. + +"But, see here, young man, I know nothing about you. You have the bill, +true, but it is not receipted." + +"I will receipt it, in Mr. Farnum's name." + +"All well and good," replied Mr. Forrester. "But--pardon me--how do I +know that you have any authority to receipt for this account?" + +"Then I think you will appreciate my painstaking care to make everything +regular and satisfactory," laughed Jack, very quietly. "Here is a +paper, signed by Mr. Farnum, authorizing me to receipt this account +in his name. You may keep this authorization along with the receipt. +Mr. Forrester, it is growing late, and we are obliged to be at business +early in the morning. You will oblige us by letting us have your +check, won't you?" + +Benson spoke as though he had not a doubt of immediate settlement. Yet +his tone and his manner were such as not to give the least offense to +the man who was being "dunned." + +"Why, this--er--is rather a late time in the day to collect bills," +hinted Mr. Forrester, in an uncertain voice. + +"Had the matter not been just a little pressing we wouldn't have ventured +over as late," Benson replied, softly. "However, you understand what +I would say, don't you, Mr. Forrester?" + +There was something about the young speaker's manner, his tone, the +look in his eyes, that proclaimed him to be anything but a "quitter." +Mr. Forrester began to feel that, if he succeeded in evading payment +this evening, he would only have to see these young men frequently. + +"Well, you see, Benson," he said, at last, "I don't want to draw for +such a sum against my check account before to-morrow." + +"I think we could come again to-morrow, if we _have_ to," responded +young Benson, as though thinking it over. + +"I am going to make a deposit in my bank in the morning," continued +the man. + +"Then we are to come again to-morrow evening?" insisted Jack. + +"Why, hang it, no. If you'll take cash, instead of check, I can let you +have the money to-night." + +But that gentleman added, under his breath: + +"I may as well settle to-night as have them coming again to-morrow." + +"Why, certainly we'll take the cash, to-night," replied young Benson, +his face beaming at thought of how easily a fine commission was to be +earned as part of an evening's pleasure. + +Mr. Forrester, having made the offer, began secretly to regret it. He +was a man who meant to pay his debts, but just now he felt that he would +really like to have the money to use in other directions. + +Jack, however; began to suspect that some such thought was in the +other's mind. + +"With your permission, Mr. Forrester," said the boy, reaching over +the desk, "I'll borrow one of your pens." + +In a firm, clear hand Jack Benson promptly receipted the bill, dating +the receipt as well, and affixing his own name as the collector. + +"Now, that's all done," smiled Jack, pleasantly, putting back the pen, +blotting the fresh ink and passing the paper half forward. + +Stifling a sigh, Mr. Forrester rose, going to his safe. A few turns of +the combination lock and he pulled the steel door open. + +"Nine hundred and fifty dollars that came in this afternoon. I intended +to bank it in the morning," he said, then began to count "If a burglar +broke in to-night and cracked the safe," he added, with a laugh, "I'd +be glad, in the morning, that I had settled this bill with cash." + +Jack received the bills with a rapidly beating heart. He counted them, +found the amount correct, and passed half the money to Hal Hastings. + +"For safety, Hal," he suggested, "I think we'd better divide the money, +and then each of us put half of his own pile in each shoe." + +Mr. Forrester watched with something like an amused smile as the two +youngsters crossed the room, removing their shoes, and putting small +packets of bills down inside. + +"I suppose that's in order that a hold-up artist would pass the money +by," he chuckled. "Well, boys, I wish you a safe journey back with your +money. We don't often have any hold-ups on these quiet roads, anyway." + +Before leaving, Jack took pains to thank his host again, very +courteously, for the settlement of the account. Then the boys went +outside, untied the horse, got into the buggy and drove away. + +"Well, that's a pretty smooth profit for one evening," laughed Jack, as +he turned the horse's head into the highway. + +"Forty dollars you make, in one evening," commented Hal. + +"Twenty apiece, you mean, old fellow. You were with me in this." + +"But I didn't have to do any of the talking, or anything else." + +"Just the same, Hal, you know we're still partners." + +"Whew!" said Hastings, uneasily. "I shall be nervous until we reach +Mr. Farnum's house and hand him the money. Hold up a minute, Jack, +while we're near houses." + +"What's the game?" inquired Benson, as his chum leaped down into the +road and began to rummage about. + +"These may be of some use to us in the buggy; just possibly," replied +Hal, returning with a half dozen stones, the size of hens' eggs, which +he placed on the seat between them. "It's the only form of arms we +have, Jack," he whispered, "and we're carrying a heap more money than +we could make good in a long time." + +"We've got only a few miles to go," laughed Jack, easily. "Besides +who'd ever think of holding up boys? And no one but Mr. Forrester knows +that we have the cash." + +In the first five miles that they drove from Waverly Center the boys +passed only two other horse-drawn vehicles and one automobile. Then, +suddenly, the keen ears of both boys heard a sound as of some human being +wailing in acute distress. + +A moment later they came in sight of the cause of the sounds. A hatless, +dirty, illy-dressed youngster of perhaps ten years stood by the roadside, +howling and digging his soiled fists into his eyes as he blubbered. At +sight of the horse and buggy this small sample of human misery looked up +to call, appealingly: + +"Hey! Oh, mister!" + +"Well," demanded Jack, reining in the horse, "what's the matter?" + +"Oh, mister, mister! It's me mother!" + +"What's the matter with her? Where is she?" + +"She's in there," pointing under the trees just off the road. "We +was walkin' along, an' one o' them otterbubbles must ha' hit her. +She give a yell, then crawled inter them bushes. She hain't said +nuthin' lately--an' oh! I'm dreadful scared!" + +"Poor little chap!" muttered Jack, handing the reins to his friend. +"I'll go in and see what's wrong." + +But Hal also jumped out, hastily hitching the horse. Then they followed +their youthful guide in under the trees, to a clump of bushes. There in +the dark Jack and Hal saw a huddled mass of something lying on the +ground. Benson was the first to bend over, but Hal, also peering +intently, was close at his side. + +"Why, this isn't anything human," called Jack. "It's just a--" + +Thump! A jarring blow fell upon him from behind, knocking the boy +nearly unconscious. Hal, struck at the same moment, felt his head reel, +and then did lose consciousness for a few moments. + +"Ha, ha! Ho! ho!" roared the elfin youngster, his tears suddenly giving +place to laughter as he fled. + +It was Joshua Owen, aided by his bullying nephew, Dan Jaggers, who had +made this sudden, treacherous assault. That both were well prepared for +the miserable trick was shown by the speed with which they tied the +hands of the helpless boys behind them. + +"Now, bring _your_ prize along," directed Owen, jubilantly, as he picked +up Hal Hastings, bearing that youth on his shoulder. + +Jaggers, though not a giant, was strong enough to do the same with Jack +Benson. Further and further into the thicket they bore their captives, +pausing only once, to gag their charges as soon as the latter showed a +disposition to yell. + +At last the rascally pair halted in the depths of the woods, dumping +their human burdens on the ground. + +"You're not the lightest thing I ever carried," growled Josh Owen, +panting somewhat, as he reached for his pipe and filled it. + +"Now!" clicked Dan Jaggers, shaking a dirty, heavy fist over Jack's face. +"I can pay you back for that black eye, and all the other mean things +you done to me, you sneak!" + +"Oh, we'll pay ye both back," gritted Owen, lighting his pipe and puffing. +"An' say! I hear ye're both slated for the launchin' of the 'Pollard' +to-morrow, and that ye're to have a try as members of the crew. Well, +ye won't be at the launching! Take it from me that, if ye ever git back +to Dunhaven, 'twon't be for many a day yet. We've got a fine place to +hide ye, near here. Nobody'll ever find ye, even if they take the +trouble t'look. And, as the days go by, Dan and me will take plenty of +chance t'show ye just how we feel about ye. We'll pay ye back, with +loads of interest, younkers, for the mean things ye've done to us!" + +As if to emphasize his spite, Owen gave each of them a kick as he stood +over the boys, glaring down at them. + +In the minds of Jack and Hal, torment was raging. Ordinarily, it would +have been bad enough to be certain of missing the launching of the +submarine boat, and of possibly losing their places in the crew. But +now, a far greater terror assailed them. They had collected the eight +hundred dollars. If they failed to appear and to turn it over, Jacob +Farnum would have the best reason in the world for believing them +defaulters. + +"Wondering what I'm going to do t'ye, to square matters, ain't ye?" +demanded Dan Jaggers, bending over and glaring into Jack's eyes. "Well, +go on guessin'. My hate's that great that I'm goin' ter take plenty o' +time to think it over 'fore I do a thing t'ye." + +"I guess, first-off, Dan," observed his uncle, "ye'd better go back t' +the road an' leave that horse somewheres further off. Probably, if ye +do, it'll trot back into Dunhaven, and that'll be good enough." + +"Got any money for licker?" demanded Dan. "I can git some an' bring it +back." + +"Go through the boys' pockets. Ye ought to find some cash there," +hinted Owen. + +Dan looted a few dollars from the pockets of each captive. Jack and Hal, +however, were satisfied that their captors knew nothing of the great sum +of money they had collected. + +"And, while I think of it, Dan," continued Owen, "ye know where to leave +them boys' shoes. Ye know who they'll fit." + +Josh Owens started by unlacing Jack's shoes roughly and hauling them off. +As he did so, oven in the darkness, he saw something fall the ground. + +"Money!" gasped Josh Owen, in evil delight. "Look at the piles of it! +Hurry with _your_ younker, Dan. Maybe ye'll have the same luck." + +Almost in a twinkling, it seemed to the groaning captives, the rascally +pair had the whole sum of eight hundred dollars in their greedy hands. + +Now, what would going back to Dunhaven be like for these two hapless +submarine boys? + +Even though they returned, manfully, at the first chance, how would +their story of having been robbed sound? What a thin, hollow mockery +it would seem, backed only by their own word! + +To the two chums it almost seemed as though death would be sweeter! + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +WHEN THIEVES FALL OUT + + +"By the great sledge-hammer! Here's a whole bale of money!" gasped Dan +Jaggers, after having emptied Hal's shoes. + +Wholly unmindful of the one he had just robbed, Jaggers sat down on the +ground, passing the banknotes between his fingers. + +"I found a small hay-mow of money where I looked, too," observed Josh +Owen, with intense satisfaction, though his manner was calmer. + +"How much did _you_ get?" demanded Dan, instantly prepared to be +suspicious that his rascally uncle had happened upon the lion's share. + +Josh Owen thrust his findings deep down in a trousers pocket before +he replied: + +"No one will see our light 'way in here. Wait till I light the dark +lantern. Then we can count up. But--don't you try to hide any on me, +Dan!" + +So keenly did the older man watch the younger one that the former burned +his fingers twice in attempting to light the lantern. Yet at last the +lantern was lighted, the wick turned up not too high, and then the older +man invited: + +"Sit down in front of me, Dan, sociable like, so I can keep track of yer +hands." + +"D'ye think I'm the only one'll bear watching?" demanded Jaggers, +hoarsely. "I ain't taken my eyes off that pocket o' your 'n. Now, pull +out that money, an' be sure ye git it all out. Turn the pocket inside +out. That's right. Now, you count your money, an' I'll watch. Then +I'll count mine, an' you can watch, if ye wanter." + +Mutual confidence being thus established between the rogues, the +counting proceeded. Josh found that he had just four hundred dollars +in his "findings." Dan Jaggers's count proved that that young bully +possessed an exactly equal sum. + +"Then there ain't no need o' dividing," declared Dan, thrusting his +money into a trousers pocket and fumbling for a pin with which to close +the top of the pocket. "Now, I'll go back to the road, find the hoss, +an' drive him most of the way into town. Then I'll turn the hoss loose, +to do his home-findin' an' I'll keep on until I can buy something in +bottles." + +"But ye ain't goin' t' take all that money with ye inter town?" +protested Josh Owen. + +"Why not? It's mine," declared Jaggers, with singular ideas of +ownership. + +"But I know ye, Dan Jaggers. If ye git inter Dunhaven with all that +money ye won't be able to keep from showin' it. Then, if these boys +ever git loose, an' do their talkin', folks will remember that ye showed +such a lot o' cash on this night, an' the law'll have you caught in yer +own steel trap. It'd help to put me in trouble, too. No, no, Danny. +Ye can take five dollars, but ye'll have t' leave the rest of the money +with me." + +"An' then I'd find ye here when I came back, wouldn't I?" sneered +Jaggers. + +"Yes!" replied Josh Owen, stoutly, and doubtless meant it, for he was +really fond of this rough, shaggy young bully of a nephew of his. +"Don't ye see, Danny, it'd be foolish of me to light out with all the +money? Then ye'd turn against me, an' help the constables to catch me. +Looky here, Danny, you trust me, an' ye won't come far out. Now, take +five dollars, an' leave the rest with me." + +"No, I won't," retorted that youth, defiantly. + +"Yes, ye will!" suddenly shot from between the lips of Josh Owen. He +accompanied the words with a spring, bearing his nephew down to the +ground, and holding him there. + +"I'm stronger than you, Danny, an' ye know it," growled the ex-foreman, +hoarsely. "Now, will ye hand up that money, or will ye make me take it +from ye?" + +With a reluctant grace, while still pinned down to the ground, Dan +Jaggers surrendered his half of the stolen money. + +"Now, ye can git up, and go do what's laid out to be done," announced +Josh Owen, peeling a five-dollar bill from the roll and handing it to +his nephew. "First, get the horse headed right, then go on into town +and get the liquor. But don't ye stop to drink in Dunhaven, Danny. If +ye do, ye'll be sure to git inter a fight, and ye might do some talkin' +too. Hustle in, and hustle back, and ye'll find ye can trust me to hold +outer to-night's pickings safe for ye. Don't ye worry a mite on the way +to town or back, Danny boy." + +If a scowl could have killed, Dan would have triumphed, even now, at the +expense of his uncle's life. But Josh paid no heed to black looks. He +thought he knew this nephew of his. + +"Hurry along, Danny," he coaxed. "My throat is gittin' mighty dry for a +bit o' liquor." + +"Give me another five-spot," begged Jaggers. + +"Not another dollar till ye come back, Danny," rejoined his uncle, +firmly. "The quicker ye start, an' return, the quicker ye'll have yer +share of the night's business. Now, git!" + +Using ugly language under his breath, Dan Jaggers turned and shuffled +off through the woods, well knowing that he would suffer from his +uncle's heavy hands if he did not. + +Josh now extinguished the light by shutting off the slide of his dark +lantern. Then, after taking a look at the boys, he seated himself near +them, filling his pipe once more while he muttered: + +"Subsequent happenin's clean drove them shoes outer Danny's mind. An' +I don't wonder!" + +Having gotten his pipe comfortably lighted, Josh could not resist the +temptation to open the slide of his lantern ever so little; in order +that he might have another look at the money. + +"Wonder how ye came to have it?" he muttered, looking at the boys, who, +being gagged as well as bound, could not have answered anyway. "I guess +likely Farnum must ha' been fool enough to let ye do some collectin' for +him," grinned Josh. "In that case, younkers, Danny an' me are makin' +it pretty hard for ye all 'round, ain't we?" + +That thought appeared to bring Owen around into a state of good humor. +He looked at the chuckling, and two or three times broke out into a +hearty guffaw. + +Jack Benson's mental torment grew as the time passed. Hal Hastings was +in no more enviable frame of mind. + +"And we brought this upon us by being sympathetic. We wanted to help +that infernal little boy out, and carry relief to his injured mother!" +thought Jack, squirming. "Confound it, I feel, just now, as though I +would never caught trying to do another kind act! All this fearful luck +just because we had to have more sympathy than brains! What fools we +are!" + +Later came this terrifying thought: + +"Mr. Farnum won't believe us, of course. The story will sound altogether +too absurd." "What will he do--have us sent to jail as common thieves?" + +"Ain't very comfortable in yer mind, are ye, younker?" leered Josh Owen, +hearing the muffled groan that escaped the boy. + +Though Josh Owen smoked many pipefuls, time soon began to drag on that +worthy's hands. Hours slipped by. + +"I'd no business to let Danny go," growled Owen, uneasily, time after +time, often rising and pacing about, though never straying away from the +two boys. "That young feller thinks a heap too much o' liquor for one +so young. He's spendin' time, as well as money, over in Dunhaven. It +won't be so bad if he don't take too much, and get talkative." + +Two or three times Josh thought he heard someone moving in the woods. +Each time he called softly, or signaled, but there came no response. + +Despite his inward suffering, Jack Benson dozed at last. So, as he +afterwards learned, did Hal. Yet these drowsings must have been short. +They were filled with horrible dreams of disgrace, imprisonment, and all +the misfortunes that healthy young minds in torment could bring up. + +At last Jack awoke, with a start, to realize that it was daylight. + +Josh Owen was on his feet, his taste for tobacco gone. He was listening, +peering between the trees, and making many impatient remarks under his +breath. + +"Hullo, uncle! Gettin' weary, carryin' 'round my share of the money?" +chuckled the voice of Dan Jaggers. Then that shaggy young bully stepped +out from behind a tree. + +"Ye've been long enough," growled his relieved uncle. "But I'm glad t' +see ye're in good enough shape." + +"Oh, I'm all right," admitted Jaggers, serenely, as he came forward. +"I've been back here for hours." + +"What are ye telling me?" demanded Josh Owen. + +"The facts. Ye see, Uncle Josh, I wanted to know whether ye'd forgit ye +had my money, an' stray off. So I've been watchin' round, 'thout making +no noise, for hours." Josh Owen had no means of knowing whether this +statement was the truth or not, but he growled: + +"Then ye must know for sure, now, lad, that I'm square with my own nephew. +What'd ye bring back with ye?" + +"Something to eat." + +"And something to drink, hey? I guess we'll eat first." + +Dan retraced his way through the woods a few paces, returning with +packages. + +"You younkers can see us eat, if you want to," said Josh Owen, with a +malicious leer, as he spread a piece of paper on the ground and began +to lay out the meal. "When are you two going to eat? I don't know. +Maybe not for a few days yet. Ye see, it ain't so easy to make an +enemy of a man by sneaky tricks, and then get on his right side again." + +This picnic breakfast lasted a long time, it seemed to watchful Jack +Benson. But at last it was over. Josh brought out his ill-smelling +pipe once more, settling himself, with his back against a tree-trunk, +to enjoy himself. + +"Bring anything to drink, Danny boy?" inquired Owen, after a few minutes. + +"Here's some beer," proposed Jaggers, passing over the bottle. + +Josh opened it, took a long drink, then sat with the bottle poised +on one of his knees. + +"I don't believe ye'd better have any of this, Danny, lad," declared +Owen, with a grin. + +"Don't want any," responded Jaggers, in a rather sulky voice. + +Dan got up and strolled about, his hands in his pockets, whistling +softly but cheerily. Josh Owen finished his unwise beverage, and tossed +the bottle a few feet away. Presently the man's eyes closed, but he +opened them as though with an effort. + +"S'here, Danny," he demanded, thickly, drowsily, "watcher put in that +stuff?" + +Dan Joggers did not reply, but he turned to watch his uncle, a look of +the lowest cunning in the young bully's eyes. For a brief space of +time Owen fought against his drowsiness. Then he lurched, falling over +on one side, unconscious--drugged. + +In a twinkling, then, Dan Jaggers knelt beside his uncle, rifling the +other man's pockets until he had brought to light both their shares in +the evil-doing of the night. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +A SWIFT STROKE FOR HONOR + + +For the space of a few moments Dan Jaggers stared at the money clutched +in his hands in a way that betrayed the extent of its fascinating hold +upon his mind. + +Then he glanced down at his unconscious uncle. + +"Ugh!" he grunted, giving that prostrate form a slight but contemptuous +kick. "If I hadn't done something like this you would. Oh, ye-eh, +there's honor among thieves, but it's no good trusting to that honor. +Every man for himself, in the woods!" + +One more gloating look the shaggy young bully took at all that money, +before thrusting it deep down in a pocket and pinning the opening +securely. + +"Don't ye wish ye was me, with all this money to have a good time on?" +he demanded, jeeringly, of Jack Benson. "But maybe ye've framed up +some kind of a yarn that yer boss, Farnum, will be willin' to believe. +If ye hain't, then mebbe ye'd better never git close to him again." + +Dan Jaggers again turned his attention to his overcome uncle, kneeling +beside the ex-foreman and watching his face closely. + +And then a strange thing happened, or so it would have seemed, had Dan +Jaggers possessed eyes in the back of his head. For Jack Benson +likewise his chum had striven many times through the night to free +their wrists of the cords that bound them. Jack was the first to +succeed, at a cost of hours of effort and thinking. He wriggled one hand +out from under the knots just as Dan turned for that last look at the +prostrate man. + +How fearfully numbed Jack Benson's wrists were, after that long spell of +being tied up. Yet the boy knew that he must quickly restore circulation +there and get his hands ready for use before it was all too late. + +It must be one swift, decisive, conquering stroke for honor's sake. + +Jack's trembling right hand went into one of his trousers pockets. He +found his clasp-knife, yanked it out, opened one of the blades, and Hal +Hastings, who had been watching every move with breathless interest, +now rolled noiselessly so that his chum could reach the rope that held +him captive. + +In another twinkling Hal was free. Just then, Jaggers, fancying he +heard some noise in their direction, turned slowly. By the time Jaggers +had them within his range of vision each boy was lying as before, his +hands behind his back. + +With a heartless chuckle, Dan turned back for one last look at his uncle. +Jack rose, almost fearing to breathe. Hal started to follow suit. +There was some swift stealthy toe-work. Just as Dan Jaggers turned more +sharply Jack Benson hurled himself through the air, catching and +clutching at his enemy's neck. Both rolled over together, Dan, with his +greater strength, fighting like a panther and bear in one. + +It was Hal Hastings's chance. As he darted forward he espied a +serviceable-looking stick on the ground. He snatched it up with a +single breathless swoop, then poised himself over the struggling +fighters, stick uplifted. + +Down came that slender cudgel, striking Dan a light blow squarely top of +his head. + +"O-o-ow! Help! Quit that!" screamed Dan Jaggers. + +"Lie still, then," commanded Hal, sternly. "And let go of Jack, or I'll +use this stick for I'm worth." + +Brave enough while he thought he had a good fighting chance, Dan cowered +under the menace of that club. He submitted to being rolled on his back, +pleading: + +"Don't club me! I'll be quiet." + +"See that you are, then," ordered young Benson, kneeling on his +opponent's chest. "Remember, Dan, that there are two of us. We mean +to win, no matter how ugly a fight we have to put up." + +"Want the gag that you threw away when you jumped up, Jack?" asked Hal, +with a delighted grin. + +"No; we don't need to gag him. Jaggers, roll over on your face, and +don't you