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Jack Lifted His Cap in a Joyous Salute.
Frontispiece.


The Submarine Boys'
Trial Trip
OR
“ Making Good” as Young Experts
By
VICTOR G. DURHAM
Author of The Submarine Boys on Duty
The Submarine Boys and the Middies
Etc.
Illustrated
PHIL A D E L P H I A
HENRY ALTEMUS COMPANY


CONTENTS
20
37
47
CHAPTER
PAGE
I. A BIG CLOUD ON THE SUBMARINE HORIZON,......
II. A SUBMARINE STUNT THAT DUMFOUNDS THE BE-
HOLDERS, .....
III. MR. MELVILLE HURLS THE CRASH,.
IV. A SQUALL IN AN OFFICE,........
V. DON MELVILLE TAKES A HAND,..
VI. THE “POLLARD' HAS A RIVAL,
VII. MISSINGA SUBMARINE AND CREW
VIII. FARNUM STOCK GOES UP,.........
IX. A RASCALLY PIECE OF WORK,..
95
X. A RACE FOR MIXED PRIZES,............
108
XI. WHAT BEFELL THE REAL BENSON,...
114
· XII. THE CAPITALIST DOESN'T LIKE THE SITUATION,.
XIII. ON TRIAL AS YOUNG EXPERTS,..... ......... 140
XIV. FOOLING THE NAVY, BUT ONLY ONCE,.......... 152
XV. SERVING IN THE CAUSE OF PEACE, NOT WAR,.... 161
XVI. FIGHTING A MUTINY WITH THREATS,........... 168
XVII. JACK PERPETRATES A PRACTICAL SEA JOKE,...... 178
XVIII. EPH ENJOYS BEING RESCUED,.................. 186
XIX. JACK STUMBLES UPON A BIG SURPRISE..........
XX. MR. MELVILLE, Too, IS PROVIDED WITH A THUN-
DERBOLT, .........
............... 207
XXI. MR. FARNUM EXPLODES A BOMB OF DISMAY,....
XXII. Don TREADS UPON AIR—BUT COMES DOWN,.....
XXIII. MR. MELVILLE PREPARES TO TAKE CHARGE,......
XXIV. CONCLUSION,
126
199
24
.........





The Submarine Boys' Trial Trip
CHAPTER I
A BIG CLOUD ON THE SUBMARINE HORIZON
66 T what time did you say that the ‘Pol.
lard' was due to be back, Mr. Far-
num?”
“At two o'clock," replied the owner of the
boat-building yard at the little seaport town of
Dunhaven.
“It's within five minutes of that hour, now."
“So it is,” nodded the owner of the yard,
after briefly consulting his watch.
For half an hour, or a little longer, a middle-
aged man, with the world of business and large
affairs imprinted on him, had been walking to
and fro along the shore end of the yard. In
this walk he was accompanied by his son, a
handsome, dark-eyed and dark-haired young
fellow of nineteen. George Melville, the father,
was attired very much as any prosperous, busy
man might have been, with a touch of fastidious-
ness added, but the son, Don, was dressed and


THE SUBMARINE BOYS'
groomed to look just what he wanted to appear
to be, the born young aristocrat.
“Punctuality is one of the cardinal virtues
with me, you know,” continued Mr. Melville,
impatiently, as he again glanced at his watch.
"I had hoped to be able to see your submarine
boat, the ‘Pollard,' this afternoon."
“And I certainly hope you will be able to,"
replied Jacob Farnum, cordially. This builder,
a young man in his thirties, allowed a shade of
uneasiness to flit across his face.
“However, when Don is in command of the
boat,” continued Mr. Melville, "things will
doubtless be run on a better system. That is,
if we should decide to invest the money and
place Don on board as captain.”
“Your son!” inquired Jacob Farnum, with
a quick note of astonishment in his voice.
“Certainly,” continued Mr. Melville, in the
easy voice of one who is sure of his ground.
“If my friends and myself decide to invest the
required several hundred thousand dollars in
your business, the first step of the reorganiza-
tion on a broader basis will be the placing of
my son in command of your boat.”
“Hm!” murmured Jacob Farnum.
“Don is wholly fitted for learning the work
that I have cut out for him," pursued Mr. Mel-
ville. “He has frequently taken command of


MD
9
TRIAL TRIP
IDT
my steam yacht, the 'Greyhound,' and my sail-
ing master, Captain Carson, assures me that
Don is not only a splendid sailor, but born to
command. So, after a little time spent in mas-
tering details, Don will make the ideal captain
for the 'Pollard'.”
“I have a very capable young man in charge
now,” said Mr. Farnum. “Captain Jack Ben-
son has already done a few things with the
boat that have astonished Naval officers.”
“How old is this fellow Benson?" inquired
Mr. Melville.
"Sixteen.”
“Only sixteen?” queried Mr. Melville, in a
voice of amazement. “Bah! He is entirely too
young to be entrusted with the hopes of such
a great boat-building company as I hope to help
you organize. Don, too, is quite young, but he
has a great deal of capacity and has had a valu-
able lot of experience. As to a boy of sixteen-
however, your youth, Benson, may no doubt be
retained aboard as a member of the crew, if
Don likes him. And now, sir, it's two minutes
of two."
With another impatient frown Mr. Melville
held his watch out before Mr. Farnum's eyes
That younger man hardly saw the dial. He
was looking past, out beyond the mouth of the
little cove or harbor. As he did so, Mr. Far-


10
THE SUBMARINE BOYS'
num beheld what, at first, looked like a big
ripple spreading over the placid water. Then
the top of a steel conning tower shot up into
sight. It was followed by the emergence of the
upper hull of a strange looking cigar-shaped
craft.
“Two minutes before the hour, did you say?”
asked Jacob Farnum, placidly. “Well, there's
the ‘Pollard,' just up from the depths, and
gliding in to anchorage."
Don Melville had strolled away from the pair,
but now, at a call from his father, he turned
to watch the oncoming craft, which was none
other than the new submarine torpedo boat, the
"Pollard.”
The elder Melville was judge enough of boats
and of boat-handling to understand that the
submarine was being brought into harbor in a
very clever, seamanlike manner.
“She's still running under electric power,
you know,” explained Mr. Farnum. “The dis-
tance is so short that Captain Benson doesn't
consider it worth while to start the gasoline
engine.”
Now, the boat came to a stop, with a slight
reversing of her propellers. At this moment the
manhole cover of the conning tower was raised.
Out onto the platform deck surrounding the
tower Captain Jack Benson nimbly stepped.


TRIAL TRIP
11
As he took the wheel in the open, the craft
glided on with hardly perceptible motion to a
mooring buoy a few yards distant. Out hopped
another boy, in dark blue naval uniform and
visored cap. This youth, Eph Somers, ran
nimbly forward over the hull. At just the right
instant Eph bent over, securing the forward
tackle to the buoy, then straightened up, salut-
ing the young captain, as he called :
“Single tackle all fast, sir."
Now, a third boy, in uniform similar to those
worn by the other two, sprang out through the
manhole. Hal Hastings, who had remained be-
hind to shut off the electric motor, waved his
cap to Mr. Farnum.'
"Well done, Captain Benson and crew!"
shouted Jacob Farnum, heartily, across the
water.
“It won't take you long to be able to beat
that performance, I take it, Don,” smiled the
elder Melville at his son. Don's upper lip
curled just perceptibly. Jacob Farnum frowned
slightly, as he turned his face away. It would
not do to offend George Melville without cause,
for that gentleman was considering the raising
of six or seven hundred thousand dollars of ad-
ditional working capital for the making of sub-
marine boats.
“We're coming aboard, captain," added Mr.
LU.


12
THE SUBMARINE BOYS'
Farnụm, shouting between his hands, across the
water. “Everything ship-shape for inspec-
tion?”
“Aye, aye, sir!” Captain Jack responded.
“It was a shame, really, to ask that question,"
laughed Mr. Farnum, turning to his compan-
ions. “Benson was all but born aboard a boat,
and he's a genuine old maid for having things
aboard in apple-pie order. His two friends are
just like him in that respect.”
Upon being signaled two workmen of the
yard came hastily down to the water's edge.
They seated themselves at the oars of a large
yawl, while Mr. Farnum and his guests stepped
into the boat.
“Give way, and lay us alongside of the ‘Pol-
lard,' " directed the boatbuilder.
Captain Jack, Hal Hastings and Eph Somers
still remained standing at ease on the platform
deck of the submarine craft. They were but a
few weeks older than when they appeared be-
fore the readers of the first volume in this series,
“THE SUBMARINE BOYS ON DUTY.” Readers of
that volume are familiar with the story of how
Jack Benson and Hal Hastings appeared in
Dunhaven; how they made the acquaintance,
first of David Pollard, the submarine's inventor,
and then of Jacob Farnum, the boat's builder
and financial backer. Readers of the first vol.


TRIAL TRIP
13
ume also remember how Eph Somers appeared
unexpectedly on the scene, and just how he
coolly put himself into the submarine picture,
securing his place aboard that wonderful craft.
Those who read the first volume are familiar
with the way in which the boys met and van-
quished the savage hostility of Josh Owen and
Dan Jaggers; they remember the desperate
battle, in the ocean's depths, with the crazy
boatswain's mate. They recall the dashing,
laughable prank that Captain Jack played on
one of the big battleships of the Naval ma-
nouvres fleet, and remember the pretty ro-
mance, in which the submarine boys aided
greatly, through which Mr. Farnum secured
beautiful Grace Desmond as his bride. Our
readers who have pored over the pages of the
preceding volume, in fact, will recall all the
many adventures through which Jack, Hal and
Eph passed with daring and credit.
All the people in the world move forward-
or backward-a bit every day. And so, while
our young friends were still aboard the “Pol-
lard,” and happy, affairs were shaping that
might alter the whole current of their lives, their
ambitions and their hopes. Convinced that he
could, by the use of sufficient energy and capital,
equip a larger yard and sell the United States
Government a solid, efficient fleet of submarine


TRIAL TRIP
15,
seafaring men to travel in such craft, anyway.
Such men can stand discomfort and any amount
of danger, at need. Ask Captain Benson.”
Young Captain Jack smiled quietly. He and
his two comrades guessed that George Melville
was one of the capitalists whom Farnum was
trying to interest in the business.
"Let us go below,” suggested Mr. Melville.
“Don, use your eyes to good advantage. You
may have need of all you can learn about such
boats."
Don Melville inclined his head, but said noth-
ing. Farnum led them below. Captain Jack
helped the builder in explaining the general
working details of the boat. Hal and Eph an-
swered such questions as were put to them by
father or son.
“It's all very interesting,” said Mr. Melville,
slowly, at last. “Farnum, let us go up on deck
a few minutes. Don, you might remain below.
I have no doubt there is still much that you
want to see.”
So Don remained below. The boys of the
submarine's crew, feeling that Mr. Farnum
would want to be alone with his guest, also re-
mained below.
“Do you-er-like this sort of thing, Ben-
son?” asked Don Melville.
“The submarine boat work, you mean?"


16
THE SUBMARINE BOYS'
asked Captain Jack, brightly. “Why, it's my
life—my very life!”
The glow that came to the cheeks of the young
submarine captain bore out his words fully.
Jack did love this fine craft. He gloried in
having the command of her, though he never
made the weight of his authority felt by his two
comrades, who, indeed, virtually shared in the
command. Captain Benson was especially
proud and grateful at the confidence shown in
himself and in his mates in being allowed full
charge of the “Pollard.” Love the life? It
wouldn't be life, for him, without the “Pol-
lard!”
Don began to ask some, further questions
about the boat. His tone was slightly supercili-
ous. It was plain to be seen that he looked upon
these daring, tried and proven youngsters as
being decidedly his inferiors. Yet Jack fought
against a growing feeling of irritation, giving
good-humored and attentive answers.
Then Don went over to the little door of a
compartment in the wall. Behind this door was
some of the delicate mechanism-invention of
David Pollard-by means of which the com-
pressed air supply was better regulated than
on any other type of submarine craft.
“Why, this place is locked,” observed Don.
“Yes," nodded Captain Jack.


