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 EphSomers, 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," hintedGrant 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?" askedDavid 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?" inquiredMr. 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!
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.
"Areyouscared, 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 youngHastings, 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 likedanythingunder 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," repliedAndrews, 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 JackBenson.
"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 wecanread," 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."
"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."
"Itdoeslook 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!"
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?" askedJack, 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.
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!"