dare make any attempt to get up," ordered the submarine, boy, +rising from his prostrate foe, while Hastings stood ready to use the +stick. + +Dan obeyed. Jack took the slim cudgel from, his chum, who, at a silent +signal, slipped back and picked up some of the slashed cord. There was +enough of it to accomplish the tying of Jaggers. + +"See here," whined Dan, "you're not going to take me to Dunhaven?" + +"We're going to get that money away from you, and take it to its rightful +owner," retorted Jack, tersely, as he commenced to tie the knots, while +Hal held the cudgel conveniently close to the bully's head. + +Dan, however, had hardly a thought of making any fight. Jack, alone, +was nearly a match for him. The two churns, acting together, could +overcome him easily enough at any time. + +"Oh, I'll give up the money," promised Dan Jaggers, willingly. + +"Thank you," returned Jack, dryly. "However, we'll take it +ourselves--and right now," he added, as he finished tying the knots +about Dan's wrists. + +The rifling of Jaggers's pockets brought to light all of Mr. Farnum's +money except the five dollars Dan had spent in Dunhaven the night before. +However, the boys' own money, that had been taken from their pockets, +and which was now found in one of Owen's vest pockets, made up the +full sum of eight hundred dollars. + +"You fellers win, and I lose a good time," muttered Dan, mournfully. +"But say, now you've got the cash again, set me free before ye start for +Dunhaven. Don't leave me tied up like this." + +"We won't," Jack promised him, grimly. "We'll take you with us." + +"Not to Dunhaven!" screamed the bully. + +"Even to Dunhaven," mocked Hal. + +"But they'll send me to jail," protested the scared wretch. + +"Well," insinuated Benson, "can you imagine any other place that would +be as suitable for a fellow of your kind?" + +"You fellers promised me ye wouldn't take me to Dunhaven, if I stopped +fighting," whined Jaggers. + +"We promised you nothing of the sort," retorted Jack. "Now, come. Up +on your feet with you!" + +The two submarine boys raised the now whitefaced bully, who was still +pleading and protesting. Dan refused to start at the word, but a few +sharp cuts across his legs by Hal made the fellow change his mind. + +"I reckon your uncle will stay until he's called for," laughed Jack, as +they started. "Anyway, the matter of greatest importance is to deliver +the money to Mr. Farnum before it goes through any more mishaps." + +"I tell ye, tain't right to make me go along an' be sent to jail," +declared Jaggers, earnestly. "Ye've already done me harm enough, and +got me outer my job." + +"If you haven't head enough to know the difference between getting +yourself into all your troubles, and our doing it, there's no use +arguing the matter," retorted Jack, quietly. "Get along, now, for we +don't mean to have any nonsense. We've got to get through in time to +send someone back for your uncle.", Despite the vigilance of both boys, +Dan lagged all he could. As he came nearer to the seaport village his +despair and rage increased so that he several times halted and flatly +refused to stir. At such times Hal had to use the stick with +increasing severity. + +At last, with a violent wrench, Jaggers, with his strong wrists, managed +to snap the cords upon which he had already made many efforts. + +"Now, see here," he defied them, waving his fists in the air, "mebbe ye +think ye're goin' to take me with ye, but ye won't take me inter town +alive!" + +Retreating, he crouched against a tree, waving his fists before him. +Jack and Hal lost no time closing in with the bully, but he drove them +back. The boys were not prepared to do their enemy serious bodily harm; +Dan, on the other hand, didn't care what he did, so the odds seemed +almost in his favor. + +"Clear out, an' leave me to take to my heels, an' I'll call it square," +he shouted, hoarsely. "But, if ye try to fight, then don't blame me +for anything that happens to ye. I won't go to jail, I tell ye! I'll +die, sooner!" + +Jack, with his fists up, worked in as close as he could, trying to get +in under the big bully's guard for a clinch, so that Hal Hastings could +finish the work of successful attack. Dan, fighting with the fury and +strategy of desperation, kept them both off fairly well. + +While the opposing forces were so occupied there came down a path out +of the woods, behind the tree against which Jaggers was backed, a third +boy. About sixteen years old he appeared to be. He wore patched +overalls, a frayed flannel shirt and a much-used straw hat of the field +variety. His hair, once brown, had many streaks of reddish tint in it, +from long exposure to the sun. His face was brick-red from the same +cause. His rather large hands looked rough enough from hard labor. But +he had frank, laughing eyes and a homely, honest look. Moreover, he +had the air of one who could be swiftly alert. + +All this Jack Benson noted as soon as he caught sight of the newcomer. + +"Hullo, there!" called Jack, pausing. "This fellow is a thief, and +we're trying to get him to town. Help us to get him, will you?" + +"Want me to look behind me, an' then ye'll jump me, hey?" leered Dan +Jaggers. "That won't work." + +The newcomer grinned broadly, then shot forward. Ere Jaggers could +change his mind he felt himself clasped from behind, a pair of strong +hands joined over his windpipe, his body thus bound securely to the +tree. + +"He--help!" sputtered the victim of this attack. + +"We're bringing it to you," laughed Jack, leaping forward. In a +twinkling, now, the three boys had Dan Jaggers down, and held so closely +that he could not stir. Benson produced another length of cord, and Dan +had to submit to having his wrists lashed, this time in most workmanlike +manner. + +"Thank you, ever so much," acknowledged Jack, looking up at the new boy. + +"Oh, you're welcome," laughed the young stranger. "I know Dan Jaggers, +and I'm willing to believe anything against him." + +"I'll live to get square with ye for this, one o' these days, Eph +Somers!" growled the captive. + +"Oh, take your time about it, Dan," laughed Eph, unconcernedly. "I'm +patient, you know, about such things. In fact, I come of a patient +family." + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +THE SUBMARINE MAKES ITS BOW TO OLD OCEAN + + +"Which way were you headed when you happened along?" inquired Jack +Benson. + +"Dunhaven way," responded Eph Somers. + +"Good enough. That's where we're going, too." + +"It's me for the submarine launching today," Eph remarked, rather +ungrammatically. "I wouldn't miss that for the world." + +"Nor would we, either," added Hal. "Especially, as we've helped in the +work on her. And, gracious, what time is it?" + +"Just about eight o'clock," replied Somers, consulting his watch. + +"And the launching is at ten o'clock. Come; we must hustle along. What +will Mr. Farnum be thinking of us?" + +"He probably believes _we_ stole the money, and he must have officers out +looking for us by this time," hinted Jack; with a wry face. + +Jack thought, to be sure, of Josh Owen, back there in the woods, but +clearly it would be out of place to ask Eph Somers to go back and +attend to the ex-foreman. Besides, they could all soon be in Dunhaven, +and then a constable or two could be sent out to search. + +At first, Dan tried his old tactics of balking, but a few energetic, +rough-and-ready punches from Eph caused the bully to change his mind. +After that he went along in sullen silence. It was not long before +the quartette turned down into the shore road that led up to the boatyard. + +As they came near the big gate, still closed to the public, the boys +beheld a crowd of several Hundred people. There were many vehicles and +automobiles there, also. + +"Here come those boys! Hey, young fellows, the officers are looking for +you!" shouted someone. + +"I guess so," admitted Jack, dryly. "However, they won't want us. Let +us through this crowd, please. We want to find Mr. Farnum without +delay." + +The new watchman, at the gate, admitted them without question. Eph +Somers, being of the party, got into the yard also, without any +difficulty. + +It being, now, less than two hours before the time set for the launching +of the "Pollard," both the yard's owner and the inventor were with the +gang of workmen that was busy removing the water end of the submarine +craft's construction shed. + +"Here come Benson and Hastings," called Grant Andrews, catching sight of +the boys. + +Jacob Farnum turned to look at them, then came on the run. + +"I hear you have put officers out, after us, and I don't blame you," +smiled Jack, rather grimly. "However, we didn't run away with your +money, and we would have been back last night had that been possible." + +"I could hardly bring myself to believe that you had absconded," cried +Mr. Farnum, ruefully. "I sent officers out on the trail as much to +learn what had happened to you as for any other reason. The horse came +in with the buggy last night, and I knew something was wrong. But this +fellow, Jaggers--" + +"He and Owen tricked us and got us last night," explained Benson. "I +don't, believe they knew anything about the money. They just wanted to +beat us to their heart's content. But they found the money, and--but +I'd better begin at the beginning." + +This Jack did, soon putting Mr. Farnum in possession of the whole story. + +"I'll send two men with Jaggers, to turn him over to the constable," +remarked Mr. Farnum. "I'll also send the alarm out so that Josh Owen +may be caught. Both these fellows must have their full deserts." + +"Perhaps, first of all, you'll take this money," urged Jack, producing +the roll of banknotes. "Count it over, will you please, sir?" + +Mr. Farnum rapidly counted. "Just eight hundred," he nodded. "But, +according to your story, it ought to be five dollars short, on account +of what this rascal, Jaggers, took out to spend." + +"We've made that good out of some of our own money that the pair took +away from us, and which we got back with yours." + +"You won't do anything of the sort," retorted Mr. Farnum, thrusting +the money down in one of his pockets. "I owe you that five, besides +your commission of forty dollars. And I'll settle with you just as +soon as we get our rush off. But now--you haven't had any breakfast. +Rush up to the hotel and get it at my expense. Then be sure to be +back here before ten o'clock. And say, boys, you're the right kind +of material--both of you. I hope to keep you with us." + +Two men being dispatched to convey Dan Jaggers to the lock-up, Jack +and Hal hurried away for some sort of a meal. Eph Somers, being inside +the yard, and no one paying him any heed, that young man concluded +that he might as well remain where he could see the most. + +While the two submarine boys were at breakfast a constable and a deputy +appeared at the hotel, to get precise directions as to where to find the +drugged Joshua Owen. Then they departed in haste. + +"There's the band playing over at the yard!" cried Hal, seated at the +hotel dining table. "Great Scott! We'll be late." + +"I hardly see how that can happen," replied Jack. "It isn't quite nine +o'clock yet." + +Nevertheless, the martial strains caused both boys to hurry through +their breakfast. Then, full of eagerness, they all but ran down the +short stretch of road to the yard. + +"I wish we had a little better clothes," muttered Hal, regretfully, as +they neared the gate. + +"What's the odds?" replied young Benson. "We're workmen, anyway." + +"But most folks will be dressed up mighty well to-day," objected Hal. +"Even Grant Andrews has his best suit on." + +"Well, we haven't any other clothes," murmured Jack, like a young +philosopher. "Folks won't be looking at us, anyway. They'll all have +their eyes on the boat." + +The watchman at the gate had been reinforced by another man, to hold +the crowd back. When the would-be spectators found that only work men +and invited guests would be admitted to the yard the disappointed ones +made a scurry for the nearest portions of the shore outside the big +fence. + +Inside, the noise of hammers had stopped. The entire front of the +submarine's shed had been removed, and much of the underpinning structure +that held the "Pollard" in place. All that remained, to send the steel +craft into the water, were the command and a few lusty sledgehammer +strokes. + +The band was playing again, a lively strain. Jacob Farnum was bustling +about, although, as far as could be seen, his only impulse was sheer +excitement. + +David Pollard, silent and more anxious than anyone could know, stood +apart with Grant Andrews, while Eph Somers stood solitary at a little +distance. + +Even the coming of the boys caused Pollard a bit of relief. They were +to be of the crew at the launching, and their early arrival showed the +inventor that there ought not, now, to be the faintest hitch. + +"I thought there was going to be a naval officer here, Mr. Pollard," +whispered Jack. + +"Looking for a uniform, eh?" laughed the inventor. "There is a naval +officer here--Lieutenant Jackson. There he is, over there, in the gray +suit and straw bat." + +"Does he go on the boat with us?" + +"Oh, no. He's simply to watch the launching, and see how the craft sits +on the water after she goes in. Some time in the near future there'll +be a board of naval officers here, when we're ready to show them what +the boat can do." + +With everything in readiness, the nerves of all the interested persons +present began to suffer from the suspense. Only the tireless band saved +the day. + +"Come along," said Jacob Farnum, at last. "It's a quarter of ten. We'll +get up in our places." + +Those who were going made a rush for the shed. The band leader, catching +the enthusiasm, led his musicians, with a crash, into a triumphal march. +Eph Somers slid, unobtrusively, into the shed. David Pollard turned to +look at him keenly. + +"I want to be on hand to help just a bit, if I can," murmured Eph, +pleadingly, "and to wish the boat good luck as she strikes the water. +My father used to work in this yard, and I worked here last summer." + +"He's all right," nodded Mr. Farnum, so Eph got inside the shed. + +The ladder rested against the hull; this was to be the last time that +it would be used. David Pollard ascended, first, to the submarine's +platform deck Farnum followed Then Grant Andrews went up. Last of all +came Jack Benson and Hal Hastings. These were all who were scheduled +to slide down the slippery ways with the "Pollard." But Eph was there, +close at hand, consumed by an unquenchable desire to go, too. Nor was +he wholly convinced that he wouldn't. + +Outside, at one side of the shed, stood Lieutenant Jackson and the +invited guests. On the other side were the members of the band. + +On the platform deck, near the conning tower, were an outside steering +wheel and the engine controls. Back of all were the funnels of the +ventilators. + +"Are you going to take the wheel, sir?" whispered Grant Andrews, to +the inventor. + +"I--I'm afraid I'm too nervous to," replied David Pollard, in an +undertone. "You'd better take the wheel, Andrews." + +So the foreman stationed himself there, for the craft might need guidance +during the headway that the launching would give her. + +Pollard turned to the yard's owner, to whisper imploringly: + +"Better give the word and start things, Farnum. The suspense will floor +me if it lasts much longer." + +So Farnum gave tho first signal, and the workmen below began their last +duties. In a twinkling it was known that something was wrong with one +of the ways. Grant Andrews moved quickly away from the wheel to look +below and give an order. + +Jack Benson moved up to the wheel, that there might be someone there +in case the "Pollard" made an unexpected leap into the water. In +the confusion, just as one of the workmen below was about to remove +the ladder, Eph Somers swiftly pushed it back against the hull, ascending +almost on the run to the platform deck, where he stood pointing out +to Andrews the cause of the trouble below. As he did so, Eph slyly +but authoritatively signaled to the men to remove the ladder, which +was done. Eph Somers had won his wish. He was aboard--safe unless +someone discovered him at the last second and threw him over. + +Now, with a fearful clattering, the last supports of the substructure +were knocked away by lustily wielded sledge-hammers. + +The leader of the band, accustomed to launchings, held his baton aloft. +At the downward stroke of that implement the band would crash out into +"See, the Conquering Hero Comes!" + +In the midst of the clatter another gang of workmen, at a silent signal, +began to push against the hull on either side. + +Hats off, the men among the guests began to cheer, the women to wave +handkerchiefs. + +Farnum was the coolest of all, now. As the "Pollard" _might_ sink to +the bottom of the harbor, no woman was aboard to do the christening. +Instead, the yard owner clutched the bottle, ready to smash it over the +forward rail of the platform deck. + +A creak, a yell, and the "Pollard" started. How the cheering redoubled +and made the shed's rafters shake. Lieutenant Jackson, of the Navy, +tried to look unconcerned, but he couldn't, wholly. A launching of +any kind of important craft is a mighty exciting thing. + +Jack's hands took firm clutch on the steering wheel. He was throbbing +from head to foot. + +Another creak! The "Pollard" began to move in good earnest. All on +the platform deck felt the exhilarating thrill of motion. + +Down came the baton, the band crashed out, its music almost drowned by +the frantic cheers of the beholders. Down off the ways shot the +submarine torpedo boat. Oh, the glory of it! + +There was a gigantic splash. Everyone on the platform deck was, +drenched, yet holding on and happy. For many rods out over the waters, +Jack steering straight and true, the boat dashed, then slowly stopped. +The "Pollard" was launched--for what adventures, what fate? + + + + +CHAPTER X + +UNDER WATER, WHERE MEN'S NERVES ARE TRIED + + +After that first stop, after that first feeling of exhilaration was +over, the anxious thought of all on the platform deck was: + +"Is there any fault in her construction? Is she going to sink?" + +Not that any of these six human beings would have been in much danger, for +all were where they could free themselves and swim. + +It was the defeat of months of hopes that would have been terrible. + +A few moments of tension, then David Pollard's gaze lighted on Eph +Somers, unconcernedly smiling. + +"Hullo!" muttered the inventor. "How do you happen on board?" + +"Me?" grinned Eph. "Why, you see, I'm the mascot." + +But Jack Benson, fearful that, under the strain, something unpleasant +might be said to his newly-found friend, asked, quietly: + +"Going to drop the anchor?" + +Grant Andrews, Hal and Eph quickly attended to this. + +The flag at the short pole had become wrapped around its short staff. +Jacob Farnum noted this just in time and hastily shook it out, for the +band had suddenly begun to play "_The Star Spangled Banner_," and on +shore the crowd was hushed, hats off and at attention. On board the +submarine hats were quickly doffed, all turning with reverent gaze +toward the Flag! + +For a long time the crowd on shore remained, staring with fascinated +gaze at the craft from which wonders were expected. Presently a small +boat put off from shore. Mr. Farnum and Mr. Pollard were taken off and +went ashore to talk over matters with Lieutenant Jackson. + +The "Pollard" now sat jauntily on the water. Only the upper two feet of +her oddly-shaped hull were out of water, neither the bow nor stern +showing. In rough weather the platform deck would be a wet place, +indeed; but now, with little wind, and the water only slightly rippling, +the deck was drying rapidly under the glare of the hot summer sun. + +"I guess we might as well go below and get on dry clothing," hinted +Grant Andrews. + +"Is there any such thing aboard?" queried Jack, in surprise. + +"Yes, thanks to Mr. Farnum's thoughtfulness. Come on; I'll show you." + +So the four piled below, and, in one of the state-rooms aft, Andrews +pointed to a goodly store of clothing, much more than would be needed +for the present, and of different sizes, even to shoes. There were +also rough bath towels with which to rub down dry. + +"I wonder do I come in on these?" murmured Eph, doubtfully. + +"Well, since nothing has been said to the contrary," laughed Andrews, +quietly, "I think I'd be brave enough to try it. You're surely as wet +as any of us." + +The four were quickly in undershirts and linen. But the outer suits +made the boys wonder a bit. These suits were dark blue uniforms, the +coats braided, and the front buttons hidden by another band of braid. +The caps were of visored naval pattern. + +"Say," asked Eph, looking about him, "I'm only a common sailor, at most. +Ain't there any common sailor togs lying about?" + +"I don't know where," smiled Andrews. "I judge, from the togs, that +we're all to be captains." + +So Eph, with a comical sigh, fitted himself to a uniform and donned it. + +"Maybe I'll have a chance to strut about in this for an hour, until the +owner comes aboard and throws me into the water, after stripping me," +murmured Eph, wistfully. + +Then, as young Somers caught a glimpse of himself in one of the state-room +mirrors, he stood up unaccountably straight, inflating his chest and +bulging it out. + +They had to go up on deck again. It all seemed so much like a dream +that all hands wanted to get up where they could stare at the hull, the +water and at anything else that could make them realize that the +"Pollard" was launched and they were aboard. + +A boat-load of men soon put out. + +"They're special workmen, coming to finish up on the air-compressors," +explained Grant Andrews. "We have nothing to do with their work. All +we've got to do is to take things easily for the present." + +"I'm going to get busy, if they'll let me help at anything," declared +Eph. "When the two bosses come aboard I'm mighty anxious to have them +think I look natural here." + +"Are you going to try to join the crew, Eph?" asked Jack, in an undertone. + +"Well, I'm not going to be put ashore, except by force," declared young +Somers, wistfully. "I've been dreaming about this old boat for three +months back. Say, I'd give anything I had, even if it was a lot, to +stay aboard this craft for good and all." + +"I know how you feel," nodded Jack Benson. "And I don't blame you. +It's going to be a grand old life, and, Eph, I hope you're to be in it." + +As soon as the special workmen were aboard Eph followed them below. He +hung about until he saw a chance to help, then joined in the work. He +was as industrious as the proverbial beaver when Messrs. Farnum and +Pollard at last came aboard and went below. + +"Hm! Does that new boy figure that he belongs aboard with us?" asked +David Pollard, of Jack, when the pair came on deck again. + +"He's frightfully anxious to be of the crew, sir," Benson answered. +"And he seems like a splendid fellow." + +"We might as well let him stay aboard, Dave," proposed Mr. Farnum. "He's +a good, straightforward young chap, and comes of good water stock. I +know what it is to be a youngster and to have ambitions." + +"All right, then," nodded the inventor. "Let him stay. I dare say we +can use his time." + +"May I, as a great favor, go below and tell him he may stay?" asked Jack, +eagerly. + +"Why, you seem to take a personal interest in young Somers," laughed the +yard's owner. + +"I do. And he was useful in your interests this morning, Mr. Farnum." + +"Run along and tell him, then," nodded the yard's owner. + +When Eph heard the news he stopped work long enough to dance an exultant +jig on the cabin floor. + +"Oh, Jack Benson, if ever you want a favor--a great, big one, with +trimmings--come to me!" begged young Somers, imploringly as soon as +he caught his breath again. + +Then, to keep his rising spirits down, Eph returned, to work as soberly +as he could. + +Later Grant Andrews, with Eph's help, cooked a meal at the galley fire, +and this all hands ate while the special workmen kept at their task. + +When they were on deck again Mr. Pollard said, in a low voice: + +"Boys, I may as well tell you what Mr. Andrews already knows. Work on +the interior of this boat is much further along than we've allowed to +leak out. In fact, when the men below finish with the air-compressors, +in a few hours, we're all ready to put out to sea on a stealthy trial +trip of our own." + +"Wow!" sputtered Eph, enthusiastically. + +"Now," continued Mr. Pollard, earnestly, "of course we believe most +thoroughly in this boat, but, until the actual trial is made, we don't +know how she'll behave. If any of you feel like backing out, why, go +ashore before we start, but keep your tongues behind your teeth." + +"Reminds me of what my Dad once did in the hen-yard," remarked Eph, +in a low voice. "He went out with a couple of quarts of corn, looked +at the hens, and said: 'Now, biddies, I'm going to toss your supper +down. But any of you critters that want can go in and roost for the +night before I do it.'" + +"Well?" asked