TRIAL TRIP
17
“You have the key?"
“I–I believe so."
“Then be good enough to unlock this little
door," ordered Don Melville.
“I hope you'll pardon me,” said Captain
Jack, quickly, yet politely. “It wouldn't be just
the thing for me to do.”
“Why not?" Don shot at him, coldly.
“Well-because I've no orders from Mr. Far-
num to that effect. Because--well, behind that
little door are a few mechanisms that amount
to about the most important secret about the
boat."
"Then you refuse to unlock that little door?”
demanded Don, coldly, trying to disconcert the
young captain by a steady, cold look into his
eyes.
“Oh, no; I don't refuse,” answered young
Benson, in the same cool, pleasant tone. “But
the order should come from Mr. Farnum. He's
right overhead. You can call up to him. If he
says so, then I'll unlock it with pleasure."
“Benson,” retorted Don Melville, again try-
ing to disconcert the young captain with a stare
of cold insolence, “I guess you don't under-
stand quite who I am.”
"If I don't, I shall be glad to be enlightened,"
laughed Jack, softly. "Who are you?”
“I'm the son of the man who expects to put
4-The Submarine Boys' Trial Trig.


TRIAL TRIP
19
that, for the moment, he did not dare trust him-
self to make more of a reply.
“Don!” called the elder Melville, briskly.
“We're going on shore now. You'd better
leave your further studies aboard until to-mor-
row.”
“Good-bye, then, lads,” said Don Melville,
laying a hand on the nickeled railing of the
spiral stairway leading up through the conning
tower. He spoke with a trace more of cor-
diality as he started up the steps: “When I
come aboard next I trust there will be no mis-
understanding of new facts.”
Jack Benson still stood by the little cabin
table, resting one hand on it. His eyes were
turned toward the floor, his chest heaving. The
blow had struck him like a bolt from a clear,
sunny sky!
“That cold duffer coming aboard to boss us
all around like cattle?" burst from Eph Somers,
as he stamped out from the engine room.
“Confound it!” growled Hal Hastings, sav-
agely. “I don't believe the yarn. Do you?”
“I'm half afraid,” replied Captain Jack,
raising his eyes, “that I do."


20
THE SUBMARINE BOYS'
CHAPTER II
A SUBMARINE STUNT THAT DUMFOUNDS THE
BEHOLDERS
66 TT ain't true! Can't be! I won't believe
it!” declared Eph, in a rage.
“We've had such a good time aboard,
and have been so proud of what we've been able
to do," added Hal, chokingly.
“Mr. Farnum won't put that snob in here!"
asserted Eph. “Not in charge, anyway. Why,
Mr. Farnum couldn't stand the fellow any more
than we could.”
“Fellows,” rejoined Jack, looking at the hot
faces of his mates, “we mustn't be too hasty,
even in talking among ourselves.”
“That fellow's a snob," asserted Eph. “I'll
stand by that anywhere."
“I don't know that I'd say that,” replied
young Benson, who had recovered his calmness.
“In the first place, Don Melville has evidently
had a golden spoon in his mouth from the day.
of his birth. He's used to having things his own
way. He may be all right at bottom.”
“Then that's where I hope he goes," quivered
Eph. “Straight to the bottom! Under a hun-
dred fathoms of good salt water!”


TRIAL TRIP
“We may like him better when we know
him,'' ventured Jack.
“I'm betting though," put in Hal, thought-
fully, "that we're much more likely to like him
less."
“He's a duffer!" snorted Eph. .
“We may have to change our minds about
that,” smiled Jack, dully.
“Ain't he a rich man's son?” demanded
Eph, blazing.
“That doesn't make him out a fool or a dull-
ard,” retorted the young captain. “Rich men's
sons aren't as often fools as they're suspected
of being. Some of them are mighty clever. The
number of great American fortunes that are
doubled, or trebled, in the second generation,
show that."
“Then you're going to side with him?"
sneered Eph.
"I don't know what I'm going to do, until
the time comes," Captain Jack answered,
quietly. “But I do know one thing I'm going
to do, at any and all times and so are you fel-
lows. You couldn't help it, if you tried.”
“What's that?" Hal wanted to know.
“We're going to be as square with Jacob
Farnum as he has always been with us. That
carries with it the idea of a big lot of loyalty."
"Right!” agreed Hal.


22
THE SUBMARINE BOYS'
“Of course," nodded Eph, less angrily.
“Just as long as Farnum runs the business.
But, if other folks get in here and get the con-
trol "
“Of course, we can drop out of this business
at any time we want to, provided it wouldn't
carry with it disloyalty to the employer who's
been mighty good to us,” supplied Jack Ben-
son.
“Mr. Farnum sent the boat out, to see if you
young men want to go ashore," announced a
voice from above.
Within two minutes the three submarine boys
were making for the shore. After reporting at
the office of the yard, and finding that Mr. Far-
num would not want them again that afternoon,
the young cronies sauntered off up into the vil-
lage. At Jack's suggestion they talked no more
about the Melvilles for the present. Yet each
felt as though a lump of lead lay against his
heart.
Though they tried to enjoy themselves in the
village, there was too great a weight of dread
upon them. It began to look as though all the
pleasure of their recent life must fade. Though
Don Melville, if he secured command of the
“Pollard,” might tolerate them aboard, all
three knew that they would feel the burden of
his cool contempt for them as inferiors. List-


TRIAL TRIP
23
lessly, at last, the three submarine boys turned
back toward the yard, went aboard, cooked a
supper for which they had no appetite, and then
waited for turning-in time.
In the next few days there were many signs
that Melville intended to find and supply the
desired capital for the promotion of the yard's:
business. Don and his father were much about
the place, though they rarely came out to the
“Pollard.” Business friends of Mr. Melville's
also appeared. Finally there came an impor-
tant looking lawyer and an expert accountant.
“I reckon it's all settled except the signing
of the papers," ventured Hal Hastings.
“The toe of the boot for ours, then, or as
bad,” murmured Eph Somers sardonically.
During these days David Pollard, the in-
ventor who had made this splendid type of sub-
marine boat possible, did not appear. For one
thing, he was away in secret, pondering over
the invention of further appliances to be tried
out on the boat now building. More than that,
David Pollard, shy and with no head for affairs,
entrusted all new business arrangements to
Jacob Farnum, who, he felt sure, could be
trusted with a friend's interests.
"It's tough to be poor," grimaced Hal Hasta
ings. "If I had the money, I'd put it into the
business for the sake of keeping my berth


TRIAL TRIP
25
“Tell you what I'm going to do," sud-
denly exploded Eph. “I'm going to Jake
Farnum and ask him, straight, whether that
snob of a duffer is going to be put in here
over us, with leave to kick us out when he
chooses."
“Don't you do it," advised Hal, with a shake
of his head.
"Why not?”
“Our employer is absorbed, and troubled as
much as he wants to be, now," rejoined Hast-
ings. "When there's anything he wants us to
know, and he can find time, he'll tell us."
"Huh!" half assented Eph.
“Don't be forward about it,” continued Hal.
“Just play the waiting game and rely upon Mr.
Farnum being as fair and square as he has any
chance to be."
“Huh!” again nodded Eph. “Well, anyway,
with farm labor at a premium, I'm not going to
stay aboard to black the duffer's shoes.”
"Fellows, listen!" commanded Jack Benson,
suddenly looking up.
Then he told them both the thought and the
scheme that had been in his mind all that day.
While the young captain was talking his two
mates were still-Hal, because it was his nature,
and Eph Somers because he was actually stag-
gered into silence.


26
THE SUBMARINE BOYS'
“That's what I've been thinking of," Jack
wound up.
“Don't you do it, old fellow - don't you
dare!” ordered Hal, sitting up straighter and
resting an appealing hand on his chum's shoul-
der.
“But think of the lives that have been lost on
submarine boats during the last few years,"
pleaded Jack Benson, seriously.
“And you want to add your life to the
others," retorted Hal, with mocking irony.
"I want to save, perhaps, hundreds of lives
in the future," returned Jack, spiritedly.
“Then, at least, old chum,” begged Hal, “tell
your scheme to Mr. Farnum, and let him hire
a trained diver to make the experiment."
"You think there's a lot of danger in it, do
you?” queried Captain Jack, mildly.
“I certainly do," said Hastings, with empha-
sis.
“Then I'll do the trick myself," contended
Jack. “I'm not going to think up a trick too
dangerous for myself, and then hire another
man to take all the risk for me."
Hal said no more. He knew the folly of try-
ing to persuade his chum out of a decision like
the present one.
"I don't believe Farnum will let you try it,"
hinted Eph. “It sounds too dangerous.”


TRIAL TRIP
“Mr. Farnum won't know what it is until it's
been done,” responded young Captain Benson,
with a light laugh, as he rose from the table.
“Fellows, I'm going on shore for a little while.
Look the electric motor over, and test the com-
pressed air apparatus. We want to be sure that
everything is working right.”
“Let me go ashore with you," suggested Hal,
also rising.
“Not this time," laughed Jack. “You might
try to say something to Mr. Farnum to queer
my plan. Stay here. You and Eph make
mighty sure that everything is in running
order."
Going on deck, Captain Jack signaled for a
shore boat, which was quickly alongside. Land-
ing, the young captain walked slowly up to the
yard office, thinking deeply all the time.
Just as the young submarine commander en-
tered the outer office Jacob Farnum stepped out
from his private, inner office. He was smoking
a cigar, and looked as though he had come out
to stretch his legs.
“Hullo, Jack,” he greeted the young man,
pleasantly. “Say, I hope you haven't come to
talk business. Say something foolish, won't
you, lad? I'm just in the mood for nonsense.
All forenoon I've had my head crammed to
bursting with figures and business, and now I'm


THE SUBMARINE BOYS'
in the mood for something reckless. You see,
Melville is in a position to command a lot of
capital, and we need it to expand this business.
He's in there, now, with another capitalist, a
lawyer and an accountant. But I had to break
away. What do you know that’s reckless ?”
Jacob Farnum was not playing any part of
treachery, or deception, in not telling his sub-
marine boys about the proposed shifting of
command to Don Melville's shoulders. The fact
was that George Melville, after that first hint,
had said nothing more about the subject, but
was now craftily laying the wires for securing
gradual control of the shipyard's enterprises.
“Why, I am glad to find you at leisure, and
willing to be amused,” smiled Captain Jack,
quietly. "Will it be too much like business if
I ask you down to the water to watch a little
demonstration that we want to make with the
‘Pollard'?"
"Is it something brand-new?” laughed Mr.
Farnum, resting an arm on the young captain's
shoulder..
“So far as I know, it's shiningly new,',
laughed Jack Benson.
“What is it?"
“If you don't mind, Mr. Farnum, I'd rather
show it to you first.”
“How long will the demonstration take?”


TRIAL TRIP
29
"It ought not to require more than fifteen or
twenty minutes, sir."
“I'll take you up, then,” agreed Mr. Far-
num, pleasantly.
Just at that moment the inner door opened.
Mr. Melville came out, followed by his lawyer,
Don bringing up the rear of the file.
“I guess you'd better come along with me,
gentlemen,” called Mr. Farnum. “Captain
Benson has just invited me to witness something
new in the submarine line."
"What is it?" questioned Mr. Melville.
“I don't know," admitted Jacob Farnum.
“What is it, boy?” demanded Mr. Melville,
turning upon Jack. The very tone in which the
word "boy" was uttered was meant to reduce
the youthful captain to confusion, but it had
the opposite effect. Though it brought a quick
flush to Jack's cheeks, he answered, courteously:
"It is intended, principally, as a surprise to
Mr. Farnum. If I were to tell, now, it would
rob him of much of the pleasure of being aston-
ished.”
To this George Melville did not deign to
reply, though he compressed his lips grimly.
enough. Don flashed a sneering look at Jack,
then observed:
“You're pretty independent for a boy."
“Let Captain Jack alone,” drawled Farnum,


30
THE SUBMARINE BOYS'
expelling some cigar smoke between his lips.
“He generally knows what he's doing.”
Though there was nothing in the builder's
tone at which offense could be taken, this reply
quieted both Melvilles for the time being.
“Come on. We'll all go down to the shore
and see what it is,” added the yard's owner.
Captain Jack hurried ahead, entered the shore
boat and was rowed out alongside the “Pol-
lard.”
“It's all right, fellows," he called, as soon as
he boarded. “Everything ready?”
Receiving assurance that all was ready, Cap-
tain Jack turned to wave his hand to the little
group watching from the shore. Two or three
minutes later the “Pollard” slipped slowly
away from her moorings, going out where the
little harbor was deeper. Then, the manhole
being closed, the subriarine began to sink. Her
conning tower was soon out of sight beneath the
surface.
“There's about seventy feet of water, where
the boat is going down," observed Farnum, to
his guests.
“What's the aim of all this mysterious
work?” demanded Mr. Melville, with some irri-
tation.
“You know as much as I do,” drawled Far-
num, smilingly.