David Pollard, a bit puzzled. + +"Would you believe it?" asked Eph, with a comical twist of his mouth, +"Every blessed hen stayed. Fact, sir!" + +Just before dark the special workmen went ashore. Again Andrews and Eph +prepared a meal, which was eaten. + +Then followed a restless two hours, waiting until the town was asleep, +for the gasoline tanks were filled, and all was ready for the first turn +of the drive-wheel below. + +It was after half-past ten when Pollard at last said: + +"Go below and get the gasoline engines started, Andrews." + +The boys followed him below to watch the work. Messrs. Farnum and +Pollard, too, were soon below, for they wanted to observe the work of +the air compressors and the dynamos. The work had to be started by +lantern light, but, within ten minutes, it was possible to turn on +electric lights below. + +"Everything is working as perfectly as though the boat had been in +commission a year," remarked the inventor, hoarsely. His suspense was +almost painful to watch. + +"Everything is all ready for a start, isn't it. Andrews?" inquired +Mr. Farnum. + +"Everything appears to be, sir, so far as the power's concerned," +replied Andrews. "But I'm going to stay by the engine. I want to be +on hand to watch whatever might happen." + +Power was applied to raise the anchor. + +"You take the wheel, Benson, since you had it during the launching," +said the yard's owner. "Somers, stand by on deck. Hastings, you +go below and stand with Mr. Andrews." + +"Give the go-ahead at slow speed," directed David Pollard, nervously. + +So Jack gave the speed wheel a small turn, then rested both hands +on the steering wheel. Without an unnecessary sound, and with no +outer lights showing, as yet, the "Pollard" was headed for the mouth +of the little harbor, Mr. Farnum standing by as pilot. + +Just as they passed out on to the edge of the ocean Farnum himself +turned on the electric sailing lights. + +"She rides the water easily," remarked Pollard, almost in a whisper. "I +wonder how she can go at speed?" + +"We'll find out, now we've got clear seaway ahead," replied Mr. Farnum. +"Benson, turn on a few miles more." + +Quickly obeying the impulse of her twin-propellers, the "Pollard." began +to dance over the waves. + +"Say, but she's the fine, light-riding boat!" cried the builder, joyously. +"Just as I thought she would be. Give her more speed, Benson." + +So the speed was turned on, more and more. The "Pollard," as far as +those aboard, could see, had the whole of that part of the ocean to +herself. She was still headed due east, and was moving at last at the +rate of seventeen of the twenty-one miles an hour of which she was +believed to be capable. + +Even at this rapid gait the semi-immersed "Pollard" rode splendidly, +with hardly any vibration noticeable. + +As he watched, instead of feeling the thrill of triumph that influenced +the crew, David Pollard's face was whitening with anxiety. His face, +almost ghastly in its look, was deeply furrowed. + +"We're doing well enough on top of the water," he muttered, hoarsely, +at last, to the builder. "But will the boat dive? How will she run +under water? I must--know!" + +"Good enough! We'll soon know, then," replied Jacob Farnum. He passed +the word for Andrews, who came on deck. The ventilators were quickly +shipped. Jack Benson shifted to the steersman's seat inside the conning +tower. Sailing lights were turned off; the manhole cover was battened +down securely. They were dependent, now, on the air-compressing +equipment whenever the air aboard became unfit to breathe. + +Wedged on either side of Jack Benson in that little conning tower stood +the builder and the inventor. + +"You attend to the first submerging, Farnum," begged the inventor. +"I--I'm afraid I'm too nervous." + +The gasoline motor had just been shut off, the submarine now running +at less speed under power from the electric motor. + +Handling the controls in the conning tower, Mr. Farnum, not without a +swift, shooting thrill of dread, opened the sea-valves to the water +tanks. As the tanks filled the "Pollard" settled lower and lower in the +water. They were beginning to go down. All who were aboard felt the +keen, apprehensive quiver of the thing, shut in, as they were, as though +soldered inside a huge metal can. + +The platform deck was quickly level with the water's surface, though +Jacob Farnum was not rushing things. Then the deck outside, as shown by +the steady glow of the lights in the conning tower, went out of sight, +the water rising around the tower. + +They continued slowly to sink until the top of the conning tower was +less than three feet above the waves. + +"Now, just a little dive!" pleaded David Pollard. "Oh, merciful heaven!" + +"Pass the word to brace yourselves for the dive!" bawled Mr. Farnum +below, and Eph, stationed at the bottom of the spiral stairway, yelled +the word to the engine room. + +Now, the sea-valves of the forward diving tanks were opened. As the +water rushed into them, changing the balance of the boat, the bow shot +downward, making it difficult for all to keep their footing. It was as +though they were sliding down an inclined plane. + +Another lurch, and down they shot under the water, where men's nerves +may well be tried! + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +THE TRY-OUT IN THE DEPTHS + + +Pollard clutched at the stairway railing with both hands, his face +hard-set, his eyes staring. + +He was not afraid. In that supreme moment he could not know physical +fear. It was the inventor's dread of failure that possessed him. + +Jacob Farnum stood as one fascinated as he felt the boat plunging into +the depths. + +"Aren't you going to put us on an even keel, sir?" Jack called. + +The warning was needful. In the exhilaration of that plunge Farnum was +in danger of forgetting. + +In a twinkling, now, however, he threw open the sea-valves of other +tanks, amidships and aft, until the gauge showed that they were running +on an even keel and forty feet below the surface. Their speed was now +about five miles an hour, but could be increased. + +Gradually, the ghastly lines on David Pollard's cheeks began to soften. +His eyes gleamed. + +"There's nothing wrong! We can run anywhere!" he shouted. + +Yet there was something of hysteria in his voice. Nor was it long +before the others began to feel themselves similarly affected. + +It was an eerie feeling that all hands had, running along like this, +blind and guessing, in the depths. Pollard was the only one aboard who +had ever been below before in a submarine boat. Though the rest had +faced the chances coolly enough, they now began to feel the strain. + +Even when it is broad daylight on the surface, with the sun shining +brightly, the submarine boat, when a few fathoms below, is simply a +blinded, groping monster. There is no way of illuming the depths of +the ocean. Naval officers have suggested the placing of a powerful +electric light at the bow of the submarine craft, but, when tried, it +has been found quite useless. The light will not project far enough +ahead, through the dense water, to do any more than make the surrounding +darkness all the more trying to brave men's nerves. + +"Take the wheel, Dave; it will steady you to have something to do," +spoke the builder to the inventor. "As soon as you get the wheel, turn +the course to due south. Follow it to the line." + +Jack Benson slid out of the helmsman's seat, giving way to the inventor, +and stepped down the stairway. + +At the foot he came upon Eph and Hal, standing there, their faces +presenting a strange look. + +"How do you find it?" asked Benson. + +"Startling," replied Hal Hastings. + +"Yet nothing is happening to us," contended Eph Somers, somewhat shaky +in his tones. "It's just thinking what might happen--if we were to +strike a water-logged old hull of some vessel, say." + +"Or collide with a blue-fish," suggested Hal, with a short, nervous +laugh. + +"I suppose we'll be used to this, after a few more trips," laughed Jack, +with an effort. + +"Are _you_ scared, too?" asked Eph, keenly. + +"Well, I can't say I feel wholly comfortable," admitted Jack Benson, +candidly. + +"Then you're sitting down on your fears pretty well," declared young +Hastings, with an admiring look at his chum. + +"We've got to," returned Jack, stoutly. "If we're to go into the +submarine boat line we've got to learn to look as though we liked +_anything_ under water." + +"Let's take a look-in and see how Andrews likes it," proposed Eph. + +Peeping through the door of the engine room they beheld the man there +sitting bolt-upright on one of the leather-cushioned seats, staring hard +at the wall opposite. He turned his head, however, as soon as he became +aware of the presence of the submarine boys. + +"Rather creepy, ain't it?" hailed Grant, his voice not as steady as +usual. + +"Think you're going to learn to like it?" demanded Benson. + +"Well, I may get so I'll think this sort of thing the greatest going," +drawled Andrews, "but I'm afraid a good, soft bed on land will always +be a close second for me." + +"Wonder how far the bosses are going to run under water?" pondered Eph, +sliding into the engine room and seating himself on the cushion +opposite Andrews. + +"Till they've tried the boat out all they want to under water, I guess," +ventured Jack. + +"I'll slip back, so I can pass any order that may come," proposed Hal, +who, truth to tell, felt an undefinable something that made him too +restless to like the idea of sitting down. + +As the "Pollard" continued to glide along, almost without perceptible +motion at that depth, these members of the crew became somewhat +accustomed to the feeling. They began to have a new notion, though, +that they would take it all much more easily after they had once seen +proof of the new craft's ability to rise. + +"Say, I wonder if it would be too fresh of me to ask Mr. Farnum when he +means to try the rising stunt?" wondered Eph, aloud. + +Grant Andrews looked up with interest, then shook his head. + +"Better not," he advised. "We knew what we were coming to, and took all +the chances. Now, we'd better keep quiet. Any nervousness might bother +Mr. Pollard or Mr. Farnum." + +"Well, she's a dandy boat, anyway," declared Eph, a bit jerkily. "So +far, she's done everything she's been told to. So I reckon she can +rise when the time comes." + +"Who's below?" cried Mr. Farnum. + +"Hastings, sir," Hal answered. + +"Tell the crew we're going to run below the surface until the air +becomes noticeably bad. We want to test out the compressed-air devices +for purifying the atmosphere." + +So Hal stepped forward with the message. + +"Don't you think the air begins to smell queer already?" demanded Eph, +looking up. "I'm willing to have some compressed air turned on right +now." + +The others laughed, which was all they could do. Jack Benson, of them +all, probably, was getting most rapidly over the first bad touch of +"submarine fright." He was now almost as well satisfied as he would +have been on the porch of the little hotel at Dunhaven. Only he was +anxious to know just how the boat would behave when it became time to +rise. That was all. + +"How would you feel if we were running along like this, bent on driving +a torpedo against the hull of a big battleship?" questioned Eph. + +"Curious," Jack answered. + +"What about?" + +"Wondering if we were going to succeed in the job." + +"Put it another way," laughed Grant Andrews, shortly. "How would you +feel about being aboard a battleship in wartime, and suspecting that a +boat like this was nosing down in the water after you?" + +Jack Benson made a little grimace. + +"Serious business, this fighting on the ocean, isn't it?" he replied. + +"It's stranger to think about than it is to be doing it," replied +Andrews, musingly. "I know. I was in the war with Spain." + +"How did you feel?" asked Eph, quickly. + +"Tired, most of the time," replied Andrews. "Sick some of the time, and +hungry the rest." + +"But about being scared?" insisted Eph. + +"I was kept too busy, generally, to have any time to give to being +scared. I was a soldier, and a soldier is a good deal like any other +workman. He does his work by habit, and soon gets over thinking much +about it." + +There was a long pause, broken by Eph, saying: + +"I wonder when they're going to let the boat rise?" + +"When they're going to try to make it rise, you mean," corrected Jack +Benson. + +"Same thing, I hope," muttered Eph Somers. + +After some minutes more Jacob Farnum stepped down below. + +"Why, it looks cozy here at night, doesn't it?" he called. + +At sound of his voice the boys stepped out of the engine room into the +cabin. + +"Mighty comfortable sort of place," continued the yard's owner, looking +around him. "We'll have to put in some books, won't we, so you young men +can read when you're doing nothing under water?" + +"Maybe the time will come when we _can_ read," laughed Hal. "Just +now, sir, I'm afraid we're too busy with thinking and wondering." + +"I'll confess to being a bit nervous myself," responded Mr. Farnum. +"Somehow, there's something uncanny about rushing through the depths of +the ocean in this fashion, not having any idea what danger you may be +close by." + +"Such as running into the hull of some big liner that draws more than +forty feet of water," hinted Jack. + +"We're fifty-eight feet below, now," remarked Mr. Farnum. "You didn't +guess that, did you? We sank eighteen feet more, on an even keel." + +"Gracious! You meant those eighteen feet, didn't you? It wasn't +accident?" gasped Eph. + +"We meant it," smiled the builder. "But say, the air is getting a bit +foul here, isn't it? We'll have to try the compressed air equipment, +now." + +By an ingenious mechanical contrivance the present air was forced, by +compressed air draught, into compartments from which the bad air was +expelled through sea-valves. An instant change for the better in the +atmosphere was noted. + +"That's another thing about this good old new craft of ours that works +all right, so far," remarked the builder. "Boys, I'm beginning to have +confidence that we're going to see the surface again all right. Hullo, +there's Pollard hailing us." + +"The air purified all right, didn't it?" called down the inventor. + +"Yes; couldn't have been better," declared the builder heartily. + +"Then I'm going to make the supreme test," came down from the man at +the wheel. "We'll proceed to find out whether we can rise to the +surface and stay there." + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +THE DISCOVERY FROM THE CONNING TOWER + + +"Go up slanting, or on an even keel?" called up Mr. Farnum. + +"On the even keel," came the answer. + +"All right, then; we'll know soon." + +For this purpose the largest compressed air container of all was to be +employed. It distributed great volumes of compressed air to all the +water tanks, forcing open the valves and driving out the water. + +"Any of you youngsters know where the proper wrench is?" inquired the +builder, looking keenly at the boys. + +There was an instant start, followed by widespread pallor. + +"Oh, it's not right to keep you in torment," laughed the builder. "I +have kept the wrench in my pocket, all along." + +He drew it out, holding it up before their gaze. Though technically +a wrench, it looked more like a very large key. It was of curious +construction, intended to supply the greatest amount of force with the +least amount of exertion. + +"Watch me," commanded Jacob Farnum. "Any one of you may have to use +this wrench at any time." + +Little did any of them guess the tragedy that was destined to center +around that life-saving wrench later on. Now, with the boys gathered +about him, Mr. Farnum fitted the wrench with great care and deliberation. + +"See how easily it's intended to turn?" asked the builder, giving it a +slight turn. + +All three of the boys nodded. + +"Now, we'll give it more," continued Mr. Farnum. He swung the wrench +well around in order to release compressed air with a rush and great +force into the water tanks. + +Then he stood there, waiting. There was no perceptible motion or +other change that the boys could note about the boat. + +"Wha--what makes it act so slowly?" asked Eph Somers, in a queer +voice. "Or isn't it going to act?" + +For some seconds more the four stood there looking at one another. +Andrews came to the doorway of the engine room, looking anxious. + +"We've released a lot of compressed air," uttered Mr. Farnum. "More +than half of the force in the receiver is gone." + +A few seconds more passed. Then restless Eph sprang to the stairway. + +"Mr. Pollard," he cried, nervously, "when on earth--under the sea, +I mean--are we going up? What's wrong?" + +"Going up?" called down the inventor. "This isn't an airship." + +"When are we going to strike the surface?" Eph insisted. + +"Why, we're awash already. Don't you notice I've just shut off the +electric motor?" + +That was true, although none of the quartette had yet realized that the +propeller shafts were stilled. + +"Awash, are we?" cried Eph, in an incredulous voice. + +"If you can't believe it," replied David Pollard, calmly, "come up and +see for yourself." Eph accepted that invitation with such alacrity that +he tripped and barked his shins against one of the iron steps, but +recovered and darted up in no time. + +"Glory!" he shouted, jubilantly. "It's true. I can see the stars." + +At that moment the bell rang for turning on the gasoline motor. Within +a few seconds the big engines were throbbing. Again the propeller +shafts began to turn. Now, all hands could feel the motion as the +"Pollard" skimmed lazily along over the ocean's surfaces. + +As Eph came down, Jack Benson stepped up, with a light heart, now that +the submarine had responded to the last and most important of its +tasks. He stood beside the wheel, ready to take it whenever Mr. +Pollard should give it up. + +Yes, indeed; there was the sky overhead. And, with this glimpse of +heaven's arch Jack Benson found himself forever done with submarine +fever in the matter of the ordinary risk and dreads. + +As yet only the conning tower was out of water. The platform deck would +not emerge until Mr. Farnum, below, employed much of the remaining +compressed air for expelling the last gallons of sail water from the +tanks. + +"What's that off the starboard bow?" wondered Jack. "Stop, Mr. Pollard. +Reverse! I'm sure there's something over yonder worth stopping to +look into." + +David Pollard stopped the speed, then reversed sufficiently to correct +the headway, although he replied: + +"I don't see anything, Benson. You've been below so long that up +here, in less light, you're a victim of shadows." + +But Jack, who had snatched the marine glasses from the rack, and was +using them, retorted: + +"The shadows I see, Mr. Pollard, are human shadows, clinging to something +in the water, and that something must be an overturned craft of some +sort." + +"Let me have the glasses," requested Mr. Pollard. + +After taking a long look the inventor replied, excitedly: + +"Benson, you're right. There are some human beings in distress over +yonder. Thank heaven, we didn't go by them." + +For the first time that night David Pollard turned on the powerful +searchlight, projecting abroad, brilliant ray off the starboard bow. +The bottom of a hull about forty feet long, presumably that of a sloop, +was what David Pollard now saw. Clinging to it were two men. One of +them appeared to be middle-aged, the other much younger. The overturned +boat was some three hundred yards distant. + +"What have you stopped for? What's up?" called up Mr. Farnum. + +"Wreck, sir. Two men in distress," Jack answered. + +"We'll go close and contrive to take them off," announced the inventor. +Turning on slow speed, he swung the "Pollard's" prow about, making for +the wreck. + +"You youngsters had better get out on deck, with lines to heave," +suggested Mr. Pollard. So Jack called up Hal and Eph. After Benson +had stepped out on the platform deck Hal passed out three long, light +lines. + +Up to within a hundred feet of the wreck ran the submarine boat, then +stopped, lying parallel with the capsized craft. + +"Can you catch a line, if we throw it?" hailed Jack. + +"Yes," came the answer. The voice was dull. There was no enthusiasm +about it. + +"They don't seem very glad to see us," muttered the submarine boy to +the inventor, who had stepped out to the deck wheel. "I wonder if +they're dazed and weak?" + +Then to the wrecked ones Jack called: + +"How long since you capsized?" + +"Since just after sundown," replied the younger of the pair clinging +to the hull. Again his voice was sulky. + +"There's something queer about this," whispered Benson to Mr. Pollard. +"They don't seem a bit glad to be pulled off that hull. Besides, they +must have been the worst sort of lubbers to capsize a boat in any breeze +that has been blowing this day. I don't see how they managed it." + +"Throw them a line," directed Mr. Farnum, who had just come out on deck. + +Jack made the cast, doing it cleverly. The long, light rope lay across +the overturned hull. But the younger man of the wet pair, in reaching +for the line, pushed it off into the water. + +"Clumsy!" muttered Jack, under his breath. "And look there! They have +life preservers on. It must have been a leisurely capsizing to give them +time for that." + +"It _does_ look queer," agreed Jacob Farnum. + +Having rapidly hauled in the line, Jack made another cast. + +"Try to get that," he shouted. Yet once more, in some unaccountable +way, the younger man on the capsized boat managed to bungle so with +the line that it went overboard into the water. + +"I can put a stop to that," muttered Jack Benson, pulling off cap +and coat and dropping them down through the manhole. "I'm going to +swim over there. When I get there, Hal, throw me a line." + +With that the young submarine boy stepped over the rail, poised his +hands at the side and dived. An excellent swimmer, it was not long +before he touched the overturned hull. Neither of those whom he sought +to rescue offered him a hand. But Jack climbed up out of the water, +seated himself on the keel between the strange pair, and stared hard +at them, each in turn. + +The older man appeared to be about fifty years of age. He wore a +closely-cropped beard that had in it a sprinkling of gray. The younger +man, who appeared to be about twenty-five years of age, was smooth-faced +and sulky-looking. Both were dressed well, and looked like people of +means. Jack guessed that they must be father and son. + +"Well, have you got through looking at us?" demanded the younger man. + +"I guess so," nodded Benson. "I was thinking that your boat must have +taken several minutes in doing the capsizing trick. You both had time +to adjust life-preservers nicely, and you, sir," turning to the older +man, "must have found time to pack the satchel that you're holding so +carefully." + +The older man's jaw dropped. He looked haggard. But the younger +one demanded, fiercely: + +"Is all this any of your business?" + +"Not a bit," admitted Jack Benson. "All I'm here to do is to rescue +you, or help in it." + +"Humph!" grunted the younger man. + +"Heave a line, Hal!" shouted the submarine boy, signaling with one +hand. "Drive it straight. I'll get it." + +Swish! Whirr--rr! It was a splendid cast. As Jack leaped to his +feet the slender rope fell over one shoulder. Benson caught it with +both hands. + +"I'll help you," called the younger stranger with startling suddenness, +reaching forward. He grabbed at the submarine boy. The next instant +Jack Benson lost his footing on that wet, slippery sloop bottom. He +pitched, threw up his hands in an effort to regain his balance, then +toppled, disappearing beneath the waves. + +"They're trying to drown Jack!" rang Hal Hastings's excited voice. +"That was a deliberate trick!" + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +A HIGH-SEA MYSTERY + + +Splash! Without a word as to his intentions Hal Hastings went overboard. +His head showed above the waves almost immediately, as he swam toward +that other craft of mystery. + +Jack Benson did not immediately reappear. When he did come up, it was +under the over turned hull. He was obliged to make a half-dive in +order to come out and up in the open. + +By the time he did appear, his chum was close to him. + +"Hurt?" hailed Hal. + +"Not a bit," responded Jack, after blowing out a mouthful of water. + +"Then climb aboard with me, and see what these prize lunatics mean by +their behavior," requested Hal, not caring who heard him. + +The sulky young man made no effort to oppose their boarding the hull. +Probably he feared to make too plain an opposition, with that +dark-hulled, sombre, ugly-looking submarine torpedo boat lying so close +at hand. + +"Now, heave us a line, Eph!" hailed Hal. The line came, and was caught. +Hal slipped over the further side with it, vanishing under water +long enough to make it fast to one of the submerged cleats of the +sloop's rail. + +"That will hold," he reported, clambering back on to the bottom of +the sloop. "Now, sir," turning to the older man, "since you have +a life preserver on, you can easily get