TRIAL TRIP
31
“It seems to me that you allow this young
boat tender a good deal of latitude, and tolerate
a good deal of mystery in him,” cried the
capitalist, impatiently.
“I have a good deal of confidence in my young
captain," returned Farnum, good-humoredly,
though with considerable emphasis on the
title. “So far I have never had any need to
regret giving Captain Benson rather a free
hand.”
“Yet you— "
Mr. Melville stopped right there, for Jacob
Farnum, his eyes turned in a steady look out
over the water, suddenly emitted an incredulous
whoop. Then, without explanation, the boat-
builder broke into a dead run that carried him
along the shore to the northern edge of the little
harbor.
Nor was Mr. Farnum's astonishment to be
wondered at, for he had just caught sight of
Jack Benson's head, above the water at the
point where the submarine had gone down.
And now, Captain Jack, after blowing out a
mouthful of water, had started to swim ashore
with long, easy strokes.
Not quite catching the great significance of
it all, the Melvilles and the lawyer hurried after
the builder.
Captain Jack Benson, clad only in a bathing


32
THE SUBMARINE BOYS'
suit, stepped out of the water and stood laugh-
ing before his employer.
"Jack, how on earth did you " began
Farnum, then stopped, overpowered by another
wave of amazement.
"What's the meaning of all this?” demanded
the elder Melville, pantingly, as he reached the
scene.
“Mr. Melville, and gentlemen,” cried the
boatbuilder, wheeling upon his guests, “do you
even begin to grasp the importance of the
marvel you have just witnessed? One of the
great indictments found against the submarine
torpedo boat is that, when one sinks and can-
not be brought to the surface again, the crew
must miserably perish. Very humane people
shudder at the very idea of ordering men into
a craft that may go to the bottom and become
the hopeless grave of the crew. Yet the ‘Pol-
lard' lies at the bottom of this harbor, and Cap-
tain Benson has just come to the surface,
laughing and uninjured."
“I suppose he opened the manhole cover,
and rose to the surface," hazarded Mr. Mel-
ville.
“In that case, sir,” smiled Captain Jack,
"wouldn't you expect the ‘Pollard' to be filled
with water, and my companions drowned? Be-
sides, sir, at a depth of seventy feet, the pres-


TRIAL TRIP
33.
33
sure of the water is such that it would be sheer
impossibility to raise the manhole cover."
"Then how did you get here?” demanded the
capitalist.
“Pardon me, sir," replied Jack, courteously,
though firmly.
“Do you refuse to answer my question, boy?"
Again the irritating, half-contemptuous use
of "boy” made Jack's cheeks flush, though he
answered merely:
“I think, sir, Mr. Farnum has a right to the
first information.”
"Do you understand, boy, that I am about to
take a large interest in this business?”
"I have heard so, sir. But I hope you won't
mind my saying that this little surprise was
thought out by my comrades and myself. It
seems to me, therefore, that we have some rights
in the disclosing of the secret."
“Humph!” broke in Don Melville. “It's all
some deception--some cheap trick, anyway."
Captain Jack held up one hand to signal the
shore boat, which, with two workmen in it, was
hovering near. As the boat came in, the sub-
marine boy announced:
"Now, I will show you the rest of the prin-
ciple that my mates and I are demonstrating.
Mr. Farnum, by the way, has just spoken of the
humane side of this discovery, the making pos-
go The Submarine Boys' Trial Trip.


34
THE SUBMARINE BOYS'
sible the rescue of a crew of a boat that can't
be made to rise. Gentlemen, there's still an-
other side to it. Under actual war conditions,
with a submarine boat guarding a coast or har-
bor entrance, if the commander of the boat
brought the conning tower above the surface,
the presence of the boat would be detected on a
clear day. But the head of a swimmer rising
from the boat could not be observed at any very
great distance. Yet the swimmer could make
out the hull or masts of a hostile vessel some
miles away. This new trick is likely to make
submarine boats much more valuable to the
countries owning them. Now, I want to try
something else, and see whether I can do it.”
The shore boat put in when called. In the
bow was a hundred-pound anchor, with plenty
of cable to pay out after it. Captain Jack en-
tered the boat, looked over the anchor tackle,
then returned to shore.
“Come to me where I stop,” he directed the
men in the boat. With that, after getting his
bearings fully, he swam out, counting his strokes
as he went.
“It's about here that I came up,” he called,
pausing and treading water easily. “Bring the
boat here."
Clambering aboard, he directed the casting of
the anchor overboard. Then, poising himself


TRIAL TRIP
35
at the bow, he made a strong dive, vanishing
under the water.
“What's be going to do now?" asked Mr. Mel-
ville, curiously.
“I'd rather wait than guess,” smiled Mr.
Farnum.
For just an instant Don Melville looked, as
he felt, green with envy.
Some moments passed. Then, not far from
the spot where the "Pollard” had gone down,
her conning tower appeared once more. That
was followed by the emergence of the platform
deck and upper hull above the water. In an-
other moment the tower manhole was opened,
and Jack Benson, with a wave of the hand,
stepped out, his bathing suit changed for his
uniform. He lifted his cap in a joyous salute
to those on shore.
“By Jove, Jack, but you're a wonder!”
shouted Mr. Farnum across the water. "I'll
have Dave Pollard excited when I write him
about this thing. But you have me guessing
how the trick was done.”
Once more Benson signaled the small boat in
close, after the anchor had been lifted. Now,
the young submarine captain came in to
shore.
“Will you come on board with me, Mr. Far-
num?” invited Jack.


THE SUBMARINE BOYS'
“Are you going to show him how you worked
the trick?” demanded Mr. Melville, quickly.
“Then I believe we'll all come on board."
“I–I am sorry, sir." Jack hesitated. “If
anyone but Mr. Farnum comes aboard I shall
show nothing. Later on, when Mr. Farnum and
I have talked this matter over- "
“Are you going to stand for this boy's non-
sense, Farnum?” broke in the capitalist, angrily.
"I guess I shall have to," responded the
him, was a sign that he was close to inward
anger. “Mr. Melville, I must beg you to re-
member that the secret, whatever it is, belongs,
so far, to Captain Benson. You may not ap-
prove, but I think he is wholly right in this in-
stance."
The capitalist bowed stiffly. He and his son
remained on the shore as Farnum embarked
with his young employe. They were soon on
board the “Pollard,” which was not long in
sinking. Then, after a few minutes, Jack's head
once more shot above the water. The shore
boat was waiting, and again dropped the anchor
close to where the boy had come up. Jack stood
in the boat for a few minutes, taking in deep
breaths and sunning his wet skin. Then, for
the second time, he dived below the surface.


TRIAL TRIP
'Sul,
Five minutes afterward the “Pollard” was at
the surface and moving back to her moorings.
Mr. Farnum and Captain Jack returned to the
shore. The boatbuilder's face was glowing with
delight.
“You saw our young captain come up while
I was with the ‘Pollard' down on the bottom,
didn't you?” inquired the yard's owner.
“Yes,” admitted Mr. Melville, grudgingly,
while Don half scowled, then turned his head
away. “But how is the thing done?”
"That,” replied Jacob Farnum, courteously,
“at the request of Captain John Benson, must
remain a secret for the present."
“Oh!" said the capitalist, but his tone was
ominous.
CHAPTER III
MR. MELVILLE HURLS THE CRASH
TT was really a wonderful, even if a very
simple, revolution in the handling of sub-
marine boats that Jack Benson had
thought out.
Up to that time many scores of lives had been
lost, in different parts of the world, when the
crews of submarine boats had found, for one
reason or another, that they could not raise their


38
THE SUBMARINE BOYS'
craft from the bottom of the depths. Formerly,
when crews found themselves placed in that
predicament, death followed.
Jack's solution was wonderfully simple. In
brief, when the “Pollard” lay on the bottom of .
the little harbor at Dunhaven, the young cap-
tain had crawled into the long tube through
which torpedoes were to be discharged in war
time.
One end of this torpedo tube projects slightly
into the water, at the bow of the submarine boat.
The other end of the tube is well inside the craft.
Two doors, or “ports," as they are called, close
the tube at the ends. Ordinarily the forward
port is closed, to keep water from entering the
boat. When a torpedo is placed in the tube for
firing, the outer or forward port is opened auto-
matically just at the instant of discharging the
torpedo. Enough compressed air is turned into
the tube to force the torpedo out, after which
the torpedo goes on its deadly journey pro-
pelled by its own motor. The presence of the
air thus turned into the tube at the instant of
firing keeps out the water until the tube's for-
ward port is once more closed. Then the rear
port of the tube, inside the submarine boat, may
be opened whenever it is desired.
Captain Jack Benson, when he reached bot-
tom with the “Pollard,” and had donned his


TRIAL TRIP
39
bathing suit, crawled into the tube through the
rear port. This port was then closed. Hal
Hastings simultaneously opened the outer port
and discharged compressed air into the tube.
Thus Jack forced his way out into the water,
and, with the aid of his natural buoyancy, made
a quick swim for the surface.
In returning, he had dived down, close to the
anchor cable. Nearer the bottom he seized the
cable, thus hauling himself down to the outer
port of the torpedo tube. He had quickly
crawled into the tube, where the presence of air
still kept the water out. As he knocked heavily
at the rear port with both hands, Hal swiftly
turned in a moderate discharge of compressed
air, while Eph, controlling mechanism inside,
swung the forward port shut. Then the rear
port was swung back, Captain Jack crawling
back into the forward compartment of the
boat.
“The whole trick is rather easy,” Jack in-
formed Mr. Farnum, as they walked that night
in the village and discussed the matter in under-
tones.
“But you were in not more than seventy feet
of water there,” suggested the builder. “You
couldn't do it at much greater depth.”
“At eighty feet of water I could do it,” re-
plied Benson, thoughtfully.


40
THE SUBMARINE BOYS'
“But at a greater depth than eighty
feet- q"
“Of course, the deeper one gets, the more
tremendous the pressure of the water is,” an-
swered the young captain. “At a depth of a
hundred feet, say, the pressure of the water
would be enough to crowd me back into the tube,
crushing my body."
“And killing you,” clicked Mr. Farnum.
“Undoubtedly. Yet seventy feet is as deep
as one need go. Fifty feet is far enough be-
low the surface, for that matter. And we have
the splendid little ‘Pollard' under such perfect
control that we can drop to fifty feet below the
surface, as shown by our submersion gauge, and
keep just at that depth.”
“It's all wonderful,” cried the boatbuilder.
“Jack, you are a genius at this work!”.
“There are some rather big problems to be
worked out, in connection with this new idea,”
hinted Benson.
“What are the problems?”
“Well, in observing a stretch of water, for.
the position or approach of a hostile battleship,
it might be necessary for the swimmer to go up
several times.”
“Yes "
“That would call for a very considerable use
of compressed air.”


TRIAL TRIP
“Naturally."
“So, in the boat now building, Mr. Farnum,
I think Mr. Pollard and yourself should pro-
vide for the carrying of greater quantities of
compressed air. For, when a submarine is be-
low, you must always have reserve tanks of
compressed air to be used in bringing the boat
to the surface. Of course, once on the surface,
with the motor going, more compressed air can
be quickly stored.”
“You've been doing some busy thinking,
Jack," spoke Mr. Farnum, approvingly.
“I haven't been doing it all, sir," was Ben-
son's quick reply. “Hal and Eph have been
talking it all over with me.”
“The Melvilles are very anxious to find out
how you performed the seemingly wonderful
feat of leaving the submerged boat and then
returning to it.”
“Are you going to tell them, sir."
“Not, at any rate, until I've taken more time
to think about it. Yet, you understand, Jack,
I can't be too offish with them. They are able
to control the investment of a good deal of
money, and that money I am afraid we are go-
ing to need if we are to go as steeply as we'd
like into the building of submarines.”
Jacob Farnum, it will be remembered, had
married Grace Desmond, an heiress. Her


42
THE SUBMARINE BOYS'
affairs were not yet fully settled through the
probate court, but she would presently be en-
titled to about a half million dollars in her own
right. To many it would have seemed that,
with a wife so rich, the inventor would not have
to look far to find abundant capital. Jacob
Farnum, however, knew the hazards that sur-
round even the best conducted business con-
cerns, and he had determined that not a penny
of his young wife's fortune should be risked in
his own ventures. In other words, it was a
point of honor with him not to take the slight-
est risk of involving his wife's private fortune.
The following morning David Pollard was on
hand, in response to a telegram from his friend.
Things were now about in shape for final dis-
cussion between Melville, the builder and the in-
ventor.
In the private inner office of the shipyard the
group of those most interested gathered. Jacob
Farnum seated himself beside his desk, Pollard
taking a chair close by. Lawyer Demarest, with
a pile of impressive looking documents before
him, sat at a large flat-top desk. Melville,
senior, and two business friends, sat a little
apart, while Don Melville stood behind his
father.
“I will say, in beginning," commenced George
Melville, in his smoothest, blandest tones, “that


TRIAL TRIP
43
we have talked so far, you and I, Mr. Farnum,
only in general terms. We will now come to the
definite proposition under which my friends and
myself are willing to contribute the share of
new capital that you want in your business.”
“That is what I most want, before we go any
further," assented Mr. Farnum. “I will say,
however, that I have in mind a proposition that
I would like to submit, before we hear from
your side.”
“I am listening,” nodded Mr. Melville,
suavely.
“We have already decided,” continued Mr.
Farnum, “that my boat yard, with all its equip-
ment, and including the ownership of the ‘Pol-
lard,' may be fairly rated at three hundred
thousand dollars."
“That is quite true," nodded Mr. Melville.
"That figure is in accordance with the estimates
made by our expert accountant."
“In the boat itself,” continued Jacob Far-
num, “my friend Pollard has a stated amount
of interest. To come quickly to the point, then,
I propose that Pollard and myself, with the aid
of a necessary third party—my superintendent,
Partridge, for instance-form a stock company
with a capital stock of three hundred thousand
dollars. Then the six hundred and fifty thou-
sand dollars that you and your associates are


44
THE SUBMARINE BOYS'
to advance, Mr. Melville, may be secured by an
issue of bonds, which the company will secure
authority to issue. These bonds will bear the
unusually high interest of seven per cent., and
this interest, of course, will have to be paid be-
fore any dividend can be declared on the capital
stock of the company. That will retain the con-
trol of the company in my hands, and in Pol-
lard's, and that is what we want."
“Yet do you expect that it will be easy to se-
cure such an understanding with capital?" in-
quired Mr. Melville, easily. “The proposition
amounts to this: That you put in the smaller
amount of capital, and yet expect to reap the
greater profits.”
“By no means," replied Jacob Farnum, seri-
ously. “We have demonstrated the value of
our type of boat, and we have some valuable
knowledge and ideas that cannot be appraised
in dollars. So, though our amount of material
capital is less than you and your associates
would contribute, we feel that we are bringing
to the enterprise the larger share.”
"I see your point,” nodded Mr. Melville,
pleasantly. “Yet there is much to be discussed
from our side."
So the contest was on-the quiet, polite battle
that is as old as capital itself. The men who
contribute the money expect the control of the


TRIAL TRIP
45
business; the men who contribute the ideas and
knowledge expect capital to be satisfied with a
good return on its money.
Both sides were silent for awhile. The law-
yer, tapping a pencil against his lips, knew that
George Melville did not intend to go into the
enterprise on any arrangement that did not al-
low him to gain business control swiftly and
surely.
“We have much to discuss, along these lines,”
pursued Mr. Melville, in his smoothest tones and
with his friendliest air. “But I have no doubt
at all, Mr. Farnum, that we shall presently
reach a basis that will be wholly agreeable to
both sides."
Which, on the contrary, was what the capital-
ist knew to be impossible. Melville found him-
self wishing that something else would come
into the conversation, in order to get the boat-
builder's mind briefly away from the main
proposition.
Steps were heard, at this moment, in the
outer office, and then the faces of Jack and Hal
appeared close to the glass in the door. Eph
was not far behind them.
“Oh, my crew," nodded Mr. Farnum, look-
ing up. “You remember our experiment, the
other day, of having a man leave the boat while
under water? Some other problems have come


46
THE SUBMARINE BOYS'
up in that connection. So I sent word to the
young men, asking them to step over to the
office as soon as convenient. I guess they did
not quite understand, and were busy at the time,
so that they have come over a little too late. I
will step to the door, and so inform them.”
Here was the diversion for which Mr. Mel-
ville had just been wishing.
“Don't dismiss them, please," urged the
capitalist. “On the contrary, will you be good
enough to ask them to step in here? There is
something that it might be as well to make clear
before them.”
Bowing slightly, as he rose, Jacob Farnum
stepped to the door, opening it.
“Come right in, boys,” he requested. “Mr.
Melville wishes to say something before you."
Each of the three submarine boys felt a quick
throb at the heart. All had a suspicion that a
blow might be about to fall. So they stepped
inside, halting not far from Mr. Farnum's desk,
and turning to face the Melville group.
Mr. Melville cleared his throat before he be-
gan:
“In the reorganization of affairs here, my in-
vesting friends and myself will be obliged to
expect that the command of the ‘Pollard' sub-
marine boat will pass to my son, who will ac-
tively represent our group. My son, Don, will


TRIAL TRIP
have charge and knowledge of the boat, its
successors, and of all new ideas tried aboard,
and he will safeguard, so far as may be neces-
sary, our interests. It is possible, however, that
he may find it advisable to employ some or all
of the present crew. That will, of course, be
for him to decide in the near future.”
CHAPTER IV
A SQUALL IN AN OFFICE
TACK BENSON paled, clenching his hands
tightly. Hal Hastings raised his eye-
brows slightly; he, too, changed color
swiftly. Eph's face reddened; he had all he
could do to keep from shouting outright. i
Jacob Farnum flushed, half rose from his
chair, then seated himself again and turned to
look at the boys.
But George Melville appeared to have eyes,
at that moment, for no one but young Captain
John Benson.
Don stood just beyond his father's chair, re-
garding the leader of the submarine boys with
a supercilious stare.
There was such silence, for a few seconds,
that the ticking of the big clock in the corner
sounded almost like hammer-blows.


48
THE SUBMARINE BOYS'
“You understand fully, do you not, Benson?”
demanded George Melville, breaking the silence.
“I heard you, sir,” Jack replied, not without
an effort.
“And what have you to say, Captain Ben-
son?" inquired Mr. Farnum, speaking with
some effort.
Captain Jack turned around to face his em-
ployer; the other two submarine boys wheeled
with him.
“Mr. Farnum, we have been in your employ,
and we have always taken your orders. If you
say we are to be dropped from the boat's crew,
we bow to what we can't prevent.”
“No one has spoken- definitely, that is of
dropping you boys from the ‘Pollard's' crew,"
interposed Mr. Melville, slowly. “I have only
announced that in the reorganization of this en-
terprise the group that I represent will require
that my son, Don, be placed in command of the
'Pollard,' and of any other submarine boats
that may be built. If you do not like to work
aboard the submarines, very likely we can find
work for you at something in this yard."
Jacob Farnum exchanged a few words in an
undertone with David Pollard. Now, the boat-
builder faced about.
“Mr. Melville,” he began, "Mr. Pollard and
I feel under a debt of deep obligation to Cap-


TRIAL TRIP
49
tain Benson and his mates. Boys though they
are, they have done much to make the ‘Pollard'
as famous as it already is. Between an intel-
ligent employer and a capable, honest employe
there can be no question about gratitude. I
speak for both Mr. Pollard and myself, there-
fore, when I say that it is our feeling that Cap-
tain Benson and his mates must continue in their
present positions."
The color came back to Jack's face. Joy
beamed out in his eyes. Hal looked as though
he had been given a new lease of life.
"Hooray!” roared Eph. He gave two vigor-
ous jig steps, then stopped, abashed.
“Excuse me, Mr. Farnum,” he begged,
shamefacedly. .
"I do not think you quite understand," went
on Mr. Melville, regarding the boatbuilder
coldly. "The placing of my son as I have in-
dicated is an absolute condition on the part of
our group.”
“And I have declined it,” returned Mr. Far-
num rising, and standing easily.
“Then you do not want our capital, Mr. Far-
num?” sternly demanded Mr. Melville.
"Not on your conditions, sir!" came, sharply,
from the boatbuilder.
“Oh, you will come to your senses, soon,” re-
joined the capitalist, coolly. "You need a good
4-The Submarine Boy's' Trial Trip.
nu


50
THE SUBMARINE BOYS'
deal of money for the extension of your busi-
ness, and we stand ready to supply it. All that
is needed is the conceding of certain conditions,
and we are ready to pass our checks for all the
money you need. My associates and myself ask
for nothing that is unfair. Now, will you take
our money into your business, or will you go
on in the old, slow way?”
David Pollard had risen, in some agitation,
and had walked to the further end of the private
office.
“Pardon me a moment," begged Farnum,
then followed his friend. The two conversed in
low tones.
“You may leave the room, boys,” announced
Mr. Melville, turning to eye Jack Benson.
Not one of the three stirred.
“Did you hear me?” insisted the capitalist,
sharply.
“Yes, sir," answered Jack, quietly.
"Then why don't you go?”
“Mr. Farnum sent for us, and we are waiting
to learn whether he is through with us for the.
present.”
“You may take my word for it,” snapped
Mr. Melville. “Go!”.
The submarine boys paid no heed to him.
“The impudent young beggars,” sneered
Don Melville. “Low-born, and no manners!”


52
THE SUBMARINE BOYS'
else," went on the boatbuilder, patiently. “We
thank you, Mr. Melville, and those associated
with you, but Mr. Pollard and I have decided to
go no further in the present negotiations.”
“What's that?” demanded George Melville,
springing to his feet. “You don't want our
money?”
“We won't take it—not at the price you set
on it,” responded Farnum, bluntly.
For the first time the capitalist appeared de-
cidedly uneasy.
“You don't mean this, Farnum,” he an-
swered. “You're excited; perhaps alarmed
over something that I have said, or which you
thought I intimated.”
“I mean just what I have said, take my word
for it, sir," retorted the boatbuilder. “We do
not intend to look to you for any money that we
need. That is final, and, therefore, that is all.”
“All this change of front because of these
wretched boys?” demanded George Melville, in-
credulously.
“Partly on account of your attitude toward
these boys,” admitted Mr. Farnum, “and also
because Pollard and I now realize that you had
intended to wrest control of this business from
us."
“You're losing your senses,” stormed the
capitalist, angrily. “Unless you at once come


TRIAL TRIP
53
to a realization of it, all we can do is to wish
you good morning.”
Mr. Farnum bowed, silently, then moved
toward the office door, opening it.
“Come on, gentlemen,” cried Melville, stiffly,
turning toward his own friends.
In silence the members of that group started
across the floor. Mr. Farnum, surveying them
inscrutably, still held the door open.
“This is dramatic and suicidal,” said Mr.
Melville, haughtily.
"You take it too seriously,” replied the boat-
builder, with a slight smile. “It is only good
morning.”
“You're a fool, Farnum !" came the answer
as Mr. Melville, in a rage, halted just inside the
door. “And I warn you that, if we leave here,
now, we shall not return, no matter how changed
your attitude may become later. Have you any
answer to that, sir?”
“Good morning,” replied Jacob Farnum,
with another courteous bow.
Stiffly, snorting but without words, George
Melville walked out of the office, across the outer
office, and out into the yard.
In the private office the three submarine
boys stood as though riveted to the floor. They
were astounded, and knew not what to say.
They were overjoyed, but incapable of express-


54
THE SUBMARINE BOYS'
ing any word of the gratitude that filled their
young hearts.
David Pollard walked to a chair, dropping
into it and studying the ceiling.
As for the boatbuilder, he stepped briskly
across the room, pulling open the door of a cup-
board. Taking out a broom, he began to sweep
very carefully where the Melville group had sat
or stood, and continued his sweeping across the
threshold of the doorway. Then, returning, he
tossed the broom into the cupboard. Stepping
springily over, he dropped into his desk chair,
letting out a hearty laugh.
“Well, that's over with, and a narrow es-
cape," he announced.
“But you couldn't quite sweep all their dirt
out after them,” declared David Pollard, look-
ing up with a smile.
“What do you think of that crowd, boys?”
asked Jacob Farnum, cheerily.
“I'm not giving much thought to them, sir,”
Jack replied, adding warmly: “But we fel-
lows, Mr. Farnum, simply can't think of words
that will express how we appreciate the splendid
way Mr. Pollard and yourself have stood up
for us."
Jacob Farnum eyed the boys quizzically,
then turned to the young captain of the sub-
marine to inquire:


TRIAL TRIP
55
“Wouldn't you stand by me in anything?
Wouldn't you yell for this yard and its product
with your last gasp? Answer me.”
“Why, of course we would,” Jack Benson
admitted.
“Then I take just offense, if you expect me
to be any less of a man than yourself,” declared
Farnum, with a pretense of anger.
"The same sentiment puts me on record,”
chuckled David Pollard.
“Then let us forget the low comedy, the melo-
drama, or whatever it was," proposed the boat-
builder. “Let us get down to the regular busi-
ness of the day. We want more money here,
if we can get it on a fair and square basis. If
we can't, we'll do our best to go along as we've
been going. And now, Jack, and the rest of
you, Pollard and I have a few little things to
whisper over."
CHAPTER V
DON MELVILLE TAKES A HAND
RE we at liberty to go up into the vil-
lage, sir?” asked Jack Benson, paus-
ing at the door.
“Fun?” demanded the boatbuilder, regard-
ing them with a dry smile.