over to the submarine boat +by holding to the line and pulling yourself along." + +"I'm afraid I can't get across and keep my satchel," whined the older +man, nervously. + +"I'll take that and swim over with it," proposed Hal, briskly, reaching +out his hand for the bag. + +"Oh, no, no!" protested the man. "I'd sooner stay here. The satchel +doesn't go out of my hands." + +"Better take to the water, father, and do the best you can," advised +the younger man in a growl. "These fellows belong to the United States +Navy, and they're determined to rescue us. Trust yourself to the +water, and I'll keep along with you. These people will take us by +force if we refuse any further." + +If mistaking the crew of the "Pollard" for members of the United States +Navy would make matters move any more quickly, there was no need to +disabuse the mind of either of these queer men. But Jack and Hal gave +each other a queer, amused look. + +The old man took to the water, without difficulty. Buoyed up by his +life preserver, he was able to hold to his satchel with one hand, +pulling himself along the slightly sagging rope with the other. His +son swam along lazily beside him, Eph, outside the rail, but holding +to it with one hand, employed his other in helping the father and son +up to the deck. When this had been accomplished, Hal threw off the +line, after which he and Jack swam back. Eph drew them up to the +platform deck. + +"Go down below, and hear their account of themselves, if you want to," +said David Pollard, leaning against the wheel. "For myself, I'm sick +of that pair already." + +Jack and Hal had quite enough boyish curiosity to go below. Eph soon +followed. The father, dripping wet and still clutching his satchel with +one hand, sat on one of the long seats of the cabin, while the son, +scowling, paced back and forth. + +"It seems to me that I know you," Farnum was saying, to the elder man. + +"I--I am very sure you don't," replied the one addressed, uneasily. + +"Don't you know who I am?" pursued the boat-builder. + +"N-no; I'm very certain I don't." + +"Let's see. Did you ever hear of a man named Arthur Miller, of Sebogue?" + +The elder man started, paling a trifle. The younger man stopped his +walk, his face settling into a black scowl. + +"No-o; I don't know Arthur Miller," replied the older man; with an +effort. + +"Queer," mused Mr. Farnum. "It just came to me that you were Mr. +Miller. However, of course you know best about that." + +"Thank you," nodded the older man, with an attempt at a smile. "I +started to tell you that my son started out late this afternoon, in +the sloop that lies overturned yonder, intending to put me aboard +the yacht of friends who are passing down the coast. I have most +pressing business with those friends. The business is to be finished +on the coming trip. It seems that our friends are late; still, I +know they must be on their way down the coast." + +"As they haven't shown up, at least, not close enough," proposed Jacob +Farnum, "we'll put you ashore at Dunhaven, and doubtless you can catch +up with your friends in some way." + +"Dunhaven? Then you must be Mr. Farnum," cried the older man, eagerly. +"This must be the torpedo boat you were building. And these young +men belong to the Navy? Midshipmen, no doubt?" + +"There are no Navy men on board," replied the builder. "These young +men are my employes. But we are losing time drifting about on the +high seas. We will put back to Dunhaven, and you can tell us your +story, if you choose, on the way." + +"But my father does not care to go ashore," interposed the son. "It +is vitally important to him that he find the schooner and join his +friends aboard. In fact, I may add that a very considerable sum in +the way of a profitable business deal depends upon his going aboard the +schooner." + +"But as that craft isn't here, how can we put your father aboard?" +Mr. Farnum asked. + +"We are right in the path that is to be taken by our friends' yacht," +replied the son. "Since this is not a naval vessel, and you are not +under Government orders, I take it you can as well wait here for two or +three hours, if need be. My father will pay suitably for your time, +and the service, if you will consent to wait until the yacht appears." + +"I do not need any pay for extending the ordinary courtesies of the +sea to those who have suffered wreck," replied Mr. Farnum, a bit stiffly. + +"Whether you take pay or not, sir, will you wait and put my father +aboard the yacht?" demanded the son eagerly. "A vast interest, believe +me, sir, is at stake." + +"Oh, there is a very great stake in this," cried the older man, +tremulously. "I appeal to you, Mr. Farnum, since that is your name, to +help me out in this. And, if you will accept handsome compensation, I +shall be very glad to offer it." + +David Pollard, who had heard some of this talk through the open manhole +as he lounged by the wheel, now called down to report: "There's some +kind of a craft on the northern horizon throwing up searchlight signals." + +"That's our friends' yacht--it must be!" proclaimed the young man, +darting forward and resting one hand on the rail of the spiral stairway. +"Now, you see, if you will be good to us, we shall not very long +trespass on your patience." + +"A schooner--a sailing craft--equipped with a searchlight?" asked +Jack, wonderingly. + +The son flashed upon the submarine boy a look in which there was something +of a scowl, but he explained quickly: + +"The boat has auxiliary power, and a complete electric light plant. Mr. +Farnum, you'll steam toward that searchlight, won't you? I tell you, I +am positive it is the boat of our friends." + +"Well, I'll put you where you want to be, of course," agreed the +boatbuilder, though he spoke with some reluctance, for he realized +that some great mystery underlay this whole affair. + +"Come up, Benson, and take the wheel," called Mr. Pollard. So Jack +went up and out on the deck, Eph following him, while Hal went to the +engine room to watch more of Grant Andrews' work there. Jack threw on +the speed wheel, then steered north, while Eph threw the searchlight +skyward in the path of the approaching vessel. + +Within fifteen minutes the two craft were in sight of each other. +Five minutes later they were within hailing distance. The other +craft was a schooner of some eighty or ninety tons, and was using +an auxiliary gasoline engine. + +It was Jack who sounded a signal on the auto whistle for the other +craft to lay to. Then Benson steered in closer, the two who had been +rescued standing not far from him on the platform deck. The older +man still clutched his satchel. + +"Submarine, ahoy!" came a hail from the schooner's deck. "Is that +you, Mr. Miller?" + +"Ye-es," hesitatingly admitted the older man, at which Jacob Farnum +smiled grimly, though he said nothing. "Put off a boat and send it +alongside, will you?" + +In a trice a boat was lowered from the schooner. Manned by two sailors +and steered by a deck officer, the boat came alongside the sloping hull +of the torpedo boat. + +"You weren't expected in such a craft as this, Mr. Miller," called the +deck officer in the stern of the small boat, touching his cap. + +"Never mind any conversation, my man," broke in young Miller, testily. +"Lay right alongside, and help get my father into your boat." + +Hal and Eph helped in piloting Mr. Miller over the side and getting him +into the boat alongside. Immediately afterwards the younger man jumped +into the small boat. + +"Oh, you're going with your father, are you?" hailed Mr. Farnum. + +"Yes," replied the son, coolly, though with another scowl. "A thousand +thanks for your kindness to us. Good-bye!" + +The small boat put off, making rapidly for the schooner. + +"Well, full speed ahead for Dunhaven," muttered Jacob Farnum. "But +that's the queerest crowd I ever ran into. It's uncanny, all the way +through. Somehow, I can't shake off the impression that I've been +engaged in some stealthy or nasty work." + +The run back to port was without incident, the submarine behaving +perfectly on the surface. Indeed, all aboard were highly delighted +with the new boat. Jack was still at the wheel as they glided into the +little harbor. Anchor was dropped and power shut off for the night. + +"You three boys may as well stay aboard for the night," suggested Mr. +Farnum, as the night watchman of the yard appeared, coming out in a +row-boat. "In fact, you may as well live aboard, and use the pantry +and galley for all your meals." + +"Shall we keep watch through the night, sir?" asked Jack. + +"No need. Let the yard watchman do that. It isn't far from daylight. +Get yourselves some coffee in the galley, have a good rub-down, spread +your clothing to dry, and turn in in the state-rooms." + +Grant Andrews went ashore with the builder and the inventor. The first +thing the submarine boys did was to start coffee in the galley. +Next they rubbed down, got into dry underclothing, then sat down +over their coffee. + +For some minutes they discussed the mystery of the night, making all +manner of guesses. At last, however, they lay down in the berths of +the state-rooms, and were soon sound asleep. + +Nor did any of them wake until Jack opened his eyes in the forenoon, +when he heard someone coming down the spiral stairway. + +"You boys awake?" bellowed the wrathful voice of Mr. Farnum. Instantly, +almost, two state-room doors were yanked open, while the builder went +on: + +"Oh, that was a fine trick that was played on us last night. As soon +as I opened my eyes this morning I telephoned to Sebogue. I got the +whole story. Arthur Miller is a defaulter to the tune of a very large +fortune. He must have had the cash in that satchel. And he made us +tools of his! Made us aid him in his flight, and put him beyond the +reach of the law! Oh, if I should ever get my hands on that rascal +again!" + +It was plain that the boatbuilder was angry all the way through. He +stamped in a temper. As quickly as the boys could get on their clothing +they came out to hear the rest of the story. + +"Arthur Miller," resumed Mr. Farnum, angrily, "was supposed to be a +rich man, and at one time no doubt he was. But he got into speculation. +He was guardian of the fortune of his orphaned niece, Grace Desmond, a +very sweet girl whom I've seen. Miller must have lost some of her +fortune in his mad speculations. At any rate, he tried fearfully hard +to marry his son, Fred, to her. I suppose he felt that if Miss Desmond +became his daughter-in-law she couldn't very well prosecute her +faithless guardian. But Miss Desmond, who will be of age in a few days, +would have none of her Cousin Fred for a husband. She must have +suspected much, too, for she had engaged lawyers and accountants to go +over the state of her affairs. The whole party were at the house +yesterday, when Miller and his son slipped out and got away in the +son's sloop. It is believed that Arthur Miller converted all the rest +of his niece's fortune into cash, and arranged with the schooner to +pick him up in the night." + +"Then I think I understand, sir," broke in Jack, quietly, "how that +sloop came to capsize. I couldn't understand that before. But the +Millers, father and son, must have figured that the overturned sloop +would be found, and that they would be believed to have drowned. That +would shut off pursuit. So whichever of the pair is a good sailor--" + +"That's the son, Fred," interposed Mr. Farnum. + +"Then Fred Miller, after fixing life preservers on both of them, must +have watched for his chance at a good puff of wind, close-hauled on the +sheet and sent the boat over. That explains why they weren't very +cordial with us last night. Our overhauling them prevented their being +reported drowned accidentally." + +"Oh, confound them! Drat them!" roared Mr. Farnum. "Making me, and the +rest of us, accomplices of a dastardly defaulter. If I ever run afoul +of that crowd again--if I ever get my hands on them--won't I make them +smart for their trick!" + +Nor were the submarine boys much less angry over the part they had all +been made to play. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +AN UP-TO-DATE REVENGE + + +In the days that followed, the need of work drove away thoughts of the +trick played by the Millers. + +Trip after trip was made out to sea, and under the sea, in the "Pollard." +That fine little craft was tested under every condition that could be +imagined, except that, of course, no torpedoes were fired through her +business-like bow tube. The firing of torpedoes at sea belonged to +the Navy exclusively. Such a test could not be made by a civilian trial +crew. + +By degrees the submarine boys outgrew every trace of dread at finding +themselves well under the surface of the sea. Their confidence in the +abilities of the "Pollard" made them daring to the point of recklessness. + +Just once the boys did have strong occasion to remember the Millers. +That was when they were ashore one night. Grace Desmond, the despoiled +heiress, who, as events proved, was left without a dollar of her own, +came to Dunhaven to live with friends until she could plan what she was +to do to earn her living. + +The three boys were walking, in uniform, with Mr. Farnum when that +gentleman suddenly asked them, in low tones: + +"Do you see that young lady in white, walking with the two old people, +coming toward us?" + +"Yes," Jack answered. + +"That's Miss Desmond. I feel like going into a rage every time I see +that poor girl. She was heiress to eight hundred thousand dollars. The +lawyers believe that Arthur Miller carried off than half a million in +cash belonging to Miss Desmond. And we helped start him on his journey. +Confound the rascal!" + +Grace Desmond was a beautiful girl, above medium height, slender and +dark. The simple white gown that she wore displayed her beauty at its +best. Despite her fearful loss, when the boys first caught sight of +her, she was smiling cheerily as she chatted with her elderly friends. + +Mr. Farnum and his young friends came to a street corner just before +they encountered Miss Desmond and her companions. The builder would +have turned down the side street, but Miss Desmond called to him. So +he was obliged to lift his hat and stand waiting until the girl reached +him. + +"I want just a word with you, Mr. Farnum," began Miss Desmond. "It has +come to me that you are very much upset over having helped my uncle to +escape. I want to tell you how foolish it is for you to be unhappy +about it. You weren't in the least to blame. You did what any other +good-natured man would have done under the circumstances. The only +ones who can be blamed for any part in the affair are the two men from +whom I had a right to expect the most considerate treatment. But as +for you, Mr. Farnum, I beg that you will give my misfortune no further +thought." + +"That would be impossible," protested the builder. + +"At least, never allow a thought of self-blame to creep in again. +Please don't," she added, appealingly. Then, as though to change the +subject abruptly, she inquired: + +"Are these the young men who handle the 'Pollard?' Present them to +me, please." + +The boys were introduced, also, to Mr. and Mrs. Scott, the elderly +couple. + +"Some time, Mr. Farnum, if it could be arranged, I wish very much that +you would invite us to take a short trip aboard the submarine boat. +It will be the only chance of the kind we'll ever have." + +"I certainly shall invite you," replied the builder. "But," he added, +bitterly, "going aboard the boat that played the strong part in your +undoing will be the nearest you will ever come, I fear, to a trail of +your missing money. Pardon me"--Mr. Farnum choked suddenly--"I can't +think of that night with patience." + +"And that is just what I want you to forget, please," begged the girl, +softly. Then she added, with a laugh: "I'll call a trip on the 'Pollard' +settlement in full for any claim you may think I have against you." + +"I'll pay," groaned Farnum, "but it won't be settlement even in part." + +When Miss Desmond and her friends had gone on again Farnum clenched his +hands, muttering: + +"The girl's kindness only makes my savage disgust with myself all the +greater." + +"Why, she's right in saying that you're not responsible in any way," +urged Jack. + +"Boys, if you ever happen up with that rascal, or his scowling son, and +if you choke either one, and give him a sound beating, draw on me for a +thousand dollars. If you can ever do anything that leads to the +recovery of Miss Desmond's money, draw on me for anything you please!" + +Two days later the promise to give Miss Desmond a trip on the "Pollard" +was kept. Mrs. Scott would not go, but her husband did. The girl even +begged for a brief run under water, and stood it bravely, though with +some pallor until she saw the sun once more shining in through the +conning tower. + +By the time that trip was over the submarine boys would have gone +cheerily in the "Pollard?" through a sea of ink, blood or fire to serve +the unfortunate young woman. + +Very soon after that Miss Desmond plucked up sufficient courage to ask +for the vacant position of typewriter in Mr. Farnum's office, and +obtained it. She rapidly mastered the machine, and, in the meantime, +gave all her spare time to the study of shorthand. She also learned +to do much work on the books. Jacob Farnum would've made her post an +easy one, but Grace Desmond insisted that she had her way to make in +the world, and that she wanted to obtain a business training in the +shortest time possible. + +Although the "Pollard" went out every day, ever night she lay in the +little harbor that formed the sea-board part of the yard. At her +anchorage was a depth of seventy-five feet of water. + +The three boys now lived wholly aboard, but it was dull there evenings, +so after dark they spent much of the earlier hours of the night ashore. + +"Going ashore with us to-night!" asked Hal, one evening, after the meal +had been disposed of and the dishes washed and put away. + +"Not to-night," replied Jack Benson, with a shake of his head. "I'm +too much in earnest about wanting to know all about the handling of a +submarine to waste all my leisure in fooling. See this book on +mechanics? I'm going to stay aboard and study it to-night, and see +how much of it I can get into my head." + +"Good luck to you," laughed Eph. "If you succeed, maybe we'll stay on +board to-morrow night and let you be schoolmaster. But this was +pay-day, and the ice-cream soda up in the village fizzes good to me." + +As soon as they had gone, Jack placed his book on the cabin table and +drew up to it. Until dark he plodded through the pages, then turned on +the electric light. Finding the book more difficult of comprehension +than he had expected, he crouched over the volume, devoting his whole +attention to the first few pages. Nine o'clock came and went. +Half-past nine went by. Had Benson heeded the time he would have +concluded that his comrades had found village life unusually alluring +to-night. + +Through the dark, quiet boat yard prowled a man, pausing and listening +every few steps, as though bent on trying to keep out of the sight of +the night watchman. + +It was Jack's old enemy, Josh Owen, who, so far, had cleverly kept out +of the way of the officers seeking him. + +In some way Josh had learned that the other two submarine boys were up +in the village. The lights shining from the interior of the submarine +proved that someone was aboard. Hence it must be Jack Benson. + +Down at the water's edge lay the "Pollard's" rowboat tender. A final +survey satisfied Josh Owen that the watchman was nowhere about. An +instant later the former foreman was in the rowboat, handling the oars +so quietly as to make hardly any sound. Two or three minutes later he +was alongside the "Pollard," stealthily making the painter fast to the +deck rail. Then, in his bare feet, Josh went softly up over the side. +At the manhole he crouched to peer below. He could not see the boy, +but the shadow told him that Benson was sitting with his back to the +stairway. + +A gleam of insane wickedness in his eyes--for brooding had somewhat +unbalanced the former foreman's mind--Josh Owen started softly down +the stairway. + +Fancying he heard some slight, unusual sound, Jack Benson turned. Too +late! The powerful ex-foreman leaped, upon him, bearing the boy to the +floor and holding him there helpless. + +"You little sneak, I've waited for this time!" snarled Owen, hoarsely. +"But now--" + +Josh rolled the boy over, yanked a pair of steel handcuffs from a rear +pocket, and quickly, despite Benson's struggles snapped them onto the +Submarine boy's wrists. + +"Now, I've got ye!" he finished, his flaming eyes close to Jack's. + +"For a little while," jeered Benson, as calmly as he could force himself +to speak. + +It was an unfortunate speech. + +"Thank ye for warnin' me that the time's short," chuckled the brute. +With that he lifted the boy, bore him back to a stanchion, and swiftly +tied him to it in a standing position. + +"That's all but the last thing I've got to do," pursued Josh Owen, +drawing back. "Boy, ye did yer worst for me, when ye had the chance. +And ye was the means of havin' Danny locked up. Mebbe Dan Jaggers did +give me some sleepin' stuff, an' maybe he did worry my own share of the +money from me; but, boy, ye never knew how much store I set by Danny +in spite o' some things. And now, he's locked up tight, thanks to you, +an' the constables are chasin' me from cover to cover, lookin' for me +everywhere. Howsomever, this settles the account!" + +Jack Benson's heart seemed to stop beating as he realized what the +rage-crazed fellow was up to. + +Josh Owen deftly handled the mechanism that opened the sea-valves to +let water into the diving tanks. + +"I'm turnin' the water in slow," he announced. "That'll give me time +to git away. This is a divin' boat. _Well, Dive in her!_" + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +THE COURAGE THAT RANG TRUE + + +In that first awful moment after he was left alone, Jack Benson's first +feeling was that it must all be an unbelievable dream. + +Yet he knew that it was not. In his frenzy he tugged at the handcuffs, +fought with the cords that bound him to the stanchion, but all in vain. + +The sea-valves had been opened only enough to let the water in slowly. +Almost at the outset, however, the keel slanted downward, for most of +the water was coming into the tanks the bow of the boat. + +"Help! Help, quick!" roared Benson at the top of his voice. The side +ports were not open, but the manhole was, and the ventilators were +in place. The submarine boy shouted in the hope that the night +watchman might hear and reach the scene in time to effect a rescue. + +The keel was still more slanting. At the instant when the diving +tanks held water enough to overbalance the buoyancy of the craft the +"Pollard" was bound to take a sudden lurch and go below. + +Still fighting uselessly though frantically at the bonds that held him +helpless in this terrible crisis, Jack also kept up his yells. + +The watchman did not hear. He was not near enough. Josh Owen, having +gained the shore and hauled the rowboat up, fled a short distance, then +crouched in hiding, waiting to see the effects of his terrible deed. + +Only one other person was in the yard. Grace Desmond, unknown to her +employer, had come to the office in the evening, bent on posting up a +set of books that were in her care. + +She had finished her work, and was stepping out into the yard, adjusting +her hat, when she heard one of those muffled appeals for help. + +At the first sound she was not even sure of the word, but something in +the faintly-heard accent claimed her attention. She stopped short, +listening intently. + +"Help! Aboard the submarine!" + +This time, though the appeal seemed to come from a great distance, she +distinguished the words. + +"Something wrong with the diving boat, and someone aboard!" she thought, +with a tugging throb at the heart. Turning, she sped down to the +water's edge. + +"Help! help! The boat is sinking, and I'm helpless aboard." + +She could see the bow slanting forward in the water, and realized that +all was wrong with the torpedo boat, and with some hapless human being +aboard. In that instant Grace Desmond's courage rang true. + +Espying the rowboat, she bounded into it, snatching up an oar and +pushing off. At home on the water and skilled with oars, she pulled +a strong, rapid stroke until she lay alongside the "Pollard." + +"Keep cool. Help is coming!" called the girl, as she ran alongside. +She caught at the lower portion of the deck rail and drew herself up. +It was but an instant later when she went gliding down the spiral +stairway. + +Then, all in a flash, she caught sight of Jack Benson, lashed to the +stanchion. She comprehended, also, that whoever had tied the boy in +this fashion must have thrown the sea-valves partly open. That floor +was fast becoming an unsteady platform. + +"You turn on the compressed air with a wrench, don't you?" she demanded, +swiftly. + +"Yes," nodded the submarine boy. Then added, instantly: + +"But you're a woman. These risks are not for you. Rush up through the +manhole and escape. There may be time." + +"Where's the wrench? Tell me quickly," commanded Grace Desmond. "I can +turn on the air more quickly than I can set you free to do it." + +"Yes," breathed the boy, rapidly, "because I'm manacled, anyway. +But save yourself, Miss Desmond." + +"We must both go down if you don't tell me quickly where to find the +wrench," cried the girl, stamping her foot with impatience. + +Then Jack told her, only when he realized that she would not save +herself at his expense. Fortunately, Josh Owen had overlooked securing +that wrench and throwing it overboard. In another moment Miss Desmond +had the implement. + +"The forward compressor, first," Jack directed. + +With a quick comprehension that asked only bare details, Miss Desmond +fitted the wrench just where it should go. + +"A hard turn forward," called Benson. + +The girl gave the twist, as directed, as hard a turn as she could make. +To her horror she fancied the muscles of her wrist not quite equal to +the need of that dread movement. The floor was slanting so that she +was obliged to throw out her left hand to clutch at a support in order +to hold herself up. + +"Don't try it any longer. Get overboard, Miss Desmond, if there's yet +time. In heaven's name do!" begged Jack, in a horrified tone. "I can +stand going to the bottom if I don't have to drag you down with me. +Escape!" + +"Not and leave a fellow human being here in your plight," retorted the +girl quietly, though with sublime heroism. + +"But you can't save me, anyway." + +"Then I'll go down at my post, just as a man would," she retorted, +throwing all her frantic strength into her task. How she blamed herself +that her muscles were so weak! + +"Please go! There may be time." + +"I'm not thinking of that. Oh, for a man's strength!" + +Jack's breath was bated. His dread for himself was forgotten now, as +he watched the efforts of this splendid girl. + +"We'll take the last plunge at any instant, now!" screamed Jack Benson. +"There may be time for _you_--" + +"Then there'll be time for us both," came the undaunted answer. Grace +Desmond did not turn her head as she spoke, but Jack, his intense +gaze upon her, knew the light that was flashing in her eyes at this +moment. + +A sound above told the submarine boy the worst. The water was gently +rippling against the edges of the platform deck. That told him, all +to plainly, how near the diving boat was to doing the work for which +it had been built. + +Could Jack have been close enough to see just why Grace was failing +in her effort he might have told her better just what to try to do. +Now, he tried to explain, rapidly. The fault was not with her strength; +there was an exact knack needed in the use of the wrench. + +On shore, in the yard, Josh Owen crouched low in his place of +concealment. He had failed to prevent Grace from starting in the +rowboat because, until it was too late, he did not believe the plucky +young woman had any such intention. + +"It's too bad for the gal to go to the bottom, too," half sighed the +raging one. "But she shouldn't meddle." + +Hal came swinging along down the street, having left Eph Somers behind +in the village. Through the yard came young Hastings, whistling. By +instinct he turned to look at the boat, and what he saw made him gasp, +then leap forward in the start of a sprint. + +Straight down to the harbor's edge he raced. Then, seeing the rowboat +adrift, Hal, after one more look at the sinking submarine, leaped into +the water without stopping even to shed jacket or cap. + +Splash! In the same instant that he sprang, Josh Owen jumped up. + +"Come back here, or ye'll wish ye had!" raged the ex-foreman. + +Hal Hastings heard, though he did not even take the trouble to answer, +but struck out frenziedly, for his chum's calls for help now rang in +his ears. + +There was the sound of a discharge, a sharp split of fire from a weapon +that Owen held in his hand. A bullet struck the water just before +Hal's nose, dashing the spray back in his face. + +"Come back here, I tell ye!" raged the ex-foreman. + +"Josh Owen's voice!" throbbed Hastings, but he swam on with the strongest +strokes of which he was master. Then a succession of shots rang out. +Hal Hastings was in the gravest danger he had ever been in. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +THE LAST SECOND OF THE NICK OF TIME + + +Despite the whistle of lead, minding only the spray that dashed into +his eyes, Hal Hastings swam on. + +His one idea, at present, was to reach that submarine boat if it were +within human power to do so ere the boat, now nearly all submerged, +took the final plunge below the waves. + +Grace Desmond did not quit her post, nor cease her heroic efforts to +turn on the compressed air. Yet she added her shrill shrieks to Jack +Benson's lusty yells for help. + +The sounds of the shots from the shore gave them a momentary hope that +help of some sort was really on its way. + +"It's the last second or two, if you mean to save us!" yelled Jack, +at the top of his voice. + +Bang! bang! Josh Owen fired two more shots from his dangerous automatic +revolver as Hal caught at the rail of the boat. + +"The last chance to save us!" repeated Jack. + +"I know it," came, breathlessly, as the dripping Hal dropped down +the manhole. He did not even wait to make use of the stairs. + +By a fortunate impulse Grace Desmond fell back as young Hastings appeared. +Hal's right hand shot out, gripping the wrench. The "Pollard" gave +a surge that all aboard believed to be her final one. + +Yet Hal hung to his post, resolved to go down trying. + +There was a hiss of compressed air. The "Pollard" didn't quite make +the death plunge. Then she seemed to go, ever so little, toward a +more level keel. + +"I--believe--I've got her!" cried Hal Hastings. + +A moment or two later he felt sure of it. He gave a cheer to ease +his pent-up feelings, then suddenly gasped: + +"Jack, do you know how much compressed air there is?" + +"No," replied Benson, blankly. + +"Heaven grant there's enough for what we must do," prayed Hal, aloud. + +There were two shots over in the yard just now. The three young people +heard the discharges, though they paid no heed to them at this critical +instant. + +Slowly the "Pollard" continued to regain evenness of keel. + +Then Hastings, shifting the wrench to another part of the compressed +air apparatus, opened the sea-valves of the amidships water tanks +to expel water. + +Briefly, now, they knew that the "Pollard" had risen. Also, she was +resting on an even keel. Hal, bedewed with cold perspiration, darted +up the stairs to the conning tower. He looked out, and the first +glance told him the "Pollard" was riding the water as she should. + +"It's all right--now," he called down, with a strong effort at calmness. +"Jack, what on earth happened that you had to call for help!" + +Then he caught sight of his chum, lashed to the stanchion. Hastings's +mouth went wide agape with astonishment. + +"Jack--how on earth--did Josh Owen--" + +"Yes," nodded Benson, quickly. "This was his work. Get me free from +this stanchion, won't you?" + +Despite his elaborate effort at calmness Hal Hastings shook so that it +was some seconds before he could get his knife from a pocket. + +"Wait till I steady down," Hal muttered, grimly. "I'm afraid of stabbing +you." + +At last, however, Hastings controlled his right hand enough to feel +safe in slashing the cords. Jack, weak-kneed, stepped away from the +stanchion, though he was still handcuffed. + +"Thanks, old fellow. That's enough for the moment," said Jack, whose +face was still ashen gray. "Miss Desmond--" + +Both boys wheeled together to speak to that splendid young woman. They +paused with their lips open. Grace Desmond could not have heard them; +she had fainted, lying inert across one of the seats. + +"She's a brick--a wonder--clean grit," broke from Jack, softly, +admiringly. + +When Josh Owen saw Hal drop through the manhole, and then saw the +submarine's dive arrested, he realized that it was time for instant +flight. Yet, as he turned to dash away, he found himself confronting +the muzzle of a revolver held by the night watchman, who had been +outside the yard at a little distance, but whom Josh's firing had +brought back on the run. + +"Throw up your hands, Owen. You're my prisoner," said the watchman, +crisply. + +But the ex-foreman much preferred being shot to taken. Flourishing +his weapon, he turned, making a dash for the street gate. + +Then it was that the foreman fired the two shots heard by the young +people on the "Pollard." + +Both shots missed. Thereupon, the watchman lowered his weapon and +dashed after the fugitive. + +Eph Somers, coming down the street to go aboard, heard, the shots. + +"Me for a high roost, if there's trouble," uttered Somers, dryly. He +climbed the fence, close to the gate. An instant later Josh Owen darted +out. As he passed, Eph, with a fine eye, measured the time, and +dropped fairly a-straddle of the fleeing one's shoulders. + +"Whoa, you big draft-horse!" chuckled Eph, holding on to Owen's head +for grim life. Under the weight and the unexpected shock the ex-foreman +sank to the sidewalk. + +Had the night watchman continued the chase they would have had Josh +Owen then and there. But the watchman, knowing that he was a poor +sprinter, and that Josh was a fast one, turned, just inside the gate, +to rush to the telephone and notify the constable. + +So Josh, on his hands and knees, after he recovered from his first +astonishment, found he had only Eph to fight. Young Somers was all +grit when aroused, nor was he lacking in muscle. But he was no match +for Josh. There was a brief, heated contest. Then Eph, dizzy from a +blow in the chest that winded him, staggered back. Owen swiftly +vanished in the darkness, but Eph, when he got to his feet again, +clutched the empty revolver that he had twisted from Owen's hand. + +So much racket of firearms on a still night had aroused many people. +It was not long before there was a crowd at the yard. Mr. Farnum was +quickly on the scene. Soon after him came David Pollard. + +The rowboat was recovered and those on the submarine brought ashore. +Grace Desmond's faint had been a short one; at the first dash of water +in her face she had come out of her swoon. The handcuffs were quickly +filed off Jack's wrists. + +In the yard office as many persons as were admitted heard a tale that +made them feel creepy. + +"You splendid, brave girl!" cried Jacob Farnum, patting Miss Desmond's +shoulder. Then he sent a man after a carriage to take the young woman +to the home of her friends. + +That night the yard's owner made announcement of a reward of one thousand +dollars for Josh Owen's capture--dead or alive. + +"That fellow has proved himself more dangerous than an ordinary lunatic, +and he knows too much about submarine boats for my comfort. He's +even capable, some dark night, of putting a mine under the 'Pollard' +big enough to destroy her at anchorage." + +"We'll have to keep deck watch through the night, then," proposed Jack +Benson. + +"Very well, Captain. I put you in command," smiled Mr. Farnum. + +"I can keep a sharp lookout without the title of captain," responded +the submarine boy. + +"But you are going to be in charge of the boat--at least until she's +sold to the Government or consigned to the junk-heap. So why not be +captain from now on?" + +Thus it was settled, off-hand. Jack flushed with delight. Had it been +possible for him to be more loyal, or devoted to the interests of the +builder, he would have been from that moment. + +Jack took his own first deck-watch that night, dividing the remaining +time up to six o'clock between Hal and Eph. + +In the morning captain and crew had hardly more than finished breakfast +when Jacob Farnum and Mr. Pollard came off from shore in the tender. +Both looked highly pleased about something. + +"I haven't mentioned anything about this before," announced the builder, +"but I've been pulling some strong wires at Washington for some time. +As a result I've just received orders from the Navy Department to +attend the summer manoeuvres of the fleet at Cape Adamson. We're +to have our trial by the Government there." + +"How soon do we start?" cried Jack, eagerly. + +"We'll start this afternoon, so as to be in plenty of time. It's only +about a seven hours' run for us, though, and we're not expected at +Cape Adamson before to-morrow evening. Can you be ready, Captain?" + +"Why, there's nothing to do, sir, but to take aboard more gasoline +and water. We can do that in an hour." + +"We'll drop out to sea, then, about five o'clock this afternoon," +decided Mr. Farnum, as he and the inventor rose. "Don't get flurried +about anything, Captain Benson." + +"Be very sure I won't, sir," replied Jack, earnestly. "And we'll be +ready to start at the stroke of five. But I've been thinking, sir, +and there's one question I want to ask. Does Grant Andrews go with us? + +"No," replied Mr. Farnum, dropping his voice. "I need Grant for other +work. The first hint I get at Cape Adamson that we have a winner +in the way of a submarine, I'm going wire Andrews to start laying +the keel for another. He has his orders, and knows what may be coming." + +"We really ought to have a fourth member of the crew, sir," explained +Captain Jack, "if we're to keep watch and perhaps run on long trips." + +"I'll see if I can get someone who'll be any good to us," nodded Mr. +Farnum, seriously. Then he and the inventor went ashore, leaving +the young captain to the leisurely task of fitting for sea service. + +The news that the "Pollard" was going to attend the naval manoeuvres +at Cape Adamson soon became noised about Dunhaven, for Mr. Farnum +saw no reason for holding back the nature of his orders from Washington. +It was not long before groups of people gathered on the shore, on +either side of the boat yard, to gaze with increased interest at the +grim, mysterious looking submarine. + +Before one o'clock Mr. Farnum put off in the tender with a stranger, +a swarthy, stalwart, almost gigantic looking man of about forty. + +"I've got you just the man you want, Captain," called the builder, +joyously, as he came aboard. "Captain, this is Bill Henderson, late +boatswain's mate, of the United States Navy. He knows all about our +line of work, for his papers show that he has served aboard various +submarine torpedo craft belonging to the Government. He's a crack +helmsman, a navigator, and knows all about our kind of machinery." + +During this introduction Henderson had saluted and scraped. He now +stood at attention. + +"The youngest captain I've ever sailed under, sir," he said to Jack. +"But I'm satisfied you know the business, or Mr. Farnum wouldn't have +given you the berth. At your orders, sir." + +After Mr. Farnum had returned to shore Benson put his new hand through +a searching quiz. If there was anything Boatswain's Mate Henderson did +not know about submarine boat work, then the young captain was not able +to find out what it was. + +"Bill Henderson ought to be captain, not I," whispered Jack to his chum. + +"If Mr. Farnum didn't find that out for himself," replied Hal, dryly, +"don't tell him." + +"This man Henderson is certainly a jewel for us," murmured Captain Jack. + +At the moment the three boys were standing on the platform deck, while +Henderson was stowing his limited baggage away below. + +"Now, Cap, take this from me," muttered Eph, with the air of a wiseacre. +"When a man seems a crackerjack at anything, and doesn't have as good +a position as you think he ought to have, keep your eye on him." + +"For what?" asked Captain Jack, smilingly. + +"Oh, just to see what turns out to be wrong with the fellow." + +"What can be, wrong with Henderson?" + +"I didn't say anything was, did I?" queried Eph Somers. + +"And I don't believe anything can be," responded Jack Benson, hopefully. +"Mr. Farnum has looked over the man's Navy discharge papers, and +Mr. Farnum isn't an easy one to take in." + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +IN THE GRIP OF HORROR + + +Before five o'clock that afternoon Dunhaven lined the water front. That +is to say, fully five hundred people of the little seaport town were +on hand. The "Pollard" was a local enterprise. If the great United +States Government expected to buy the boat, the people of the village +wanted to be on hand and give a rousing send-off to a homemade craft +that might yet be destined to become famous. + +Cheer after cheer went up. Hats, parasols and handkerchiefs were waved. + +"I don't know," growled one old salt in the shore throng. "If it was +a human sort of craft, meant to ride the waves as a good ship should, +I'd have more faith in her. I'm afraid that boat'll go to the bottom +one o' these days, an' forgit to come up again." + +The old salt was promptly voted a croaker. Hadn't the "Pollard" been +given abundant tests by her crew? Had she failed to come up yet? So +the cheering redoubled when Captain Jack came up on the platform deck, +followed by the builder and the inventor. + +"Thank you, my friends!" shouted Jacob Farnum, making a trumpet of +his hands. "We all thank you! Now, Captain Benson, make as handsome +a flying start as you can." Jack already stood by the wheel, where +he could reach all the controls. Down below the gasoline motor throbbed, +making the hull vibrate. Power had been ready for the last ten minutes. + +Captain Jack moved the speed wheel around to the six-mile notch. The +twin propellers aft began to churn the water lazily, causing the +"Pollard" to slip away from her moorings. Ere they had gone a hundred +yards Jack swung on much more speed. By the time that the submarine +reached the mouth of the little harbor she was traveling at eighteen +miles an hour, her bow nosing into the waves and throwing up a fine +spray, some of which reached the platform, deck. Astern, her propellers +were tossing the water into a milky foam. Truly, she made a gallant +sight! + +For half a mile Captain Jack kept out to sea. Then he turned the +craft's nose northward. For another hour the "Pollard" was kept at +the same speed, behaving handsomely. Then Captain Jack turned the +wheel over to big Bill Henderson, going below to have his supper with +builder and inventor. + +"As soon as the other watch have had supper," proposed Mr. Farnum, +"I think, Captain, we'll drop fifty feet below the surface and run +for an hour or more. The Navy men will want an even sterner test +than that. We want to make sure that everything about the craft is +running at the top notch of perfection. A fortune for Pollard, and +another for myself, are at stake on what we show the Navy in the next +three days." + +"Oh, we can easily show them anything that any submarine craft can do," +smiled Jack Benson, confidently. "And I'm certain we can show the +Navy officers an ease of handling that isn't reached by any other +submarine in the world." + +"It's a good thing to have a confident captain," smiled David Pollard. +"A confident captain, aboard a reliable boat, spells victory." + +When the meal was over Captain Jack went back above to the wheel. There +was no moon this night, but the stars shone brightly over the water. +It was a warm night, with a gentle breeze, and only the gentlest swell +to the water. The "Pollard" had been slowed down to twelve miles an +hour, but there was still speed enough for the motion to be exhilarating. + +"Oh, it's great to be captain of probably the most powerful and dangerous +sea-terror in the world!" throbbed the boy, looking up at the stars. +"How little I dreamed of this, a few months ago!" + +"Going to be ready, now, for the dive and the hour's run under water, +captain?" inquired Mr. Farnum, coming up on deck. + +"In about ten minutes, sir," replied Jack, pointing forward over the +port bow, "we'll be abreast of Point Villars light. Why not dive +just abreast of that light? It will give us a starting point to reckon +our run from." + +"A good idea," nodded Mr. Farnum, and just then David Pollard came up +from below. Both stood watching the young commander for some moments. + +"Captain," remarked the inventor, "you handle the boat as easily as +though you had been doing this sort of thing for years. You must have +had some practice aboard rather goodsized craft?" + +"Never anything much bigger than a thirty-foot gasoline boat," Jack +replied. "In the old days, sir, a young sailor had to begin with a +rowboat, go on to a cat-boat, and so work on up until he could handle +a full-rigged ship. That's where the change has come with to-day's +gasoline boats. A fellow who learns to run a twenty-foot gasoline +launch can just as easily handle a big gasoline yacht of any size. The +new style of power saves a heap of time in the learning, sir." + +Captain Jack was now nearing a line abreast of the Point Villars light. +He watched keenly. At last, when just abreast, he shouted down through +the manhole: + +"Shut off the gasoline power. Stand ready to turn on the electric power. +Get ready to dive. Henderson, take the steering wheel in the conning +tower." + +Less than sixty seconds later the ventilators had been taken in, the +manhole cover was made fast, and all were below, save Bill Henderson, +who sat at the tower wheel, before him an electric lighted compass. + +"Henderson," called Captain Jack, "steer north by northeast, one point +off north." + +"Aye, aye, sir," came from the seaman in the conning tower. + +"Hold fast! Make ready to dive!" called the young captain. + +Then, at the signal, Hal Hastings turned open the sea-valves into the +diving tanks. Down shot the "Pollard," the young captain standing by +the gauge to watch until they were fifty feet below. + +"On even keel!" he shouted. Quickly the submarine regained her even +keel, and ran along at eight miles an hour. Captain Jack Benson read +the gauge once more, to make sure that they were fifty feet below +the surface. + +"And now, we've nothing to watch but the clock, until our hour is up," +he laughed, dropping onto one of the seats and stretching. "Somehow, +I notice none of us are as nervous as we were the first time this +diving machine went down with us." + +With the electric fans running it was cool and comfortable there, and +the air, as pure as that above the ocean until the point of diving, +would last for some time without renewing. + +With no wind or, wave to buffet, and the steady electric power running +the propeller shafts, the sensation was almost that of being aboard a +boat at rest. + +After they had run along thus, for a few minutes, Eph went up to take +the wheel. As Bill Henderson came down below the young skipper noticed +a bright gleam in the seaman's eyes, though he thought little of it. + +Henderson went forward into the engine room, stretching himself out on +the leather cushion of one of the seats. + +"Ever run on a smoother boat than this below the surface, Henderson?" +inquired Captain Jack, looking in through the engine room door. + +"All submarines are alike to me, sir," replied Henderson, rather shortly. + +"I guess he's been too long at the business to have any enthusiasm left, +if he ever had any," muttered Benson to himself, and returned to the +group in the cabin. + +When one is accustomed to the life, and there is confidence in the boat, +the main sensation when running along below the water's surface is one +of great monotony. All one can possibly see is the interior of the +boat and the persons of his comrades. The longer the run below water +is continued the more pronounced does the feeling of monotony become. +A well equipped submarine torpedo craft should be easily capable of +running twenty-four hours continuously below the water, but the long +continued monotony of such a length of time below would be almost +certain to drive the officers and crew to a high pitch of nervous +tension. Indeed, it is doubtful whether men of ordinary nervous +powers could stand such a strain. + +Before fifteen minutes had passed Jacob Farnum began to tell funny +stories to make the time seem to pass more quickly. After ten minutes +he gave this up, for he realized his hearers were becoming bored. + +"Whew!" sighed Pollard. "An hour below the surface is certainly as long +as twenty-four hours can be anywhere else!" + +"I shall be glad when the hour is up," admitted Captain Jack, candidly. +Yet no one proposed cutting the time short by returning to the surface +sooner. + +Hal Hastings climbed up into the conning tower to take the trick at +the wheel for the last twenty minutes. Indeed, occupation of any +sort helped to kill some of the time. + +"I believe," laughed Jacob Farnum glancing about him, "we all feel +just about as though we had lost confidence in the 'Pollard's' ability +to rise when the time comes." + +From the engine room came a burst of seaman's song. Bill Henderson +was loudly crooning some ditty. Although the listeners could not +mike out the words, the song had a gruesome sound that made one's +flesh want to creep. + +"Shall I tell him to stow that noise?" asked Captain Jack. + +"No," replied Mr. Farnum, though he made a grimace. "If it cheers the +fellow any let him have his melody." + +Presently Henderson was singing another song. Those in the cabin paid +little heed until the sailor's voice roared out the couplet: + +_Down below went the good brig Mary! + +She was heard from again--nary!