56
THE SUBMARINE BOYS'
“Yes, sir,” Jack nodded. "That is, the kind
of fun we find in our work. We want to get
some metal, a few tools and other things, to
rig up something that we think may serve well
aboard the ‘Pollard.'"
“Run right along then," rejoined Mr. Far-
num. “Get a bill for whatever you spend at
the toolshop and turn the bill in as expense ac-
count."
“Thank you. Good morning, sir."
“Say, did you ever see that beat?” demanded
Eph, all aglow with enthusiasm, as the boys
stepped across the yard. “My, but didn't
Mr. Farnum call the trick with those fel-
lows?"
“We've been doing a heap of useless worry-
ing over what Don Melville let drop the other
day, haven't we?” asked Hal, quietly.
“Fellows,” stated Captain Jack, earnestly,
"as long as we work for this pair of men I'm
never going to be uneasy again over anything
but displeasing them. They're bricks! They
can count on us, every time!”
Up the street, a little way past the gate of
the boatyard, the Melville party had halted to
light cigars.
“I'm afraid, Melville,” said one of the cap-
italist’s associates, "you didn't go at the matter
with quite your usual tact. You showed your


TRIAL TRIP
57
hand too soon. You came out a little too
hard, just a little, too early in the proceed-
ings."
“Pooh!” retorted the capitalist. “We'll go
to the hotel. Farnum will cool down soon
enough, and realize what we represent to him.
Inside of two hours he'll have people out to find
out whether we've left town. Gentlemen, I don't
know but it might be a good idea for us actually
to leave Dunhaven.”
“An excellent idea,” replied Lawyer Dem-
arest, dryly, “for we shall only waste our time
by remaining here."
“What do you mean?” questioned the capi.
talist, quickly.
"Farnum won't send for us."
“He surely will, when he cools down."
“I'm positive that he won't,” asserted the
lawyer. “If I know anything about men Far-
num will get along without us from now on."
"But he needs the money."
“He can get it, Melville, I am inclined to
think,” returned the man of the law. .
“And we need the investment,” continued
George Melville. “Why, with my influential
connections at Washington, and some other con-
nections that I have, I can see a return of mil-
lions on our investment."
“You will never make the investment, as long


58
THE SUBMARINE BOYS'
as Jacob Farnum has the deciding word,” in-
sisted Mr. Demarest.
“I'm sure of that, too,” added Mr. Faulkner.
“And all on account of those rascally boys!"
uttered Don Melville, in a tone of disgust.
“Isn't it funny how some folks will cling to
muckers? Why, anyone would think that the
fellow Benson and his chums are so necessary
that the business couldn't go on without them.
They're the "
“Hush!” murmured the lawyer. "Here
come the boys."
Jack and his mates were at this moment com-
ing out of the yard. They had turned on the
sidewalk, and started along ere they caught
sight of the group ahead.
“There's that infernal gang!" uttered Eph,
wrathfully.
“Keep your eyes away from them, and don't
say anything, then," whispered Jack. “Don't
say or do anything that can possibly spoil the
morning by putting us in the wrong.".
But Don Melville, wrathful over the morn-
ing's happenings, and keenly disappointed over
the knowledge that he could not hope to com-
mand the “Pollard," was not disposed to let
the submarine boys go unchallenged.
On came Jack, Hal and Eph, walking abreast,
yet ready to break and pass in silence.


60
THE SUBMARINE BOYS'
“Don't soil your hands on the fellow, Don,"
cried his father, sharply.
“I must, sir, after he has insulted me,” cried
Don, in a rage. “I must kick him, anyway."
"Nonsense, Don! No brawling with people
of this class,” commanded his father, sternly.
The elder Melville reached out to restrain his
son, but that seemed only to render the young
man more furious. He rushed at Jack, aiming
a kick.
“Don't you dare try that!” warned young
Benson, his eyes flashing.
But Don, despite both warnings, did swing
his foot. Jack dodged the impact, then darted
in at the side, landing a blow on young Mel-
ville's chest that sent him staggering back.
“Strike me, will you?” flashed Don, throw-
ing himself on guard.
George Melville, aghast at Jack's presump-
tion in attacking his son, now stepped back, sat-
isfied that Don'must avenge the insult.
A dozen boys, talking over baseball nearly a
block away, saw the start of this encounter.
"Fight! fight!” they yelled, gleefully, and
raced down the street.
The cries reached the private office in the
boatyard. Suspecting, partly, what might be
up, Jacob Farnam snatched his hat, running out.
David Pollard followed.


TRIAL TRIP
61
“You young puppy!” almost screamed Don.
“I'll teach you a lesson that you need.”
“I'm usually particular about where I get
my training,” retorted Jack Benson, insulted
and stung past his power to endure.
Yet Captain Jack did not attempt to follow
up that first blow. Throwing himself into the
attitude of defense, he waited.
Don Melville did not keep him long waiting,
but rushed at the shorter youth, intent on send-
ing him to earth.
“Hit him like a gentleman, Don!” called his
father.
Whatever way that might be, Don Melville
struck out, his blood at the white heat of rage.
With such force did he aim the blow that, when
nimble Captain Jack failed to be in the way to
stop it, Don pitched forward, falling to his
knees.
“Hooray!” yelled some of the onlooking
boys, derisively.
Jack halted before his foe, smiling at him
quietly.
“Know any more stunning tricks like that
one?” Benson inquired.
"I'll show you !" panted Don, leaping up. As
he did so, he caught sight of the smiling faces
of Messrs. Farnum and Pollard, strolling up
from the boatyard gateway.


62
THE SUBMARINE BOYS'
As he faced the smiling submarine boy, young
Melville was quick to realize that he must cool
down if he did not want to become a laughing-
stock for the street crowd that was swiftly form-
ing. Half a dozen workmen employed in the
yard had climbed up onto the fence. .
"Mind you," said Jack, coolly, “I don't want
to hurt you. You started this, Melville.”
The sheer coolness of this speech once more
carried Don Melville out of the bounds of rea-
son. On the “gym” floor Don had studied the
art of boxing well, but he had not learned all he
needed to know about coolness.
“You young hound!” he snapped.
“You said something like that before," Jack
laughed. “Is that all you can do? I feel as
though I were wasting my time.”
“Do you?” mocked Don. "Take that, then!”
This time he leaped forward, feinting with
his left hand. But Jack was not to be caught
like that. Instead, he parried against the real
blow delivered with Don's right fist. The force
of the parry threw Don to his left. Just at that
instant Benson passed behind his opponent,
landing a stinging blow on the other's neck.
Down flat to the ground went the Melville heir,
hitting his nose roughly and starting the blood.
“Hooray!" yelled a gleeful boy in the throng.
"Say, ain't he fine at jiu-jitsu, though?”


TRIAL TRIP
A yell of great joy went up from some of the
boys, who are always delighted at seeing the
larger fellow thrashed, especially when he is the
one who has started the trouble.
“Don't you think you'd better wait and cool
down?” inquired Jack, dryly. “You're only
making a show of yourself.”
That taunt stung Don into rising and squar-
ing off, while his father looked unutterably dis-
gusted and angry over the ridiculous turn
affairs had taken.
“Benson's advice is good-sound," approved
Lawyer Demarest, stepping in. “Don, you're
no match for your opponent, at least not in your
present temper. Don't try to carry this any
further.”
“Do you think I'm going to let this young
mucker make a fool of me?" demanded the Mel-
ville youth, huskily. “I've just got to settle
with him.”
“Yes, yes, Don; stop this. It's unseemly,”
insisted his father, red-faced through his hu-
miliation. “Come on!”
Mr. Melville's other friends also interposed.
Don, surrounded, yet not very anxious to carry
the fight on any further, chafed hopelessly.
Jack Benson, seeing the new turn of affairs, and
realizing how ridiculous his foe must faci,
turned to Hal to say:


64
THE SUBMARINE BOYS'
“I guess we're not needed here any longer.
Come on.”
“As for you, Benson," choked the elder Mel-
ville, we shall see what can be done about this.
You ought to be arrested."
Jack's only answer was a tantalizing grin,
after which he turned his back, as he and his
mates started off up the street, followed by a
little cheer from some of the boys gathered
there.
“What can the law do about this?” demanded
the elder Melville of the lawyer, in a low tone.
“A warrant could be issued against your son
for disturbing the peace,” came the disgusted
reply of Lawyer Demarest. “As for Benson,
all he did was to protect himself when insulted
and assaulted unjustly. It was a disgraceful
affair, my dear sir. Now, let us get away from
here before we're exposed to more ridicule.”
Neither Mr. Farnum nor Mr. Pollard had said
a word. Now, smiling quietly, they returned to
the yard. The crowd broke up. The Melville
party kept on to the hotel of Jabez Holt not far
away.


66
THE SUBMARINE BOYS'
back to his yard. Thereafter he took pains to
keep himself informed of the Melville doings.
By night the foundations of a shipbuilder's
shed had been laid by a large force of car-
penters. Another gang of carpenters had gone
to work building a fence as rapidly as laborers
could set up the poles. By the night of the fol-
lowing day the fence was completed, and the
shed, so far as outward appearances went, was
completed.
And now, though George Melville and his son
preserved an air of great secrecy, the news
leaked out that a new boatyard was added to
the industries of Dunhaven, coupled with the
further information that Mr. Melville was en-
gaged in the manufacture of submarine torpedo
boats.
Both Farnum and Pollard looked somewhat
grave when this knowledge was first brought to
them by Eph Somers, who had a great knack
for picking up ocal news. However, the young
builder was quick to cheer up.
“So we're to have a rival yard, and the ‘Pol-
lard' is to have a rival?” said Mr. Farnum.
“Competition ought to stir us forward to the
very best that is in us. Somers, ask Captain
Benson and Hastings to come here. We'll talk
this matter over."
Twenty minutes later the few devoted friends


TRIAL TRIP
of the “Pollard” boat were gathered around
Mr. Farnum's desk.
“Unless I'm in great error," said the young
boatbuilder,"we're in for a lively rumpus, now.
Melville is aroused over our refusal to let him
into this enterprise, and he's starting an oppo-
sition. He can command a great deal of money,
and I understand that he has a good many in-
fluential friends in Washington. If he can carry
on the most successful rivalry, he may do us a
great deal of harm. For instance, if he can
build so fine a boat that he can put ours in the
shadow. In fact, while I don't mean to be a
quitter or a skulker, I'll admit that Melville may
possibly be able to dig a hole and drop us into
it. If he produces a type of boat that goes far
ahead of ours, then the Government is likely to
buy his, overlook ours and leave me stranded
financially. About all I'm worth is tied up in
the present 'Pollard' and in the new torpedo
submarine that I'm now building.”
“He can't invent or build a finer submarine
than the ‘Pollard,'” declared Captain Jack,
with conviction.
“Nor get as fine a crew to handle his craft,"
added David Pollard.
.“Don't be too sure of that,” warned Jack,
soberly. “I think we fellows have done fairly
well with your boat, up to date. But suppose


THE SUBMARINE BOYS'
Mr. Melville should be able to get a lot of ex-
perienced submarine men, and even, perhaps,
an officer, from the United States Navy. We
boys could hardly beat such a combination as
that."
"I'm not so sure that you're right on this
point, Jack," clicked Mr. Farnum. "I'll say
this much: It would make me more uneasy to
lose the services of you boys than it would to
hear that Melville has a Navy crew for the boat
he's building."
“Of course," went on Jack, thoughtfully,
after a pause, “if you, Mr. Farnum, could in-
terest all the capital you want, on your own fair
conditions, you wouldn't have to be afraid of
this man Melville.”
“No,” admitted the boatbuilder, making a
wry face. “But getting all that capital together
is the problem. You see, Jack, we know just.
how good a boat we have, but others don't.”
“Others don't?” repeated Captain Benson.
“That gives me an idea.”
“Another trouble," pursued the builder, “is
that this submarine business is just something
of a speculation. Suppose investors come for-
ward with a lot of ready money to put into this
enterprise? Our boat is good, but how do the
investors know that, within the next few months,
some other inventor won't come forward with


TRIAL TRIP
a new type of submarine boat that will leave
ours hopelessly behind? Then the investors
would stand to lose every dollar that they put
in with us. That's the thought that makes in-
vestors shy."
“Yet Mr. Melville did not seem to be afraid
of the chance of losing,” remarked Jack Ben-
son.
“He's a gambler all the way through, and
he has some moneyed friends of his sort,” re-
plied Mr. Farnum. “But it's hard to find such
investors.”
“Now, for that idea I mentioned," proposed
Captain Jack. "You can see what you think
of it. Why not get people to talking about our
boat? Why not make them talk about it as the
most wonderful thing possible in a submarine
boat? You know how I managed to leave the
boat under water, and to return to it. The
thing has never been done before. You know
how simple the trick was, and that it was blun-
dered upon by accident. But the people of the
country at large don't know how the trick is
done. When they hear about it, broadcast,
won't they think that the ‘Pollard' is the only
real thing in submarines? Use the ‘Pollard'
type of boat, and no more men need be killed
when a boat won't rise. That's the way the
people will talk. So, Mr. Farnum, why not


70
THE SUBMARINE BOYS'
write to the editor of each of the biggest daily
papers, inviting him to send a representative
here on a near date, to see the thing done?
Don't let the editors know just what feat is to
be displayed. Simply let them know, in a mys-
terious, general way, that the thing we will
demonstrate revolutionizes the whole art of sub-
marine warfare—as it really does.”
“That will make people talk, surely,” ac-
knowledged the young boatbuilder.
“And there'll be pressure put upon Congress
to buy your boat, and more like it,” urged Cap-
tain Jack. "All the newspaper talk will be free
advertising, and I imagine that the kind of ad-
vertising that newspapers are forced to give is
all the best paying."
"I haven't had much experience in that line,
but I imagine it is the best kind,” nodded Mr.
Farnum.
All hands set to, to devise a list of newspapers
to which invitations should be sent. The ste-
nographer was soon intensely busy with this
work.
Down at the new Melville yard affairs went
on with a rush. Two tumble-down houses were
rented in a little habited part of the town, and
in these a gang of close-mouthed Italian laborers
was quartered. Jabez Holt felt the new in-
crease in prosperity, for Mr. Melville engaged


72
THE SUBMARINE BOYS'
fore the newspaper correspondents won't take
a lot of wind out of the Melville sails.".
"It ought to," nodded the builder, “unless
the Melvilles, or some of the experts they're
dealing with, are shrewd enough to figure out
how you left the boat and returned to it.”
“Would you have figured that out, Mr. Far-
num, if I hadn't told you?”
“Probably not, Jack. It's one of the things
that are too simple to guess at easily.”
Passers by the Melville yard were now able
to hear the hammering of the riveters daily. It
looked as though the new yard must be pushing
a submarine boat to rapid completion.
“There hasn't been a launching, anyway, so
I don't believe the Melville people will be able
to do anything to beat our show to-morrow,"
remarked Captain Jack, on the night before the
day that had been set for the show before the
newspaper men.
Early the next forenoon newspaper corre-
spondents began to arrive in numbers from half
a dozen large cities. As the hotel was monopo-
lized by the Melville crowd, Mr. Farnum had
engaged other quarters at which to entertain the
men of the press. Some of the newspapers sent
women writers.
None of these visitors were taken direct to
the yards. Mr. Farnum and Mr. Pollard took


74
THE SUBMARINE BOYS'
builder. “And now, signal for the boat that is
to put you aboard.”
As the boat was coming in Captain Jack
turned to the newspaper writers to say:
“Ladies and gentlemen, the thing that is to
be done to-day is something that has never been
done on any other boat than the ‘Pollard.' If
it looks a bit dramatic, you will understand, of
course, that that is a means toward making it
all the more impressive.”
“Oh, dear, but you are making me dreadfully
inquisitive," complained one of the newspaper
women, plaintively.
Embarking in the shore boat, the “Pollard's"
crew were soon aboard the submarine. From
the platform decks they waved their caps, then,
one by one, disappeared through the tower, the
manhole cover being pulled down after them.
"Are they going to take the boat out and sub-
merge it?" asked one of the correspondents.
“Yes," nodded Mr. Farnum.
“And what else-please?” asked the par-
ticularly impatient newspaper woman.
Mr. Farnum smiled, then added :
"There they go, under electric power.
Watch!”
By the time that the boat had gone a little
more than a hundred feet one of the correspond-
ents called out:


TRIAL TRIP
75
“They're sinking!”
“All a part of the performance,” stated Mr.
Pollard.
Before some of the visiting journalists could
quite realize it, the tip of the conning tower had
disappeared below the surface.
"That's all very interesting to look at,” half
shuddered one of the women. “But what if
they couldn't bring the boat up again ?”
“The boat is built to go up or down, at need,”
Mr. Farnum assured her. “Captain Benson has
never had an accident yet."
So the group of some thirty newspaper peo-
ple watched intently, keeping their gaze on the
place where they had seen the last ripples close
in over the vanishing conning tower.
The minutes passed by. The shore boat, with
the hundred-pound anchor and cable in the bow,
hovered just where Captain Jack had directed,
but what could be going on in the submarine at
the bottom of the little harbor ?
“Mr. Farnum, don't you sometimes get nerv-
ous over such things ?" demanded one of the
women.
“Never,” the boatbuilder assured her.
Yet is was not long before the yard's owner
pulled out his watch to look at the dial. Eleven
minutes had passed since the disappearance of
the submarine. The next time Farnum glanced


76
THE SUBMARINE BOYS'
at his watch the time had lengthened to fifteen
minutes. Then the time dragged by to half an
hour.
David Pollard was fighting hard to conceal the
nervous dread that had seized him.
“Farnum,” he found chance to whisper, at
last, "something tragic has happened to the
boys, at last. What on earth can it be? What-
ever it is, we're utterly powerless to help
them!”
CHAPTER VII
MISSINGA SUBMARINE AND CREW
IFTEEN minutes more dragged by.
“Where's your show, Mr. Farnum?".
“Something has gone wrong, eh?”.
The correspondents were pressing about the
worried builder and the uneasy inventor.
“There's a tragedy going on over there, isn't
there?" demanded another journalist, pointing
out across the water.
“I–I'm afraid there is a chance of it,"
nodded Mr. Farnum, dejectedly, again looking
at the watch in his hand. “It's getting on
toward an hour since the ‘Pollard' went down."
“What are you going to do about it?"
“Is there no way to rescue the crew!"


TRIAL TRIP
77
“Don't let those boys die, without lifting a
finger to save them.”
“Get busy, man— in heaven's name, get
busy!”
Such were the comments, questions and ad-
vice that poured in on the builder. David Pol-
lard, his sensitive nature suffering extremely,
shrank back out of the crowd.
“Gentlemen—and ladies, too-don't you un-
derstand that nothing really can be done at
least not in a rush?” cried Jacob Farnum, the
cold sweat standing out on his face. "There
isn't a diver in or near Dunhaven, and that un-
fortunate boat is down in seventy feet of water.
I'm going to rush a wire to the nearest place
where I know a diver to be, but I-I am certain
that it will be hours before we can hope to have
one here. That is all—all that can possibly be
done."
“Oh, this is dreadful!” sobbed one of the
women writers. “Those brave, splendid boys—.
such a fearful fate!”
"Must they be asphyxiated down there, be-
low?” cried another woman.
“Don't,” choked Jacob Farnum.. “I must
rush for the telegraph station and get off a mes-
sage for a diver-also for a wrecking company
to send tugs and floats here for raising the ‘Pol-
lard.' Yet it will take a wretchedly long time.”


78
THE SUBMARINE BOYS'
“And the boys? Rescue will come too late
to save them?” asked a newspaper man, with a
decided choke in his voice.
Jacob Farnum made a wild dash for his office,
telephoning for a messenger boy. While wait-
ing he wrote two telegrams in feverish haste.
Several of the newspaper people wrote hasty,
excited dispatches to their papers for the even-
ing editions. The messenger boy, when he ar-
rived on a run, was all but loaded down with
paper. Then the yard's owner and the news-
paper folks dashed back to the shore.
Out on the harbor the water lay unruffled.
There was not a sign of the suspected tragedy
that lay beneath the waves.
“It's an hour and a half since the boat sank,”
called one of the correspondents.
“What were the boys supposed to do, any-
way?" insisted another.
Jacob Farnum opened his mouth, as though
to speak, then closed it again.
"Tell us,” insisted one woman.
“Yes, tell us,” insisted a man.
Just then, there came a shout over the waters.
“Say, you lubbers, what did you move that
boat for?”
There was an instant gasp from all who
turned so swiftly to look out over the water.
Only Jack Benson's brown-haired head


80
THE SUBMARINE BOYS'
“Worried?” ejaculated the boatbuilder.
“I've telegraphed for a diver and a wrecking
company's outfit."
“Better countermand the order, sir,” ad-
vised Jack, dryly.
“But what on earth caused all the delay?
What did it mean?” persisted the boatbuilder.
“Answer me, Benson.”
“Why," laughed Jack, “when we started, I
dropped a word or two about trying to make the
exhibition dramatic, didn't I?”
“If that's what you tried to do, young man,”
grunted one of the correspondents, “you've cer-
tainly succeeded. Why, in five or ten minutes
more the evening papers in half a dozen cities
will have extras out announcing that one more
big submarine boat disaster has occurred!”
“Did you really send that to your papers ?”
asked Jack Benson, some of his glee showing.
“Of course we did.”
“And that reminds me," shouted another.
“We've got to send the follow-up news, at once.
I have, anyway."
That roused the newspaper people to a sense
of what they were there for, though one man
broke in:
“Just a second, folks! Let's find out what
the show was intended for."
“Why, it's intended to show," replied Jack,


TRIAL TRIP
81
"that a boat built and equipped like the 'Pol-
lard' isn't a death-trap for the crew, if it should
happen, through some accident, that the boat
refuses to rise to the surface.”
“That's the trick,” confirmed Mr. Farnum.
“But, Jack, why did you wait so long before
coming up.”
“So that you could all realize something of
the anxiety of people over such accidents to sub-
marines, and the great dread over the fate of
the crew," laughed the boy. “I think our de-
lay made you all realize something of that.”
“You have something of the dramatic in-
stinct, truly," murmured the newspaper woman
who had sobbed. “You had us all scared nearly
to the fainting point.”
“Now," continued Captain Jack, "just to
show you that the boat didn't get disabled in
any way, I'm going down again and then come
up with the boat.”.
“It won't take you as long as it did this last
time, will it?" demanded one of the reporters.
“Wait right where you are," promised Jack
Benson, “and you'll see me once more before
you've really had time to realize it."
"No more dramatic business, eh, and need-
less tears on our part?" insisted another.
“This time," laughed Jack, “the dramatic.
will be confined, to speed of operation."
6- The Submarine Boys' Trial Trip.


82
THE SUBMARINE BOYS'
He motioned to the men to row out. Jack
calculated, finely, just where he had come up,
and there the heavy anchor was dropped, the
end of the cable being made fast in the boat.
Then overboard dived the submarine captain,
going straight down. A tug at the line showed
when he seized hold of it, down in the depths.
A little time passed, but now the newspaper
folks, accustomed to all manner of sensations,
were not apprehensive.
“Here she comes !” shouted David Pollard,
gleefully.
More and more of the conning tower showed
above the water, the platform deck and hull
coming next into view. Then, as the manhole
cover was raised, Eph Somers stepped into
view at the steering wheel. The “Pollard”
moved over to her moorings, and Hal came up
to aid in making fast. Soon afterward, Jack
Benson, in complete uniform, appeared on deck.
“Now, give us just an idea of how the thing
is done, Mr. Farnum," begged one of the cor-
respondents, turning to the boatbuilder.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” replied the yard's
owner, gravely, though he was tempted to laugh
over the mystery he was making, “I am certain
that you all want to know.”
"We do," came the chorused answer.
“But if I were to tell you,” responded Far-


TRIAL TRIP
83
num, speaking as gravely as ever, “it would be
to reveal to the whole world one of the strongest
points in our plan of submarine operation. You
will understand that, of course, and will realize
that we do not care to explain anything so valu-
able, when that idea is not yet patented.”
“I suppose you're right about that,” ad-
mitted one of the journalists, thoughtfully.
“We'd like awfully to know just how the feat is
accomplished, and you have equally good rea-
sons for not telling us.”
“Have you much genius for machinery?"
whispered one of the women writers to a man
beside her. “For, you know, we've been prom-
ised a chance to visit the boat. If you keep your
eyes open, very likely you can detect how it is
possible to leave the ‘Pollard' when she's on
the bottom-a performance that isn't possible
with any other type of submarine torpedo
boat."
Jacob Farnum now slipped away to counter-
mand his orders for a diver and wrecking ap-
paratus, the newspaper people also seizing the
chance to send another wire to their home news-
papers.
After that Captain Jack received one-third of
the party aboard the “Pollard.” He gave them
a short trip on the surface. Then, pressed to
do so, he submerged the boat for two minutes.