_ + +"Say, that's fine!" muttered Eph Somers, in an undertone loaded with +sarcasm. + +The seaman's voice reached them now in a hushed undertone of murmured +song. Later it swelled out into this gruesome forecastle refrain: + +_Where the sharks go to pray, + +And the dead men lay-- + +Where the crabs crawl to bite, + +And the eels--_ + +"Henderson!" rang the young captain's voice sharply. + +"Aye, aye, sir!" came a growl from the engine room. + +"Save that song for the deck watch. We want to hear the clock tick." + +"Aye, aye, sir." + +The seaman was as good as his word. No more of the awesome ditty +floated back from him. + +The time yet to remain below surface narrowed down to ten minutes, then +to five. At last, tick by tick, the time wound by until the full hour +of submergence had been finished. + +"Henderson!" shouted Captain Jack, leaping to his feet, "stand by to +empty the water tanks!" + +"Aye, aye, sir!" responded the big sailor, coming out of the engine +room. He went to the proper rack, then turned to ask: + +"Where's the wrench, sir?" + +"Why, there in its rack, of course," cried Captain Benson, leaping +forward. "You're looking at it." + +"I'm looking at the rack, sir, but I don't see no wrench, sir," replied +Henderson, calmly. + +"What's that? The wrench mislaid?" demanded Jacob Farnum, also leaping +forward and staring with dismayed eyes into the rack. "Oh, it has +dropped--somewhere--or--been mislaid." + +In another instant there was a frenzied search for that invaluable +wrench, without which the "Pollard" could not be brought to the surface. +So frantically did they search that they frequently got in each other's +way. Hal Hastings shut off the speed and came tumbling down below to +aid. + +"Don't get excited, friends," begged Jacob Farnum, in a voice that shook. +"Of course we're going to find the wrench. It's aboard--somewhere--of +course it is. Now, let's begin a systematic search." + +In a short time every conceivable nook and corner had been explored. +Though it seemed absurd that the wrench should be lost, yet a fearful +conviction began to settle down over the startled ones that it would +not be found in time. + +Even the breathing air of the "Pollard's" interior could not be renewed +without the wrench. Though each strove to conceal his feelings from +the others, grim horror soon had them all in its grip. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +THE LAST GASP OF DESPAIR + + +"I can't realize it yet, or believe it. It can't be true," shuddered +David Pollard. + +"We surely did," asserted Captain Jack. + +"Could you swear that you have seen the wrench since we sailed?" asked +Jacob Farnum, white-faced but cool. + +"I--I can't quite say as to that," replied Benson, slowly. "But I +will swear that I remember having seen it just a few minutes before we +started." + +"A _few minutes_--only?" insisted the builder. + +"Yes, sir. I'm positive." + +"For that matter," continued the builder, "there has been no one on +board to-day save those who belong aboard." + +"No; no one but ourselves has been on the boat to-day." + +"None of us would throw it overboard, knowing how precious a tool it +is," declared Mr. Farnum, glancing about him bewildered. "It was +hardly possible to mislay such a thing by accident. Where on earth +_can_ it be, then?" + +Again all hands started to hunt. Henderson was the first to sink to +a seat as a sign that he gave up the search. The others barely glanced +at him, so intent were all on the hunt that meant their only chance +for life. + +Yet at last they all sat down, panting, perspiring. + +"Good heavens!" quivered the inventor. "We must soon begin to think of +our very breath here. We can't exert ourselves as we have been doing. +Whoever moves now, let him remember that he is using up the very life +of others in the act of breathing!" + +All but devoid of hope, they all remained sitting. At first they +studied the floor, gloomily. At last they looked up, to read each +other's faces. No hope was to be seen in any countenance. + +"Thank heaven the electric light doesn't eat up air," shuddered Hal +Hastings, at last. "It would be fearful to be alive--conscious--after +it had become dark!" + +"Don't!" shivered David Pollard, convulsively. + +"Come, come, old chap," urged Farnum, laying a hand on his friend's arm, +"_you_ are not going to lose your courage?" + +"I feel as if I ought to bear the whole punishment," groaned the +inventor, covering his eyes with his hands. "It was I who invented +this wretched boat!" + +"But you didn't lose the wrench, or mislay it," broke in Eph Somers, +with the intention of consoling. + +"Who _did_ mislay it?" pondered Captain Jack aloud. "If we could only +settle that point, it might start us on the right track to finding the +thing yet. For, of course, it's on board." + +The certainty that the wrench must be _somewhere_ on the boat brought +all to their feet, though this time they rose slowly, almost painfully. + +After a few minutes the search became listless. At Hal's suggestion, +made with a wan smile, each even searched through his own baggage. +Pantry and galley were patiently ransacked. + +"I've heard of such things being lost before, in the simplest way, and +defying all search for a long time," mused Hal, aloud. "It may be the +same with that precious wrench. But the difference, this time, is that +we shan't be here long to wait for it to turn up unexpectedly." + +Farnum dropped into a seat again, and that started the rest, until all +had taken seats. From one to another, dumb, moody looks were passed. +Each was wonderingly asking himself the same question that none would +have thought of framing in words. How much longer could the air last +in a pure enough condition to sustain six lives? + +Eph Somers chuckled, absently, then looked up, startled and ashamed. +The others gazed at him, comprehendingly. Each knew that Eph was +thinking how idiotic it was for six human beings to sit, in perfect +health, waiting until the soiling of the air about them killed them all. +It was a terrible thought; Eph's mirth was of the hysterical kind. + +Finally, after some minutes had passed, Jack Benson dragged himself +to his feet. + +He was amazed, at first thought, to find out how every joint and muscle +in his body ached. He felt as weary as though he had been without +sleep for a month. + +Then he understood. The dreadful lassitude was caused by the withdrawing +of the life-giving oxygen from the air. The oxygen was still there, but +combined with the carbon from lungs and blood to form carbonic acid gas, +which, in large quantities, is fatal to life. + +When Jack moved about now, feeling, dully, as though a cane on which to +lean would be a great boon, the others got to their feet with evident +effort and joined in one more despairing search. + +This hunt ended as the others had done, only more quickly. The only +places into which they had been able to look for the missing wrench +were the same places that had been vainly examined twice before. + +This time it seemed to cause pain even to sit down. How much longer +could the torment last, ere death came mercifully to their relief? + +"It seems as though I ought to reach out my hand and lay it on the +wrench," muttered Captain Jack Benson, to Henderson, next to whom he +found himself sitting. + +The former boatswain's mate smiled a ghastly smile, his eyes glowing +bright like coals. Jack turned, with a shiver, away from the strange +glint in the big fellow's eyes. + +"Friends," said Mr. Farnum, presently, "we may as well realize the +whole situation, and agree to face it like men. We can't find the +wrench. Wherever it is, we are not going to find it. The little +breathable air that is left us here is not going to last more than a +few minutes. We will not waste any more of that air in getting up to +make useless searches. Let us be as calm as possible. Perhaps each +man had better look down at the floor, and so continue to look. At +the end--the end!--let no one, I beg of you, raise his eyes to +witness the final sufferings of any comrade." + +There was an awed pause. + +"Is that agreed to?" asked Farnum, huskily. + +"Yes," came in hoarse whispers. There was another long silence--long as +time must now be measured, for a breath, now, was as long as an hour on +the surface. + +It was big Bill Henderson who spoke next. + +"Gentlemen," he announced, "the lord of battles and of spring flowers +and breezes is displeased with us. He is taking this method to punish +us as we deserve. Yet in that punishment we shall find pardon, too. +Though we suffer now, we shall know joy when this life is ended." + +Somehow, the speech stirred up resentment in the minds of the hearers. + +"Could any death be more glorious?" demanded the seaman. "We are +blessed with the privilege of serving as our own sacrifices!" + +"The poor chap's mind is going first," whispered Mr. Farnum, pityingly, +to Captain Jack. + +"I don't understand what he's talking about," whispered Benson. + +"Don't be surprised at that. Neither does he know," muttered Jacob +Farnum. + +"Are you jesting or mocking," broke in Henderson, half-angrily, "at the +very moment when you should be getting ready for the glory of giving +the last gasp of despair?" + +"Give the last gasp, if you want to," retorted Eph, with savage irony, +"and let us sit here in peace." + +"Can anyone think," suggested Jack, "of any possible place in which +we have not yet looked for that wrench?" + +"I'm--too--tired to--think," drowsed Hal. + +His voice startled the others. Now, that they came to examine their +own conditions a bit more keenly, they began to understand that they, +too, were fast sinking into a drowsy state. + +Was the coming end, too, to be painless? + +"There's no use looking," replied Jacob Farnum, in answer to Jack's +question. "There isn't a single place left to explore. We--" + +Whether Mr. Farnum thus broke off because he had lost his thought, +or whether he dreaded to say the omitted words, none of the others +even troubled to guess. + +Bill Henderson started in to sing. There were a few angry gasps of +protest until the others slowly realized that the air sounded like +that of some hymn. The words, however, were in a foreign tongue, +picked up in the course of the seaman's wanderings over the world. + +Then their resentment softened. If Bill preferred to meet the end with +a hymn on his lips, perhaps that was the best thing for all of them. + +It crept over them, now, that they felt choking sensations, with pain +and buzzing in their ears. Then the end must be near. Unconsciousness, +at any rate. That loss of the senses would be the end, so far as any +of them could know. + +"Now, give thanks with your last real thoughts," cried Bill, hoarsely. +"Gentlemen--this is--glorious! We're going fast! The +last--croak--is upon us! Good--bye!" + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +JACK STRIKES THE KEY TO THE MYSTERY + + +"Down below! Down, down, down!" croaked Bill Henderson. + +He pointed below, with one forefinger, laughing wildly. The others, +sure that the seaman had lost his mind under the crushing force of the +catastrophe, felt pity for him, though the man's actions and words also +helped to increase their own terror. + +To cap the climax Henderson got painfully to his feet and tried to dance +a jig. That was carrying things too far in the then state of mind of +the rest of the company. + +"Henderson, confound you," cried Captain Jack, half savagely, as he +rose, "keep quiet and sit down! Act like a man. You--" + +To emphasize his order the young captain pushed against the seaman's +breast, intent on shoving him into a seat. Just as he did so, Captain +Jack paused aghast, for an instant. Then he shouted hoarsely: + +"Friends, _I've found the wrench!_" + +That brought them all to their feet, while Bill Henderson snarled in +sudden rage. + +"This man has it hidden away in the inside pocket of his coat!" cried +the young captain of the "Pollard." "Help me to take it away from +him while we've enough life left to act!" + +With another snarl Bill Henderson crouched, in the attitude of a football +player, to meet the impending assault. + +Five of them swarmed upon him, from all sides. Had not all of them +been near to dying from air starvation the conflict would have been +a savage one. As it was, the fight, although a relatively weak one, +was as strenuous as any of the combatants could make it. + +Henderson, ordinarily a powerful brute capable of fighting three or four +ordinary men, still endeavored to do his very best. + +Back and forth they fought, rolling over each other, and every moment +burning up more and more of the air that was left to them. + +Yet at last Captain Jack, aided by the others, succeeded in snatching +the wrench from the seaman's inner pocket. + +"Hold him," cried Benson, getting weakly up, tottering over to one of +the compressors. "Give me a minute--and some--strength--and I'll +give us a taste--of real air." + +Desperately he fitted the wrench, tried to give it a sufficient turn, +and could not. + +"I'll help you," hoarsely croaked dying Hal, reaching out and getting +the weight of his hands also on the wrench. Never before had either +boy struggled so desperately hard for anything. At last it yielded, ever +so little. There was a hiss of escaping compressed air. + +Then they got a taste of it. Oh, how nectarlike that air was! Renewed +strength began to course through their arteries and to creep into +their muscles. Two deep breaths apiece, and then Jack and Hal succeeded +in making a good turn. A moment later they were able to make another +twist, that set the pneumatic apparatus in operation to expel the +bad air through sea valves. + +But Bill Henderson, too, was reviving. Uttering hoarse cries of rage +that sounded wonderfully more powerful, now, he fought his three captors +to get upon his feet. + +There was no help for it. Captain Jack had to dart over and tap the +fellow on the head with the wrench. Then Bill was quiet long enough +to make it possible, for Mr. Farnum to hurry after a pair of the handcuffs +that were a part of ship's stores. These were snapped over the seaman's +wrists just before he came to. + +"Now, we won't have to hurt him," muttered Jack, compassionately. "He's +a maniac, poor chap, or he'd never have done such a thing as try to +condemn us all, himself included, to death in the depths by +asphyxiation." + +"He's a maniac, sure enough," commented Mr. Farnum. "But how on earth +did I ever get trapped into hiring such a fellow as one of the crew? +Confound him, he seemed sane enough until after we came below the +surface." + +"And now, sir," nudged Captain Jack, "I think we'd all of us be thankful +enough for a glimpse of the surface--for a look at the stars--a breath +of real ocean breeze." + +"Good enough," nodded the boat-builder. "Travel right to it!" + +Though all were weak and trembly from the shock of their late experience, +there was strength enough in their combined force to handle the "Pollard" +promptly. + +While Messrs. Farnum and Pollard sat over the prostrate Henderson, +handcuffed on the floor, Hal hurried to the engine room, while Captain +Jack climbed up into the conning tower. Eph Somers stood near the +two men and their captive, ready to respond to any call. + +But Henderson, now that his maniacal rage had passed, was sobbing +quietly. He seemed spent, exhausted. + +It was with a thrill that the young captain of the submarine touched +the control for speed ahead from the electric equipment. Then he looked +at his compass, finding that the boat, from a northerly heading, had +veered around almost east. As the boat went ahead, softly, Benson +put the course around to north. Then he called to Hal and Eph to empty +the diving tanks by degrees. + +"Going up on even keel!" asked young Hastings. + +"Surest thing I know," replied the young captain. + +Though there was not much motion, all felt the boat gradually rising. +Then Captain Jack suddenly caught the greater comparative light of the +night above the water. Next, he caught sight of the blessed stars. But +he did not stop the work of Hal and Eph until the boat rode well up out +of the water. + +"Now, come up and get the manhole open," called the young skipper. +"Let's all have a notion again of how it feels to stand in the open air." + +Messrs. Farnum and Pollard had, by this time, completed the captivity +of Bill Henderson by wrapping around him and securing many and many a +turn of half-inch rope. + +As the manhole was opened Captain Jack stepped out, taking the deck +wheel. The others, all except the prisoner, crowed out after him. Thus +they ran along for a mile or two, under the slower electric power. + +"That crazy fellow," uttered Jacob Farnum, "had some mania on his mind +that we were all great sinners, and that he'd save the whole lot of us +by killing us under water." + +"It seems strange," muttered Hal, "for even a crazy man to have the +nerve to destroy himself slowly in such a way." + +"Humph, no; nothing new in that line," returned Mr. Farnum. + +"What are we going to do with him, sir?" inquired Captain Jack. + +"Well, we're not going to turn in at any of the coast towns to give +him up," replied the builder. "We'll keep right along until we join +the fleet, and then we'll ask the advice of some naval officer." + +When, at last, all had become accustomed to the world to which they +had returned, Hal and Eph went below, to turn on the gasoline power a +short time the "Pollard" was kicking the water at the exhilarating gait +of eighteen miles an hour. + +"How did it come, sir, that you made it eighteen miles, instead of +knots?" asked Captain Jack, after a while. + +"Why, that's the basis on which gasoline engines are built," replied +Mr. Farnum. "For that matter, captain, when we've had more practice +with this boat we'll tune the engine up to eighteen full knots an hour. +In the second boat we are going to try for an assured speed of +twenty-two to twenty-four knots." + +"It seems to me," said Jack, musingly, "that the ideal submarine torpedo +boat ought to have a speed of from twenty-eight, to thirty-five knots." + +"Why?" + +"So that the speed of the submarine boat shall always be ahead of the +speed of any battleship afloat." + +"Again, why?" + +"Why, so that the submarine can give effective chase to a battleship." + +"But submarines are intended only to go with fleets of their own country, +or else to remain on station at or near the mouths of harbors to be +defended." + +"All well and good," argued Captain Jack, nodding. "In future wars a +battleship fleet is likely to keep away from any harbor known to be +defended by the enemy's submarine boats. But, if a submarine torpedo +boat could have speed enough to give chase to a fleeing battleship, and +sink when within range of the battleship's guns, yet still be able to +pursue, under water, and destroy the battleship, that would mean the +day when battleships wouldn't be of any further use, wouldn't it?" + +"Undoubtedly," admitted Mr. Farnum. "But you see, captain, so far +as present human ingenuity goes, a boat can't be built to sail as +fast under water as another can be made to go on the surface." + +"But that's the problem I'm going to tackle, as soon as I get our plans +a little further along," murmured David Pollard, eagerly. "Benson is +right. When we get a submarine boat that can pursue the fastest +battleship, on the surface or below it, then the United States, with +a hundred such submarines, could defy the combined naval powers of the +world. If the United States can own a large fleet of such boats, then +we can control the seas of the world." + +No more attempts at diving were made on the trip. The horror of that +last dive remained with all, safe as they now were. + +All the way the "Pollard," though well out from shore, ran within sight +of the light-houses. + +Shortly before two o'clock in the morning Captain Jack Benson, again +at the deck wheel, steered in for the light at Cape Adamson. He was +going at slow speed as he rounded the point and headed in for the bay. + +"Be careful how you go, captain, and be on the alert to obey signals," +cautioned Mr. Farnum. "We've got to thread our way into a perfect +hornet's nest of war craft. A dozen battle ships, several cruisers +and a flotilla of torpedo boats are at anchor over yonder." + +It wasn't long before the searchlight of one of the battleships picked +up the "Pollard" with its broad ray. Then, from the flagship the +colored lights that blazed out and faded spelled the signal: + +"Who are you?" + +"Pollard, submarine," replied the little craft's signal lights. + +"Expected. Come in close for orders," came the signaled answer. + +There was something sombre, grim, awesome about this great fleet of +mighty fighting craft as the young captain stole his boat in among them. +These craft represented much of Uncle Sam's fighting strength, a +bulwark of safety, to our coasts and commerce. + +Close up within megaphone-hailing distance Captain Jack ran his boat. +The watch officer of the "Columbia," the battleship that served as +flagship to the fleet, stood with megaphone ready. + +"Ahoy, 'Pollard'!" he called. + +"Ahoy, flagship!" Captain Jack answered through a megaphone. + +"Fleet patrol boat will show you to your anchorage. Are your owners +aboard?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Then, in the morning, they will hear from the admiral." + +"One moment, sir," Captain Jack shouted back. "We have aboard a maniac, +a man who tried to destroy us on the trip down. He has naval discharge +papers." + +"His name?" + +"William Henderson." + +"Henderson? Wait a moment!" came back from the flagship's rail. + +Those on the "Pollard's" deck saw a younger officer leave the watch +officer and hurry away. This younger officer soon returned with a +paper which he handed to the watch officer. + +"'Pollard' ahoy!" came from the latter. + +"Flagship ahoy!" + +"William Henderson was an inmate of a naval hospital, where he had been +sent to be watched on a suspicion of lunacy. A few days ago he +escaped. We'll take him off your hands and see he is sent back where +he belongs." + +"Thank you, flagship." + +The fleet patrol boat, which had been hovering near, a small cabin +launch, now steamed in alongside the submarine. An ensign and four +men came aboard. Captain Jack led them below, pointing out Henderson. +The four sailors lifted him, carrying him up and over the side to +their own boat. + +"Now, follow us, captain," directed the ensign, "and we'll lead you +to your anchorage." + +Five minutes later the "Pollard" rode snugly at anchor, with all made +trim and secure. But Captain Jack and his two boy friends, despite the +lateness of the hour, were in no hurry to turn in below. + +It was the first glimpse any of the trio had ever had of such an imposing +war fleet, and all wanted to stay on deck drinking in the glory of +the sight. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +"ONE ON" THE WATCH OFFICER + + +At nine o'clock the next morning Messrs. Farnum and Pollard were sent +for to report aboard the flagship, where they had a long talk with +Admiral Bentley. + +The result was somewhat disappointing. During the manoeuvres a board +of naval officers would be sent aboard the "Pollard" to observe what +she could do in surface running, diving, etc. The "Pollard," however, +was not to be included in any of the deep-sea manoeuvres of attack and +defense, as there were already two Government submarines with the fleet, +and the work of these had been mapped out. + +"However, that's the best we can do, and we must be satisfied," sighed +Jacob Farnum to Captain Jack. "We'll find plenty of chance to show +what we can do, and I know the Navy officers will see that we get a +fair show at Washington." + +"Of course," nodded Captain Benson, loyally. "When they see just what +a handy craft the 'Pollard' is at all times, they'll be wild to have +a few 'Pollards' in the Navy." + +"That's the way to talk," beamed the anxious inventor, all of whose +hopes of the future were based on the developments of these few days. + +"It's the way to talk, sir," replied Captain Jack, "because it's the +truth. We'll show these Navy folks so much about the 'Pollard' that, +being men of good sense, they'll see the point." + +In the afternoon several delegations of naval officers visited the +little submarine from the different craft in the fleet. The tiny cabin +was crowded with visitors, the air being thick with cigar smoke much of +the time. What astounded many of the visitors was the extreme +youthfulness of captain and crew, but Jacob Farnum assured the naval +callers that these young men had accomplished all that had been done +with the 'Pollard' up to date. + +"And I'm going to be wholly satisfied, gentlemen," added the builder, +"with the impression that will be made upon you by what my crew of boys +can show you." + +"Why, your boy crew is your strong point," laughed Captain Carew. +"You're building a type of submarine so simple that any child can +handle it above or below water." + +All present joined in the laugh at this sally, but Mr. Farnum took +it in good part declaring: + +"That is just the idea, Captain Carew. We have the simplest, most +effective submarine boat that it is possible to build." + +All of the visitors were inclined to take this view, from an inspection +of the simple running methods of the boat. Of course, none of the +visitors had seen the "Pollard" dive or run beneath the surface, but +they were willing to accept the statements of builder and inventor. + +One naval officer, however, was sceptical on the whole subject of +submarine torpedo boats. That gentleman was Lieutenant McCrea, of the +huge battleship "Luzon." + +"Of course," remarked Lieutenant MeCrea, "there's a whole lot of good +theory about what submarine torpedo boats can do. In different naval +evolutions, I admit, the submarines have made an excellent theoretical +showing. As far as can be determined in peaceful evolutions it looks +as though the submarine might really be a source of great danger to +a hostile battleship. + +"But, in actual war, conditions are different from anything that can +be planned during mere evolutions. In war time the nerves of both +officers and men are more keenly attuned. So, in actual war, I think +it very doubtful whether a submarine could succeed in getting up close +to a big battleship, unseen, and delivering the mortal blow." + +That started a good deal of lively discussion. A few of the Navy +officers present favored Lieutenant McCrea's view. More, however, were +inclined to the belief that, as time went on, the more and more +perfected submarine torpedo boat would become a greater and greater +danger to the battleship, very likely in the end driving the battleship +from the navies of the world. + +"Humph!" muttered Lieutenant McCrea. "Lying here in the bay I am +willing to admit that a submarine can sail under the hull of the vessel +I'm stationed on. But I'd like to see the submarine that could creep +up alongside, showing ever so little of itself, even on the darkest +night, without being detected." + +"You think, sir," interposed Captain Jack, quietly, "that, if you were +in command of the deck at the time, you'd detect any submarine boat +that showed any portion of itself above the water?" + +"Think?" retorted Lieutenant McCrea, with warmth. "No; I don't think +anything of the sort. I'd detect any such trick in time to turn a +rapid fire gun loose on the venturesome submarine!" + +"Every time, sir?" asked Jack, calmly. + +"Every time!" retorted the lieutenant, with emphasis. + +Young Benson was wise enough not to attempt to take too much of a part +in the conversation with so many experienced naval officers present. +Yet he remained, listening, for the talk was highly instructive. + +"I'll have to go up and signal for my boat," declared Lieutenant McCrea, +rising, at last. "I want a bit of sleep, for I'm watch officer on the +'Luzon' to-night, from dog watch to midnight." + +After the lieutenant had gone, Captain Jack suddenly rose, hastening to +the platform deck, where Hal Hastings stood on watch. + +"What's the matter?" demanded Hal, looking keenly at his chum. + +"Why?" + +"Why, your face is nearly all one broad grin." + +"Oh, I'm thinking a bit," Jack answered, evasively. + +"Happy thoughts, then," mocked Hastings, amiably. "I can tell by the +grinful look of your face." + +"Yes, it's something lively that I'm thinking about," laughed young +Benson. + +Over the supper table, that evening, Captain Jack announced the scheme +that had entered his mind while listening to Lieutenant McCrea. + +Jacob Farnum listened, at first, somewhat thunderstruck. Then, of a +sudden, he laid down his knife and fork, bursting into a roar of +laughter. + +"It sounds like a fearfully cheeky thing to do, I know," confessed the +young captain. + +"It surely is," confirmed David Pollard, nervously. + +"Yet," pursued young Benson, "if the trick should succeed, how it +would take the conceit out of some people who don't believe in +submarines." + +"Wouldn't it?" rejoined Mr. Farnum, his eyes twinkling with merriment. + +"Yet you don't intend to try it, do you?" asked the inventor. + +"I don't know," confessed Mr. Farnum. "But I'll admit this much--I'm +certainly thinking hard over the scheme that Captain Benson has +proposed." + +"It would be unfortunate if we did the thing, and only succeeded in +offending the officers of the Navy," pursued the inventor, an extremely +thoughtful look on his pallid, thin face. + +"Oh, of course, as far as the mere expense goes, I'd pay the bill for +the trick," Farnum went on. "To tell the truth. Dave, the point I'm +considering most now is, whether we can really successfully play the +trick that Captain Benson has sprung on us." + +"I believe we can; don't believe there'll be any difficulty whatever," +declared the young captain, his eyes glowing. + +"Well, I'm going to think it over a while," announced the builder, +as he finished his meal. + +He went directly up to the platform deck, seating himself on a folding +chair. From the loud chuckles that came, from time to time, from the +platform deck, it was plain that the boatbuilder had had his sense of +humor mightily tickled. + +Presently, the hail came: + +"Benson, come up here, won't you?" + +As Jack reported to the builder Farnum stood looking across the bay. + +"Captain, how are we going to get at the exact distance between our +boat and the 'Luzon'?" + +"It's a question of mathematics, isn't it?" asked Jack, slowly. "Mr. +Pollard is the expert in that line, isn't he?" + +"Oh, I say, Dave," bawled the builder down the stairway. "Come up +here, won't you? Now, how far is it from our moorings to those of +the 'Luzon'?" + +There being still enough daylight for the purpose, Mr. Pollard brought +up a small transit. Measuring a base-line on the deck of the submarine, +he took two observations, then went below to do some rapid figuring. + +"Exactly 1,142 feet, from mooring to mooring," he called up through the +manhole, presently. + +"If you've got the distance down as fine as that," laughed back Mr. +Farnum, "good enough!" + +"Are you going to try to play Benson's trick, then?" asked the inventor, +reappearing on deck. + +"I'm inclined to think," replied the boatbuilder, "that I am. It seems +like too good a thing to miss." + +On board the "Pollard" the cabin lights burned late that evening. Once +the plan invented by Captain Jack was explained to the others all hands +turned to, in great glee, to make preparations. + +Ships of any size always carry, as a part of the cruising supplies, a +stock of paints and brushes. The submarine craft was so provided. + +Jack caused to be brought from one of the lockers a can of prepared +white paint. This was thinned with oil and tested for the business in +hand. Then the best brush for the purpose was picked out. To this was +fitted a long handle. Two short sticks had to be spliced to make a +handle of sufficient length. + +"How are you on lettering, Captain?" guffawed Mr. Farnum, while +preparations were thus being made. + +"Nothing extra," Jack admitted. "But I guess I can at least make +legible letters." + +All was in readiness long before need came. At about quarter past +eleven o'clock that night the "Pollard" noiselessly slipped from her +moorings. At that time none of the searchlights of the fleet at anchor +happened to be turned toward the submarine boat. + +Ventilators were taken in, the manhole cover was closed, lights were +extinguished, and, the next instant, the "Pollard" began to sink. +Only one light burned aboard, and that came from a small lantern in +the engine room, where Hal Hastings crouched over the electric motor, +keeping strict track of the revolutions. While Jack Benson steered +strictly to compass, Hal counted the revolutions until the number had +been reeled off to carry the submarine the estimated distance under +water. Then Hal shut off speed, while Eph Somers passed word to the +young captain. + +"Let her come up slowly, until I give the word," called down Captain +Jack. "Don't rush with the raising." + +So compressed air was turned into the diving tanks, slowly expelling +the water therefrom. Very slowly the "Pollard" rose. Jack, watching +intently, knew the instant that the conning tower's top was above waves. + +"Stop," he called down. Just ahead, about sixty feet, lay the seaward +side of the battleship "Luzon's" great gray hull. With his hand on the +electric speed control Captain Jack moved the submarine in until she lay +alongside the big battleship. + +With the greatest stealth the manhole cover was raised by Hal and Eph. +Captain Jack, in the meantime, was rapidly shedding his clothing, until +he stood forth in a bathing suit only. Clad in this garment he slipped +out over the top of the conning tower. The platform deck was under +water, but Benson touched it with his feet. + +"No hail from the deck above," he whispered to Hal. "Now, pass me +the paint and brush like lightning." + +The brush was passed out, the paint can being rested on the edge of +the manhole, where Hal steadied it. Taking up a good sopping of paint +on the brush, Captain Benson rapidly sketched, on the gray side of +the battleship a letter "P" some six feet long. + +Then, with rapid strokes, he swiftly finished the entire word: + +"Pollard." + +As the "Luzon" lay on the outer edge of the anchored fleet, and the +submarine lay alongside on the seaward side, there was no danger of any +betraying searchlight being turned on the perpetrators of this huge +joke. + +"It's all done," whispered Jack, chuckling softly, "and that wonderful +watch officer above hasn't hailed us or passed the word for the marine +guard!" + +"That man McCrea will claim it wasn't done during his watch," whispered +Eph. "Paint on the exact present time. It's just 11.33." + +So Captain Jack, again chuckling, and with a fresh brushful of paint, +wrote the present time on the battleship's gray side. + +All in a twinkling, afterward, the submarine, her manhole closed, +dropped down beneath the waves. She was soon back at her anchorage, +lying on the surface of the water as though this handy little craft had +not just been engaged in perpetrating the biggest naval joke of the year! + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +THE MAN WHO DROPPED THE GLASS + + +Early the next morning there was, as might be imagined, a big stir of +excitement in the fleet. + +First of all, one of the fleet patrol launches discovered the legend +lettered in white, on a gray background, on the Lizon's side. + +As soon as the matter was reported aboard, the executive officer, after +ordering a side gangway lowered, and going down close to the water's +edge for a look, sent for the different watch officers of the night. + +Each was emphatic in the belief that the thing did not happen during his +watch. Lieutenant McCrea was one of the most positive. + +"But, Mr. McCrea," urged the "Luzon's" executive officer, "the time, +'11.33 P.M.,' has been lettered on the ship's side with great +distinctness." + +Still, that lieutenant was positive that the outrage hadn't been +perpetrated during his deck watch. He had kept much too vigilant a +watch for that. + +While the questioning of the watch officers was going on the "Luzon's" +captain appeared. He quizzed Mr. McCrea unmercifully, and that officer +of the early night watch began to look and feel most uncomfortable. + +"There's but one thing to be done, first of all," stated the "Luzon's" +commander, Captain Bigelow. "Send a boat over to the 'Pollard' to ask +the people there if _they_ have any explanation to offer." + +When the "Luzon's" launch came alongside, Mr. Farnum, expecting the +visit, assured the ensign in charge that he would go to the battle ship +at once to explain matters. Mr. Farnum did go. Captain Bigelow +listened with an intensely grave face. Lieutenant McCrea seemed to be +in the depths of mortification, and his face was very red. + +"There is but one thing to be done, now, Mr. Farnum," declared Captain +Bigelow, severely. "We shall have to appear before Admiral Bentley, on +his flagship, as soon as he will receive us. You must repeat your +explanation to him." + +This Mr. Farnum was quite willing to do. Before the boatbuilder finished +with his explanation to the fleet's commander there was a very decided +twinkle in Admiral Bentley's sharp old eyes. + +"I accept your explanation, Mr. Farnum, that it was all a joke," smiled +the admiral. + +"Of course," Jacob Farnum made haste to add, "having perpetrated such +a hoax, I shall charge myself with all the expense of painting out the +objectionable lettering." + +"But I am not sure that that will be necessary," Admiral Bentley laughed. +"The truth is, Mr. Farnum, your hoax on Mr. McCrea has taught us a most +excellent and valuable lesson about the sort of other work that a +submarine might do against a battleship at anchor. The lesson is worth +far more than the cost of the paint. Indeed, I shall not have the +lettering on the 'Luzon's' side painted out until other officers of +the fleet have been able to examine such a striking proof of the value +of submarines. Yet I am extremely sorry for the feelings of Mr. McCrea +this morning." + +In truth, Lieutenant McCrea was in for a most unmerciful tormenting by +his brother officers. If there was one thing on which the lieutenant +prided himself, it was upon the strictness of his deck watch. So the +jest, jibes and quips of his brother officers stung him deeply. + +"Was the hoax your idea, Mr. Farnum?" asked Admiral Bentley. + +"No, sir; I am sorry to say that I am not often as brilliant as that." + +"Then whose joke was it?" + +"It was the scheme of Captain Jack Benson, the 'Pollard's' present +commander." + +"I have heard of your boyish captain," smiled Admiral Bentley. "He +must be a very resourceful young man." + +"You're right in saying that," replied Farnum, with warmth. "Benson +is altogether about the brightest boy I've ever met. For that matter, +all three of the boys are unusually keen." + +Admiral Bentley consulted a memorandum book that lay on his desk, before +he went on: + +"Mr. Farnum, if you've nothing in the way, I shall be extremely glad to +have Mr. Pollard and yourself at luncheon at one o'clock this afternoon. +But I shall feel much disappointed if you do not also bring with you +your youthful captain, Benson." + +Farnum promptly accepted, with great delight. This all looked as though +the "Pollard" would figure handsomely in the admiral's forthcoming +reports to Washington. + +Ere the morning was over all the officers and men of the great war fleet +were laughing at Lieutenant McCrea. The newspaper correspondents with +the fleet got hold of the yarn, of course, and sent stories to their +journals that helped to make the fame of the "Pollard" and of those who +handled her. + +As for McCrea, he kept out of sight all he could. It was months before +his brother officers in the Navy would let him hear the last of the joke +that had been played upon him. + +"Has it hurt us any?" repeated Jacob Farnum, when he returned to the +submarine. "It has helped us wonderfully. And, Jack, my boy, you're to +lunch with the admiral to-day!" + +In fact, that joke of Jack's was heard of in the halls of Congress later +on. The significant fact of it all was that, while the "Pollard" had +been manoeuvred for the successful perpetration of the joke, neither of +the other two submarines with the fleet was "handy" enough to be used +in quite such a neat trick. + +When a United States rear-admiral entertains guests at luncheon aboard +his flagship, the affair is a stately one. When our three friends +appeared at table there were several naval officers in attendance. + +"I have been laughing a good deal to-day, Captain Benson, over the joke +sprung on us last night," was Admiral Bentley's greeting. "It was +cleverly carried out, and with a great deal of skill in seamanship as +well." + +"It wasn't intended, sir, to be so much a joke as a demonstration of +what our boat can accomplish," Jack replied, modestly. + +"I haven't lost sight of the practical side of the affair, I assure you," +rejoined the admiral. "But I am afraid I have wounded one +heart--McCrea's." + +"Then I am very sorry," replied Jack, quickly. "I had hoped he would +feel as much like laughing as anyone." + +"Mr. McCrea might feel more like laughing, if it weren't for the fact +that his brother officers insist on doing his laughing for him," chuckled +the admiral. + +The talk now turned upon the "Pollard's" construction, which the inventor +explained, while Jacob Farnum threw in a few words now and then. +Captain Jack had the good taste to remain silent during this discussion. +Admiral Bentley asked many questions, appeared deeply interested, and +promised to make a thorough trip of inspection aboard the submarine. + +"The time may come, of course," said the admiral, musingly, "when a flag +officer will have to make his headquarters aboard such a little craft, +for the day may not be far distant when battleships will be too +cumbrous and too costly to be risked any more at sea when a nation is +engaged in war." + +"That's our captain's view of the possibilities," nodded Mr. Farnum. + +"It will be a sad blow to some of us old salts," laughed the admiral. +"It isn't likely to strike me, of course. I shall be retired, and done +with the service, before the big battleship becomes as useless in war +as a ferryboat. But you, Captain Benson, will very likely live to see +the day when the battleships will be sold for freight steamers. By the +way, my young friend, what is your age? Sixteen. Why, you are young +enough to enter Annapolis. With your bent for things naval, why don't +you try to interest your home Congressman in appointing you as a cadet?" + +"If the battleship is to go, sir," replied the youngster, "or even +if the submarine is to become a vastly more important craft, it seems +to me that I shall be seizing the biggest chance by staying right +with Mr. Farnum and Mr. Pollard. The greatest naval man of the future +may be the all-around submarine expert." + +"There, again, I am inclined to think you are right, Captain Benson," +nodded the old admiral, thoughtfully. "My, but I often wish I could +look forward, as you may, to being alive fifty years from now--living +to see what sea warfare will be like _then_!" + +While Jack Benson was listening or talking, he became conscious that one +of the noiseless stewards waiting at table was eyeing him keenly, even +if covertly, at such times as he approached. + +The steward in question was brownhaired and smoothly shaven, a man of +about fifty years of age who carried himself with much dignity. When +Jack got his first good look at this man, the submarine boy felt +certain that the steward's hair was dyed to its present color. There +was something altogether familiar about the man's look, too, that +puzzled young Benson. + +Now, during a lull in the conversation, and between courses, this +steward approached the table to replace young Benson's water-glass, +which he had just filled. + +As the steward reached out to set the glass down Jack wheeled, looking +straight into the man's eyes. + +The steward returned the look and paled, then-- + +Crash! The glass dropped from the man's fingers, breaking to fragments +on the cabin floor. + +With a softly-muttered word, the luckless steward bent, picked up the +pieces of glass and beat a hasty retreat, followed by a heavy frown +from the chief steward. + +Then, all of a sudden, it flashed through the boy's mind where he had +seen this man before. + +Leaning toward Jacob Farnum, the submarine boy whispered: + +"You've been trying hard to find Grace Desmond's fugitive guardian." + +"I don't know what I wouldn't give to come up with that rascal!" muttered +the boatbuilder fervently, his eyes blazing. + +"Then I guess you're going to have your wish," continued Jack Benson. +"The man who dropped the glass is--Arthur Miller." + +Uttering an eager cry, his fists clenched, Jacob Farnum started up +from his chair. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +A DIVE THAT WAS LIKE MAGIC + + +"What's wrong?" demanded Admiral Bentley, looking up quickly. + +"I--I beg your pardon, sir," cried Mr. Farnum, though lowering his +voice, "but I want a good look at the steward who has been attending to +this end of the table." + +"Nothing will be more simple," replied the admiral. + +Just at that moment another steward entered the room. + +"Ask that new steward to come here," directed the admiral. + +The man hastened away in search of his mate. + +"Pardon me, but is there any unusual reason why you wish to see that +particular steward?" asked the admiral, in a low voice. + +"The only reason, sir," replied Mr. Farnum dryly, "is that my friend, +Benson, is certain the fellow is identical with the defaulting guardian +of a young woman at present employed in my office. He is believed to +have taken the last half-million dollars remaining of her fortune away +with him into hiding." + +"A half million dollars!" gasped the admiral. + +"If this steward is the man we think he is, then his right name is +Arthur Miller," finished the boatbuilder. + +"Why, I remember that case. I read of it in the newspapers," replied +Admiral Bentley. "Jove, gentlemen, but I hope your guess is a correct +one. There must always be a satisfaction in catching so great a rogue +so easily." + +Only those at the admiral's end of the table had heard this dialogue. +Other guests present continued eating, or chatting with their neighbors. +Other stewards were entering and leaving in the discharge of their +duties. + +Some time passed. Farnum was fidgeting, though he strove to conceal the +fact. Jack looked quiet, but his heart was thumping. + +"Steward Dugan!" called the admiral, rather sharply, and the man stepped +over quickly. + +"I sent Hecht after that new steward," declared the admiral. "Hecht +hasn't come back. Find him on the jump and learn his reason for the +delay." + +In something like a minute more both Dugan and Hecht returned. + +"I couldn't find Dudley, sir," reported Hecht. "I've looked for him +everywhere that he ought to be." + +"Then find the first officer on duty that you can, and, with my +compliments, ask him to report instantly," ordered Admiral Bentley. + +In barely more than a jiffy a young lieutenant of marine stepped into +the room, saluting the admiral. + +"Lieutenant, a new steward known as Dudley is being sought for. Order +the guard at the side gangway to let no one overboard, unless he is +certain that the one seeking to pass is not Steward Dudley. Then have +the ship searched thoroughly for Dudley. When found, bring him just +outside that door, under guard, and send in word to me." + +Again the lieutenant saluted, then hurried from the room. The whole +thing had been, ordered so quickly that few of the lunchers guessed that +anything out of the ordinary was taking place. Admiral Bentley took up +knife and fork, turning his attention to a dish that had just been laid +before him. + +The marine lieutenant was soon back. + +"I regret to report, admiral," he murmured, in a low voice, "that the +sentry at the side gangway states that Steward Dudley went over the +side and started off in a shore boat at least five minutes ago. He +displayed a paper which he said was a telegram you had ordered sent in +a rush." + +"Great Scott!" uttered Jacob Farnum, laying down knife and fork in a +tremble. "Then, by flight, the fellow confesses his identity. Admiral, +we feel that we simply must get ashore without the loss of an instant. +That rascal must be found." + +"Certainly," agreed Admiral Bentley, rising. "Do not lose an instant." + +Turning to the marine lieutenant, he added: + +"My compliments to the officer of the deck, and ask him to see that +these gentlemen have a shore boat placed at their disposal without +any loss of time. Or, that they have any facilities they may wish +for going to any part of the fleet. No thanks, gentlemen. I appreciate +your need of haste and wish you every success." + +The half-curious eyes of many persons followed these three guests, as +the boatbuilder, the inventor and the young submarine captain hastily +left the room, followed by the marine lieutenant. + +As soon as the admiral's order had been transmitted to him, the +lieutenant in charge of the deck ran to the side gangway, looking for a +shore boat. + +"Just our confounded luck when we're in a hurry," he muttered. "The only +boat I can get is the one that just took Steward Dudley ashore. See, +there it is over yonder, leaving the pier. It will be here within five +minutes." + +"Then I thank our lucky stars," cried Captain Jack, pointing, "for here +comes our own good boat, and we can take it, instanter, if you'll permit +it to come alongside, Lieutenant. + +"Certainly," replied that officer. + +Hal Hastings was at the deck wheel, in charge of the boat. He had just +taken a party of sightseeing naval officers back to their ship, and was +on his way to the "Pollard's" moorings. He caught sight of Benson's +signals, and, slowing down the speed, ran neatly in alongside of the +battleship's gangway platform. + +In another twinkling the trio in haste were aboard their own