84
THE SUBMARINE BOYS'
After that the rest of the correspondents were
taken out and below the water. Most people are
not particularly eager, at first, for a trip under
the water in submarine boats, but with the news-
paper fraternity it is different. They are al-
ways on the lookout for any new experience, no
matter how dangerous it may seem to be. It
is a part of their calling.
Yet not one in all this party of thirty trained,
keen-minded people managed to penetrate the
secret of how Captain Jack had been able to
leave and return to the “Pollard” while that
craft lay on the bottom of the harbor.
When all had visited the boat, and had sunk
with her, Jacob Farnum took the party in car-
riages to his home, where luncheon was served.
The boatbuilder, by the use of all his tact, kept
the party together until it was time to drive
them to the railway station and see them aboard
the train.
In this way, he prevented any of his visitors
from falling into the hands of the Melville
people. Consequently, when the next day's
papers appeared there was much in them about
the wonderful work done by Captain Jack Ben-
son in a “Pollard” submarine, but there was
not even as much as a mention of the fact that
any rival submarine boatyard existed in Dun-
haven.


TRIAL TRIP
85
"That is one long march stolen on the Mel-
ville foes,” laughed Jacob Farnum to Benson.
“It has been a splendid bit of business, Jack,
and you boys have helped it all through in great
fashion. To-day, we have the satisfaction of
knowing that people all through the country are
talking about the ‘Pollard.'”.
“That fellow Benson is being a lot talked
about to-day,” declared Mr. Melville, after
scanning two or three of the morning papers.
"Humph! Let him be talked about,” re-
turned Don, with a lowering scowl. “I suppose
he's pretty conceited to-day, but it won't be long
before I'll have it fixed so that his pride shall
go down lower than ever the 'Pollard' could
sink.”
“Will you use our submarine boat to do it?”
inquired the elder Melville, with a meaning
smile.
CHAPTER VIII
FARNUM STOCK GOES UP
oT time to look at something, Mr. Pol-
1 lard?” asked Captain Jack, two days
later.
The captain and crew of the submarine had
entered the outer office. In his hands Jack car-


86
THE SUBMARINE BOYS'
ried a small wooden box. Hal and Eph looked
delightfully mysterious.
"Time to look at something?" repeated the
inventor, with a laugh. “I seem to have plenty
of time for almost anything these days."
There being none of the office employes about
at the moment, Benson led the way to one of the
desks, opened the box and took out a compli-
cated-looking little model.
“You know, Mr. Pollard,” murmured Jack,
while the other two boys drew close, although
we have, hit upon the way for some of a sub-
marine's crew to escape when the boat is at the
bottom, or in deep water, it always needs at
least one of the crew to remain behind to close
the rear port of the torpedo tube and to operate
the compressed air a little. So, valuable though
our trick may be, it really means that, in case
of serious accident, one member of the crew
would have to remain behind in order to help
the next to last to get away. So, in case of
accident, there would always be one member of
the crew who would have to be left behind to
die. That's the thing we fellows have been
working on, and here's the result. At least, it's
the best we can do with it.”
“What's the idea?" inquired the inventor, ex-
amining the small model curiously.
“Why,” laughed Jack Benson, good-hu-


TRIAL TRIP
moredly, “it's an automatic device, set to a time
principle, for closing the after port of the tor-
pedo tube and letting off some compressed air.
By means of this automatic device the last fellow
could let himself out safely. That's the theory,
you see; but we're new inventors, and so there's
some flaw in the device. It will take a skilled
mind like yours to see where the fault lies.”
Jack explained volubly, while David Pollard
looked over the model that the trio of young
geniuses had put together. Then Benson drew
from an inner pocket, and spread out, some
carefully made mechanical drawings that made
his idea plainer. Jack was not a trained
draughtsman, but he had a great natural talent
in that direction.
“Why, you have a splendid idea here,” cried
the inventor, presently.
“It doesn't quite work, though,” said Hal,
ruefully.
"Lot's of inventions don't, unfortunately,”
winced David Pollard. “I know something
about that, for a big percentage of my inven-
tions have turned out to have more flaws than
good points. But this is really ingenious, boys.
Who has had the big share in this get-up?"
“The other fellows,” replied the young cap-
tain.
“Jack's idea, mostly,” broke in Eph, "al-


88
THE SUBMARINE BOYS'
though Hal Hastings and I have been allowed
to butt in some.”
“It's splendidly done, as far as you've gone,"
glowed the inventor, full of unselfish admira-
tion. “And you've made it plain just how you
expect to attach this device and make it work
automatically. What are you going to do with
it, now?"
“We thought, perhaps, Mr. Pollard,” ex-
plained Captain Jack, “that you might think it
worth while to take the device up at this point,
and work over it until you find out where the
hitch is in the idea. If you succeed, it will make
the ‘Pollard” absolutely perfect in her class.”
“But it would seem mean of me to take your
idea, so nearly finished, and go ahead with it,"
protested the inventor.
“Well, you see, sir," Jack replied, earnestly,
"we don't care who brings the idea through
provided it makes the ‘Pollard' a world-beater.
Do you care to take this in hand, Mr. Pollard,
and try to perfect it? For we'll admit we're
stuck fast and can't get any further with it.”
“Do I care to?” repeated the inventor.
"Why, boys, I'll be delighted to work over it.
It'll be better than sleep to me for many a night
to come. But I hate to take it out of your hands,
since you originated it."
“Take it and welcome,” begged Hal Hast-


TRIAL TRIP
ings. "The only thing we want is to see it
work."
“And the sooner the better,” grunted Eph
Somers.
“Then thank you, I.will,” cried the inventor,
earnestly. “But you boys, if the device can be
made to work, shall have your full share of the
credit.”
“Hullo, boys,” greeted Jacob Farnum, com-
ing out from the inner office, a letter in his
hands. “By the way, here's something that
may interest you. I've a letter from a man who
writes about the new trick of leaving a sub-
merged boat. He refers to you boys as our
young experts.”
“He doesn't know, does he," chuckled Jack,
“that we're only three apprentices, and rather
raw, at that?”
“No, you're not,” retorted Mr. Farnum.
“My correspondent is pretty near right in re-
ferring to you as young experts."
“If we're going to get that reputation,” mut-
tered Benson, more than half seriously, “we'll
have a heap to do in 'making good.""
"Just look here, Farnum, at what these boys
have been at work on,” begged the inventor,
calling attention to the partly-finished model.
In an instant the boatbuilder became absorbed
in the idea as shown by model and drawings.


90
THE SUBMARINE BOYS'
“Can this be made perfect, Dave?” he asked,
eagerly, turning to the inventor.
“I think it can,” answered Mr. Pollard.
“The boys have been good enough to ask me to
try.”
“Then I hope you'll start, this minute,” ex-
claimed the yard's owner. “It means more to
us, Dave more to us, boys—than any of you
suppose at this moment! Let me tell you some-
thing. This letter holds the key to the secret.
Trying to interest people in our work, I've been
writing right and left trying to raise more
capital on terms that would be fair to us. Now,
bere's a letter from Broughton Emerson, a man
worth millions. He admits that my letter has
interested him. He'll come here, soon, and he
states that, if we can show him a good enough
chance to make money he will put in the needed
capital, taking satisfactory security, and yet
leave the business under its present control. In
other words, he's likely to do just what we
wanted George Melville to do. Isn't that good
enough news for one morning?”
“Yes, provided we can make as good a show-
ing as he expects,” replied the inventor, cau-
tiously.
“Oh, if we could only get a chance to make a
trial trip for a United States Naval board!”
sighed Jack Benson, wistfully. "The Navy De-


TRIAL TRIP
91
partment has money now at its disposal for the
purchase of submarines. If we could get the
Government to buy the ‘Pollari,' that would
show investors what's what in money-making.”
Benson's face was all aglow with mingled en-
thusiasm and wistfulness. He, and his mates,
took as keen an interest in the future of the
“Pollard” as though they themselves owned
that doughty little craft.
“A trial trip for the Navy Department?”
smiled Mr. Farnum, gravely. "Well, I don't
mind telling you that we may have that, too,
before long.”
“Is any date set?” breathed Captain Jack,
quickly.
“Not yet, nor is the matter even fully decided.
But the newspapers have produced a big effect
on the Navy Department. The makers of other
types of submarine boats are green with jeal-
ousy of us, just now. Your escaping trick, Jack,
has made so much public clamor that Farnum
stock is going up all over the country. We'll
have some big chances, mighty soon, I'm think-
ing. If we get the chances, I'm certain enough
that you boys will help push us on to victory!”
Happy dreams were these that builder, in-
ventor and crew dreamed! The fever of con-
quest was in their veins.
Shutting himself up in a room at Farnum's


92
THE SUBMARINE BOYS'
home, depriving himself of much of his needed
sleep, often refusing food, David Pollard at-
tacked the problem of perfecting the device that
Captain Jack and his mates had originally
planned.
Two days later Broughton Emerson arrived.
He was a pleasant, portly man of more than
fifty years. His manners were quiet and easy.
He was affable with everyone, but he had a keen
way of looking into things. No one could guess
quite what he thought of the chances of success
in the enterprise of building submarine boats.
Before the day was over George Melville, who
was slightly acquainted with Mr. Emerson,
learned that he was in town. That evening Mr.
Melville succeeded in meeting Mr. Emerson and
getting him over to his hotel.
“If you want to save a lot of money, Mr.
Emerson,” hinted George Melville, “you want
to be very careful to keep it out of the Farnum
investment.”
“What's wrong with the Farnum business?”
questioned the other capitalist.
“About everything, I believe,” replied Mr.
Melville. “And, even if the ‘Pollard' were as
capable a boat as its backers claim, it would
still be beaten by the type of boat that I am now
working on."
“Are you looking for capital for your sub-


TRIAL TRIP
marine business ?” asked Broughton Emerson,
a shrewd little twinkle in his eyes.
“No; I have all we want. Not a dollar is
needed, but I don't like the idea of your losing
a lot of money with that other crowd. They
haven't any real show to do anything with their
boat.”
“They are a great lot of enthusiasts over at
the Farnum yard,” said Mr. Emerson, mus-
ingly. “I like people as enthusiastic as they are.
Why, just think of those boys; what a bright
lot they are!”
"Humph! In the end Farnum will wish he
had never seen those boys,” sneered Mr. Mel-
ville.
“Why?”
"Well, the boys are wholly ready to sell out
all they know about the Farnum boat.”
“Are you sure of that, Melville?” demanded
Mr. Emerson, opening his eyes more widely.
6.Wholly positive. Benson has already of-
fered to sell us all he knows about the ‘Pollard.'
He'll steal plans, shift to our employ, or serve
us in any way that he can by betraying his pres-
ent employers.”
“You astound me," cried the other capitalist.
“And you are really quite sure of this?”
“As sure as I can be made by Benson's own
offer."


94
THE SUBMARINE BOYS'
In declaring this George Melville believed he
was telling the truth. His son, Don, hoping to
work out a scheme whereby Jack could be hope-
lessly disgraced, had gone as far as to tell his
father that Jack was willing to overlook the past
fight, and to "sell out” all he knew about the
design and inner workings of the “Pollard."
“The Farnum business looks very inviting,
despite what Melville says against it,” thought
Broughton Emerson, later that night. “Yet, if
I put any money into the venture, on any terms,
I must insist on the one condition that the boys
be banished from Farnum's employ."
Of this far-reaching mischief, following Don's
deliberate lie to his father, Captain Jack Ben-
son and his mates had not even a suspicion.
Two days later the three submarine boys were
delighted at knowing that Broughton Emerson,
despite the advice he had received from Mr.
Melville, was thinking most seriously of ad-
vancing a few hundred thousand dollars to help
boom the “Pollard” type of submarine boat.
“That will put a crimp in the Melvilles, when
they hear, won't it?” laughed Jack, in talking
it over with Hal Hastings and Eph Somers.
Not one of the boys would have slept that
night, had they known of the plans forming to
disgrace Jack Benson even in the eyes of Messrs.
Farnum and Pollard.