boat. + +"Better hurry below," advised Captain Jack. "Ship the ventilators and +I'll get inside, close the manhole cover and handle the boat from +the conning tower. Then, if Arthur Miller is watching us from the +shore, he'll think we have officers aboard and are manoeuvering to +show off the boat." + +"Arthur Miller?" gasped Hal, in astonishment. + +"Down below with you, Hastings," replied Jacob Farnum, pushing him +gently. "When we've time to talk we'll tell you." + +When, therefore, within sixty seconds, the "Pollard" left the flagship's +side, she was equipped for diving. A casual observer would have believed +she was about to do so with some inspecting party of naval officers. + +As he sat in the conning tower Captain Jack steered the most direct +course for the pier to which the supposed Miller had gone in the +flagship's shore boat. + +In order to do this, the young captain had to cut across the bow of +a battleship that had just gotten under way. There was plenty of +searoom for this manoeuvre, so Captain Jack did not hesitate. + +Once past the bows of that battleship, however, the young submarine +captain's heart gave a mighty bound. + +For, just beyond, was another battleship, also under good headway. The +"Pollard" was between the two. To go ahead meant a collision with the +second battleship, while to reverse speed meant to back into the +battleship just passed. + +To turn and run between them in either direction might have been feasible, +but the battleships, seeing the trouble of the little submarine, were +sounding conflicting signals. + +It was a situation that had to be met and solved in a second. + +Jack Benson's heart seemed to stop beating; he felt ill, and a cold +perspiration beaded his face all at once. + +"Hold fast!" he roared down the stairway. + +Then he did the only thing that could be done in a second. + +Without waiting to shut off the gasoline power, he reached out for the +conning tower controls. Like a flash, and with high nervous energy, he +operated the mechanism that would fill the diving tanks in an instant. + +In rushed the water, faster than it had ever done before. Down dived +the "Pollard" like a lump of lead. To the startled onlookers on other +ships she seemed almost to stand on her nose. Those on the decks of +the two nearest battleships saw the "Pollard's" propellers uppermost +of all, and revolving fast. + +Then out of sight went the little submarine. Those below in her cabin +and engine room had been pitched forward on their faces. Captain Jack +fairly sprawled over the wheel. + +Down went the little boat to a depth of some seventy feet. Then Captain +Jack had the presence of mind to bring her to an even keel. A couple +of hundred yards he ran under water. Then, shutting off the motive +power, he called below to turn the compressed air slowly into the water +compartments. + +"For I want to rise mighty gently," he called down, in explanation. +"Then, if we come up under some craft's keel, we won't hurt them +or ourselves." + +By this time the deck rails and rigging of many a naval vessel were +crowded with officers and men, all anxious to know the fate of the +plucky, or foolhardy, crew of the submarine. + +A few moments passed. Then the conning tower emerged from the water. +Next, the boat appeared, and rode at her proper amount of freeboard +over the water. + +What a deafening din of cheers filled the air. Men, everywhere, were +waving uniform caps. Four of the big ships blew their whistles in harsh +salute to this latest dash of Yankee bravery. + +"Let us up on deck," cried David Pollard, excitedly. "We want to +acknowledge some of that applause as modestly as possible." + +The submarine's entire crew were speedily on the platform deck, while +Captain Jack was busily explaining to his friends the necessity that had +arisen for such a prompt, deep dive. + +"Oh, but that was magnificently done, Jack!" cried the inventor, in a +transport of enthusiasm. "Hear them yell! See them wave! The din of +the whistles! It was the best thing we've done or could do in the way +of compelling advertising!" + +"Advertising be--will keep!" rasped Jacob Farnum. "But, for now, +Captain Benson, hustle over to that pier as fast as the speed of the +boat will allow. Advertising--with Grace Desmond's fortune and +happiness at stake!" + +So the young captain turned on speed, and steered on through the lanes +of Naval vessels. Even on those craft from which his dashing, daring +performance had not been witnessed the news was known, now, passed from +ship to ship by the wig-wagging of signal flags. + +All the way into the pier the "Pollard" was greeted with tempestuous +volleys of applause, for there is nothing the American naval tar loves +as he does sheer, wild grit. + +"Advertising, is it?" demanded Mr. Farnum, in raging disgust. "We're +getting plenty and to spare. No one within five miles of here can +possibly be ignorant of the fact that the 'Pollard' is making a hustle +to the dock!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +WANTED, BADLY--ONE STEWARD! + + +As the "Pollard" slipped in at a vacant berth on one side of the pier, +there was a rush of civilians, and of sailors and marines on brief shore +leave. + +Many of those who crowded down to look over the boat and her crew had +witnessed Captain Jack Benson's difficult manoeuvre from the distance. + +"Take the wheel, Hal," Jack murmured to his chum. "You and Eph had +better stay aboard, and slip out into the stream before a swarm of folks +rushes aboard." + +Jacob Farnum leaped to the pier, the inventor following. Jack leaped +to the string-piece last of all. Then Hal veered easily off, turning +the boat's nose about and making out again. + +"Aw!" went up a murmur from the crowd. "We wanted to see that craft." + +"There she is," smiled Benson. "She won't go far away. She'll be +on view, all right." + +Jacob Farnum made straight for two marines who had been standing a little +distance away. Neither had joined in the rush for the submarine. + +"My men, to what ship do you belong?" he asked, quickly. + +"Flagship 'Columbia,' sir," replied one of the men. + +"Do you know the new steward, Dudley, of the 'Columbia'?" + +"I think he came ashore lately, sir, in one of the shore boats." + +"Then you saw him land?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Which way did he go?" + +"I think he headed straight for the railway station, sir. Had something +in his hand that looked like a telegram." + +"That's enough. Thank you," cried Farnum, as he hurried away. + +"One moment," interrupted Jack. "How was Dudley dressed?" + +"He had on the white duck uniform of a steward, and cap to match," +replied the marine. + +"Thank you," nodded Jack, then turned and ran after Farnum and Pollard. + +The railway station was not far away. Over there the trio hastened. +No train had left for half an hour, as they quickly learned, but one +was due to leave in about fifteen minutes. + +The operator assured the questioners that no one in a naval steward's +dress had attempted to send a telegram. + +"That was only a ruse, then," said Farnum. "The fellow went through +here, and by here." + +Jack hastily devoted himself to questioning other employes about the +station. + +"Why, yes, I saw a man who looked like that," replied the baggage-master. + +"What did he do! What became of him?" asked Jack, swiftly. + +"He went through here, and down that street," replied the baggage-master +promptly. + +"Is that all you saw, or know about him?" + +"Yes." + +Jack hastily reported to his two friends. Just then a policeman +approached. Farnum learned that he was stationed here during the naval +week. So the boatbuilder gave the officer a hasty description of the +fugitive and asked that the steward, in case he returned to the station, +and attempted to board a train, be arrested. + +"I'll certainly nab him," promised the officer. + +"Now, come along up that street, yonder," called Farnum to his +companions. "Confound it, it's like hunting a needle in a hay-stack!" + +"And we forgot to ask that officer to report to the police of the town," +Jack reminded his employer, after they had gone a little way. + +"Run back to the station, get the police station on the 'phone, and send +word to the chief, will you?" begged Mr. Farnum. + +Captain Jack returned on the run. He secured 'phone connection with +the chief of police, and was able to give a graphic description of the +steward who was wanted so badly. + +"Of course," Jack hinted to the police chief, "the fellow we want so +badly may have friends on shore, or some other way of changing his +white uniform for other clothes." + +"I won't overlook that," promised the chief of police. "And I'll send +out a general alarm at once." + +By the time that the submarine boy left the railway station again +Farnum and Pollard were out of sight. Nevertheless, Benson hurried +off up the same street they had taken. + +He walked quickly for two blocks, then, coming to a larger street that +crossed at right angles, he started to turn and go east. Just as he +rounded the corner he thought he heard something strike the sidewalk, +as though it had dropped from his pockets. + +Wheeling quickly, the submarine boy returned to the corner. He was +just in time to see something that took his thoughts like a flash from +everything else. + +Near the doorway of a small clothing store, two doors from the corner, +a man had been looking stealthily out. Just as Jack turned the corner, +out of sight, this man darted out, then slowed down to a deliberate +walk in the direction of the railway station. + +It was this man at whom Jack Benson found himself staring with all his +eyesight. The man was dressed in a rather fastidious-looking summer +weight frock coat suit. On his head rested an expensive straw hat of +the latest sort. Over his eyes were light blue goggles. His hair was +jet black. + +"But that's a wig!" flashed Jack Benson, inwardly, almost at once. +"That's Arthur Miller, just the same. He has the same walk as the +steward!" + +Though the other had had a brief chance for a glimpse at Benson just +as he turned, the well dressed one did not increase his pace--that is, +not until he heard Captain Jack's swift steps behind him. + +"Oh, just a minute, if you please!" called Benson, in a voice that +was ironically pleasant. + +One look over his shoulder the other took, then broke into a run. + +But Jack was younger, more agile, with better wind. Realizing this, the +fugitive wheeled around the corner into an alley. + +It was a short one, leading to some sort of a stable yard. Yet, though +Jack Benson reached that yard in about record time, he gave a gasp of +dismay. For the well-dressed fugitive was already out of sight, nor +did noise from any quarter show the line of his further flight. + +"Confound him, I'm not going to lose him as quickly and easily as +that!" raged young Benson. + +"Looking for your pop?" demanded a laughing, broad-faced woman, +appearing at a back door that opened into the yard. + +"Yes," declared Jack, pulsing. "Which way--" + +"He went in there," nodded the woman, pointing to the nearly closed door +of a small barn. + +It might have been that the woman was purposely deceiving him, to aid +the fugitive, but to that suspicion Jack had no time to give thought. +He sprang into the barn to find it empty. He stood there, panting, for +a moment, growing sick at heart with disappointment. + +Then he heard a slight rustling on a haymow overhead, that was reached +only by a ladder. Up that ladder rushed the submarine boy, springing +into the hay. + +As he did so, the well-dressed fugitive darted out from cover at another +point in the mow, leaping straight down to the floor. After him sprang +Jack Benson, and landed full upon him. + +But the fugitive, by a supreme effort fear, rose, shaking off the boy, +and started to dart out into the open. + +"No, you don't--Mr. Arthur Miller!" roared the submarine boy, making +a bound after him. + +So much force did Jack put into that leap that, missing, he fell to the +floor on his hands and knees. The moment thus gained for the fugitive +was enough to give the latter time to dart out, slamming the door shut +after him. + +"This chase doesn't stop until it turns out my way!" muttered young +Benson, doggedly. He had expected to find the door secured, but it was +not. He yanked it open. + +The fugitive was crossing the yard, just reaching the alley, when the +same woman who had first spoken to Jack again opened her door. In one +hand she held a mop. This she threw with such aim or luck that it +passed between the running man's legs, tripping him. + +And then Jack Benson piled upon him in earnest, first snatching up the +mop and brandishing it over the fugitive's head. + +"I don't want to hurt your cranium any," flared up Captain Jack. "But +I'm going to do it if I have to." + +"Confound you, woman!" roared the discomfited rascal. + +"Arthur Miller's voice!" cried Jack, joyously. "Now, I know what we +had only guessed so far! Now, see here, my fine fellow, you might as +well give in, for I'm not going to quit until I land you--" + +Miller had been lying quietly enough for a few moments. Now, however, +he suddenly squirmed about, catching Jack by the ankles with both hands. +Down went the submarine boy, flopped by a trick that he had little +expected. + +"We'll see whether you've got me!" clicked the scoundrel, leaping to +his feet and making for the street. + +"Thank you for your mop, ma'am," Jack called back, pantingly, as he +gave chase. It annoyed him to have Miller prove so slippery, and he +was filled with dread lest the defaulter should wind up by getting +clean away. + +Singing snatches of song, two sailors passed on the sidewalk, just +at the head of the alleyway. + +"Look what's coming," roared one, goodnaturedly, catching at his mate's +hand. Thus, halted, they formed an effective barrier of brawn in the +way of the first runner. + +"Let me through! That wretch wants to kill me!" gasped Miller. + +"We won't let him," replied one of the sailors, reassuringly. + +"Hold him! The police want him!" implored Jack. + +"Hold on, both of you," admonished one of the sailors, grabbing at +Miller, while the other sailor placed himself so as to prevent the +submarine boy from a possible attack. "One of you is lying. Which one +is it?" + +"Well," grinned Jack, reassured, "I'm not afraid to have you take +us both before the nearest officer of the law. But I guess that man +is afraid of such a test." + +"Sounds like a straightforward answer," observed the other Jack Tar. + +"This man," declared young Benson, "is Arthur Miller, wanted by the +law for looting part of his ward's fortune and running away with the +rest." + +"It's a lie!" challenged Miller, hoarsely. + +"Then ask him," proposed Jack, crisply, "why he's wearing a black wig, +and under that has iron-gray hair that has been dyed brown? Why he +shaved his beard oft?" + +"Do you know the answer?" demanded the sailor who held Miller. The +other sailor lifted Miller's new straw hat, snatching off the wig. + +"Guilty, as charged," he grinned. + +"Now, hold on to him, and march him along until you meet the first +policeman," urged Jack Benson. "If you do that, I'm very certain that +my employer, Jacob Farnum, builder of the 'Pollard' submarine boat, +will remember you both handsomely." + +"That sounds good," laughed one of the seamen. + +"And here comes an officer now," cried Captain Jack, looking down +the street as far as the next corner. "See how your prisoner trembles. +Would an innocent man act so?" + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +CONCLUSION + + +Within three minutes Arthur Miller stood before the desk at a station +house. In less than twenty minutes Messrs. Farnum and Pollard had +been found. They hurried to the police station, confirming the +identification of Arthur Miller. He was locked up. + +"It's a big thing you've helped to do, lads," Jacob Farnum assured the +two strong young sailors. "You're entitled to some of the fruits of +your work. How will this do?" + +Whereupon he pressed upon each Jack Tar a couple of twenty-dollar bills. + +"We've a couple of hours of shore leave left to us," grinned one of +the sailors. "Is there anyone else you want caught, friend?" + +By the time that Farnum, Pollard and Captain Jack had returned to the +pier they found a midshipman awaiting them. + +"Admiral Bentley's compliments, gentlemen," said the midshipman. "He +begs you to go to him aboard the flagship. He has information of +importance to communicate to you concerning the missing steward." + +"By the way," laughed Mr. Farnum, contentedly, "that steward is no +longer missing. We've just had the pleasure of seeing him placed under +lock and key, where he'll keep until he's wanted." + +"Will you come aboard the flagship in our launch?" asked the midshipman. + +"Yes, thank you," replied Farnum. Thereupon Jack signaled to Hal +Hastings, aboard the "Pollard," which lay to, not far off, to return +to moorings. + +"Catch your man?" yelled Hal, through a megaphone. His chum nodded in +the affirmative. + +"Toot! toot! toot!" sounded the "Pollard's" auto-whistle, in three +long, triumphant blasts. + +Arrived at the flagship, the midshipman conducted the visitors at once +to the admiral's office. + +"Did you catch the rascal?" asked that fine old officer. + +"Yes, sir," nodded Farnum, and gave a quick, brief account of the +capture. + +"Captain Benson appear's to be your lucky star to-day," laughed the +admiral. "By the way, captain, I must congratulate you most warmly on +that daring, magic dive. Your boat is surely in a new class. But now +to other interesting business. After you had gone it occurred to me +to make a most thorough investigation into the whole matter of that +steward. + +"Your man Miller certainly displayed considerable originality in his +attempt to hide from the law. He had been aboard for some time. He +plainly realized that about the last place detectives would ever think +to look for criminals would be among the crew of a battleship. We +always require references for any man we enlist, and always look up +the references. I have yet to satisfy myself as to how the fellow +Miller managed to get around the matter of references. However, he +got aboard, and was all but safe from pursuit. Moreover, this flagship +is scheduled to sail for the European station as soon as the manoeuvres +are over. Miller, I imagine, intended to desert when in European +waters. By that time, as police pursuit would have cooled, he must +have figured that he would be rather safe from the law. + +"I have investigated his doings aboard this boat. Among other things I +have learned that he deposited with our paymaster, taking a receipt for +the same, an iron box--a small affair--which, the fellow said, +contained papers regarding the history of his family. He had been years +in getting the papers together, he explained to the paymaster, and +wanted them put in a place of safe-keeping." + +Jacob Farnum sprang to his feet, a great light of suspicion shining in +his eyes. + +"I have had that box taken from the paymaster's safe and forced open," +continued Admiral Bentley with a smile. "It is a right that we exercise +over any package at need. It was opened in the presence of three +officers of this fleet, and it was found to contain, probably, close +to a half million dollars in bills of large denominations. The paymaster +will be able to give you more exact figures. He has the money in his +safe again. It will be transferred to the custody of civil authorities +ashore until the courts have issued an order for its further +disposition." + +"It's Miss Desmond's money," cried Farnum. "Only a little while to wait, +and then that splendid young woman will come into her own." + +Tears glistened in the boatbuilder's eyes. + +"If you think I am unusually affected over this matter," explained Mr. +Farnum, presently, "let me, with your permission, sir, tell you of the +fine, brave conduct of the girl in saving Captain Benson and the +submarine boat." + +Admiral Bentley was greatly interested in the recital that followed. + +In due time the flagship's shore boat carried the three to land again. +With fingers that shook Jacob Farnum penned a most exultant telegram +to Grace Desmond. + +That sent, they engaged a boatman to put them aboard the "Pollard." It +was now the turn of Hal Hastings and Eph Somers to share in the +excitement and the joy. + +In the days that followed the "Pollard" did not take any official part +in the naval manoeuvres, though whenever there was time for officers +to get leave from their ships Captain Jack and his friends were busy +enough showing all the workings of the fine boat to their visitors. + +Admiral Bentley and his naval staff spent one entire forenoon aboard +the natty little submarine. They were delighted with all that they +were shown. + +"Mr. Pollard," exclaimed the admiral, just before leaving, "it is my +unofficial opinion, from what I have seen to-day, and from what you +have already shown at this rendezvous, that your boat is miles and +miles ahead of any other type of submarine torpedo boat yet constructed. +I shall undoubtedly also make that the text of the official opinion that +I shall furnish to the Navy Department. I must also tell you, what you +already know, that, in your captain and crew of youngsters, you have the +best possible material for showing your boat off to the best possible +advantage." + +It was with light hearts indeed that the crew and passengers of the +"Pollard" turned her nose toward the home port. Grant Andrews had +already been instructed, by wire, to begin the preliminary work for +laying the keel of a sister submarine torpedo boat. + +If Dunhaven had turned out well for the launching, she did herself more +than proud in the wildly cheering crowd that lined the shores on the +return of that adventurous little boat, which was no longer known as +"Pollard's Folly," but as "Pollard's Marvel." + +It was a happy day for both inventor and builder. The press of the +country had been talking for some days of the new era that had dawned +in submarine boat building. + +Grace Desmond was among the first to welcome the returning voyagers. +She had promptly answered Farnum's telegram, and that boatbuilder had +subsequently received from her two letters that he did not take the +trouble to read fully to his companions. + +As if to celebrate the return of the splendid boat, Dunhaven, in the +persons of two of her constables, captured Josh Owen that same night +when he tried to return by stealth to his home. + +Yet the constables did not get their man handcuffed before that same +elfin ten-year-old son of Owen's had tried desperately to fight the +officers into letting his father go. + +Arthur Miller was placed on trial, and pleaded guilty, and Grace +Desmond's claim was established to the money found in the iron box +aboard the flagship. She tried hard to make Jack and Hal and Eph +accept a handsome reward, but all three boys steadfastly refused her +offer. Jacob Farnum, in his own quiet way, was a bit more successful, +however, and started for each of them a very substantial little bank +account. + +One day, shortly after the return of the submarine boys to Dunhaven, +while the hammers of the riveters were ringing out merrily on the hull +of the second Pollard boat, Jacob Farnum sent for Captain Jack Benson +and his friends. + +"I want to talk business with you," said the builder, motioning to +chairs. "You've been working for me for a sort of pay, but now I want +to make a definite and regular arrangement with you. I'm willing to +provide your keep aboard the boat, and furnish your uniforms. In +addition, I am willing to pay Captain Benson a hundred and fifty +dollars a month, and Hastings and Somers each a hundred." + +That offer brought the three boys to their feet. "It's--it's too +much!" Jack managed to gasp. + +"First time I ever had an employe tell me he was being paid too much," +laughed the builder. "Now, see here, young men, Pollard and I are +going to make fortunes out of building these boats--huge fortunes, we +believe--and we want to attract loyal young men to us by paying them +at least fair wages. Think it over, and you'll soon agree you're not +being paid too much." + +What could the young men do but accept the wonderful good fortune that +was offered them? Then Farnum, laughing, rose and opened a nearby door. +There stood Grace Desmond smiling. + +"Captain," announced the builder, as he took one of the girl's hands in +his own, "I shall want you to decorate the 'Pollard' handsomely next +Thursday. On that day Miss Desmond will become Mrs. Farnum. Captain +and crew of the 'Pollard,' we shall look for you to be at the wedding, +and wearing new uniforms that have already been especially ordered for +the occasion." + +What could the young men do but congratulate the happy couple? And +they did it most heartily. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SUBMARINE BOYS ON DUTY*** + + +******* This file should be named 17054.txt or 17054.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/7/0/5/17054 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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