TRIAL TRIP
95
-
CHAPTER IX
A RASCALLY PIECE OF WORK
TOW, we shall soon know!” cried David
Pollard, hoarsely.
He was trembling with the fever of
the intense inventor.
Out in the little harbor the “Pollard” lay on
the bottom. In the cabin, besides the three sub-
marine boys, were only Jacob Farnum and
David Pollard.
The eyes of all five were fixed on a small but
ingenious bit of mechanism that had been care-
fully adjusted near the rear port of the boat's
torpedo tube. This was the automatic device,
first planned by Jack Benson, with the aid of
his mates, and carried forward to working
order by Mr. Pollard. By the aid of this auto-
matic mechanism it was believed that the last
man aboard a torpedo boat could let himself
into the tube, relying upon the automatic device
first to close the rear port, then opening the for-
ward port and at the same time letting just the
right amount of compressed air into the tube.
By this means "the last man" aboard a sub-
marine below the surface could provide for his
own escape, without the aid of a comrade.


96
ME SUBMARINE BOYS'
Eph Somers had been chosen to make the
effort. He now stood, in his bathing suit, await-
ing the word.
“Go ahead, Eph,” ordered Mr. Farnum.
"Be very careful to set the device just right.
Not one of us is going to touch it."
Eph carefully set the time hand on the dial,
next crawled into the torpedo tube, the rear port
of which stood open. Sixty seconds later the
automatic device closed the rear port with a
sharp click.
David Pollard counted up to fifteen.
“He must have had time to get clear of the
boat," quivered the inventor. “Now, captain,
take us to the surface.”
In a twinkling, almost, the “Pollard” was
riding the waves.
“There's Eph, dancing up and down on the
beach," reported Captain Jack, from the con-
ning tower.
“It worked like a charm,” chuckled Eph
Somers, gleefully, as soon as the others had
joined him on shore. “That little charge of
compressed air shot me out of the tube, and up
I bounded to the surface, like a piece of cork."
“Now, we really lead the whole world in sub-
marine boating,” cried Mr. Farnum, hoarsely.
“I don't care what any other inventor may have
discovered, I'm satisfied that no one else can


TRIAL TRIP
97
crew a
show a boat as safe for the crew as the good
little old ‘Pollard' is!”
So happy did all of the five feel, in fact, that
they shook hands gleefully, all around. Then,
while Eph rowed out to the craft to dry him-
self and get into uniform, Jacob Farnum ran to
the machine shops, there sounding several sharp,
triumphant blasts on the steam whistle.
The whole affair-Eph's escape to the sur-
face, the joy of the submarine party and the
blowing of the whistle, were all noted by a spy
whom Don Melville had set to the task of
watching the Farnum crowd.
Don was equally well aware that David Pol-
lard had been working day and night in his
room at Mr. Farnum's house.
"They've discovered something that pleases
them mightily,” thought Don, sick with rage.
"What can it be? I'm going to know, if money
has still any power to buy other men's serv-
ices."
“Jack Benson may be very happy now,"
muttered Don, vindictively, “but his joy shall
soon be turned to ashes or worse.”
Nor was Don Melville speaking by mere guess-
work. His ignoble nature had evolved the
whole plan by which Jack was to be ruined.
Don even stooped to use his father as an inno-
cent tool in a series of rascally deceptions.
7- The Submarine Boys' Trial Trip.


93
THE SUBMARINE BOYS'
“I got word that you wanted to see me at
once," said Broughton Emerson, dropping in
upon Mr. Melville that afternoon at the hotel.
"I certainly do," returned Mr. Melville, lead-
ing the way to an inner room. “Emerson, you
remember my telling you that Farnum's crew
are wholly willing to sell out their people if the
price is big enough ?”
“Yes, certainly.”
“Would you like to see that proved ?”.
“By all means, if it can be," replied Mr.
Emerson, a look of keen anxiety in his eyes, for
he had finally determined to use his own judg.
ment and invest heavily in the Farnum subma-
rine enterprise.
“Will you consent to doing a little watching
with me?” asked Mr. Melville.
“What's in the wind ?”
“To-night, at eleven o'clock, on a lonely bit
of road well out of town," replied George Mel-
ville, “young Captain John Benson has agreed
to meet my son, Don.”
“Pollard has recently perfected a submarine
boat device of the greatest practical value.
Young Benson has promised Don to steal the
drawings and descriptions pertaining to that
device, and to turn them over to Don, for a
price, of course!”


TRIAL TRIP
99
“It's horrible. — unspeakable!” gasped Mr.
Emerson, indignantly.
“Of course. But I want you to understand
the kind of crowd that surrounds Farnum. It
will be a guide to you in investing with those
people. If you go with me, to the appointed
place, ahead of time, and we hide close enough
to witness the whole transaction, then you'll be-
lieve all that I've been telling you, won't you?”
“Of course," nodded Mr. Emerson, speaking
thickly. His whole soul revolted at the treach-
ery of such a transaction, which made him add:
“But won't you and your son, Melville, be
in as bad a light through profiting by such in-
fernal treachery?”
“We would, if we did profit,” replied George
Melville, flushing. “However, as soon as Don
has dismissed the young blackguard, Benson,
my son will touch a lighted match to the papers
and burn them all, with yourself looking on.
What do you say, Emerson?”
“It's a mean kind of business to take any part
in,” protested Broughton Emerson, hoarsely.
“But-yes, I'll go, for if such things can be
done it is my duty to myself to know.”
Plans were thereupon made for the meeting
in the evening. Broughton Emerson, honorable
and broad-minded, went away from that meet-
ing heavy of heart. He hated the whole busi-


100
THE SUBMARINE BOYS'
ness, and yet he admitted to himself that he
must know the truth ere he invested a fortune
in other folks' business game. Yet, weighed
down by the sickening feeling that, at best, he
was about to play the spy, Mr. Emerson pres-
ently called up Jacob Farnum on the tele-
phone.
“Farnum,” he said, “I understand that some-
thing is to happen, to-night, that you and I ought
to know.”
"What is it?" asked the boatbuilder, alive
with curiosity.
"I'll give you a chance to find out, to-night,
but you must pledge me your word that you
won't breathe a word of this, until afterwards,
to anyone, not even to Pollard. Just come along
and learn what you learn, then act as you please.
Will you agree to that?”
“Yes,” promised Mr. Farnum.
“Good enough. Then be at— " Broughton
Emerson followed with directions for late the
coming evening. He did not explain who was
to be spied upon, or anything of the nature of
the business, though he did add:
“Don't be surprised, Farnum, no matter
whom you see me with. It's all a part
of the night's walk. Just follow us both, with-
out letting your presence be known at any
stage. I know this all sounds mysterious, but


TRIAL TRIP
101
believe me, it's going to be vastly worth your
while."
The remainder of the afternoon the boat-
builder's heart was, somehow, heavy with un-
defined dread as to what he was to learn that
night.
In the middle of the afternoon, Don Melville,
with the aid of one of his father's Italian work-
men, laid the last stone in the edifice of trickery
that he was building for the crushing of Jack
Benson.
Jack was coming down the street from the
village, when his steps were arrested by the
sound of a sharp:
“Hist!"
Turning, he saw an Italian workman, beckon-
ing mysteriously. Jack went curiously up to
him.
“I have message for you—you alone,” whis-
pered the Italian, speaking fairly good English.
“You are in danger of great meanness. One
of your enemies plots it.”'
"You're one of the Melville workmen, aren't
you?” asked Captain Jack, looking curiously at
the fellow.
• “Yes, and you have bad, wicked enemies over
at our place.”
"I guess that may be true enough,” smiled
Jack, grimly.


102
THE SUBMARINE BOYS'
10W
“Some of us are bad over there, and some
honest,” went on the Italian. “Some of us hate
much to see dirty work done, and I have friend
who works also for Melville. My friend knows
all about what Don would do against you. It is
wicked—very. Meet my friend, to-night, at
nine o'clock, and he will tell you all-everyt'ing.
I cannot tell you now. But you will meet my
friend?"
“Yes, I guess I will,” nodded Jack Benson.
“But you must go alone; not tell your odder
friends. Until you have seen my friend you
must keep all this gr-reat secret."
After some further talk Jack Benson agreed
to all this. The Italian seemed wholly honest
and earnest. Moreover, he appeared as though
greatly troubled and anxious to save the subma-
rine boy from some unusually mean trick.
• So Jack Benson walked on, thinking deeply
and wondering much. He had no suspicion of
any trap against him in the person of this seem-
ingly very honest Italian, and so Don Melville
had succeeded in laying the last wire of his des-
picable plan.
At half-past eight that fateful night Captain
Jack found a pretext for leaving his compan-
ions. Swinging out onto the road, and down
past the new Melville yard, he went on briskly


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103
to the point, well out of town, that had been
named for the meeting.
“I wonder if I'm foolish ?” he thought, sud-
denly. “Is there any trick in all this? But,
pshaw! The Melvilles surely aren't that kind
of people, and no one else has anything against
me. It's all likely enough that Don is putting
up some mean game against me down at the
yard, or that he's saying something mighty
mean against me. Whatever it is, these Italians
are honest enough to feel disgusted, and
they want to warn me. Yet they don't want
to have any Melville eavesdropper seeing
them with me. That's all natural enough,
for these Italians have their jobs to look out
for, even if they do hạte the rascals who pay
'em wages."
So Captain Jack kept on his way, feeling that
any suspicions of the Italians were unfounded
and therefore unnecessary.
David Pollard, after wandering through the
grounds around the Farnum home, that evening,
and missing his friend, the owner, at last de-
cided to go to his own room and read.
Always soft-footed, Mr. Pollard made no noise
until he turned the knob of the door to his room.
There was a sudden, scurrying sound inside.
Though he was a man of very nervous tem-
perament the inventor was no coward. He


104
THE SUBMARINE BOYS'
darted in, in time to see a figure making through
the dark for an open window.
“Who's there? Here! Stop!” thundered the
inventor, rushing forward.
But the intruder did not obey.
Hidden behind a book in a bookcase was the
inventor's revolver. Mr. Pollard hauled the
book out, dropping it, and, in a trice, had the
weapon in his hand, racing again toward the
window.
The intruder had gained the ground by the
time that Mr. Pollard reached the window.
“Stop, you thief! Hold up, or I'll shoot!"
warned the inventor.
However, the skulker took to his heels. Pol-
lard fired once, the flame spitting from the
muzzle of his revolver. But the figure still con-
tinued in flight, and the inventor realized that
there was no further use in firing.
“That was odd,” thought Pollard. “The fel-
low had on a uniform just such as our boys wear.
If it weren't so absurd, I might be tempted to
believe, despite the darkness, that it was Jack
Benson. But he would have no need to break
in here.”
Then Mrs. Farnum appeared, with the serv-
ants, for the shot had alarmed the household.
“Have you found that anything is missing
from here?” inquired Mrs. Farnum, while Mr.


TRIAL TRIP
105
Pollard searched and explained at the same
time.
The inventor now halted before his desk,
rummaging.
“Yes," he answered, dryly, though with a
slight quaver in his voice. "The thief found
and departed with the drawings of a most im-
portant new device, originated by Benson and
his friends and finished by myself. I'd rather
lose a large sum of money than those draw-
ings.”
At about this time Jacob Farnum was prowl-
ing carefully about the spot that Mr. Emerson
had named. He waited there, in hiding, for a
long time, ere Messrs. Melville and Emerson
came along. He let them pass, then followed
slyly, in accordance with Broughton Emerson's
directions of that afternoon.
“Now, what on earth does this all mean?”
wondered Jacob Farnum, unable, despite his
curiosity, to regard this expedition without a
feeling of considerable disgust with himself.
“Confound it, it's unmanly, this spying on
someone else! It makes me feel like a rubber-
soled detective, a thug or a labor picket try-
ing to 'warn' a workman with a lead-stuffed
club! Yet Emerson is a gentleman, or I've been
fooled. It must be all right, I suppose."
The night was dark, and the moon not yet


108
THE SUBMARINE BOYS'
“Jack Benson!” he throbbed. "By the
Great Shark, are my eyes playing me a hideous
prank?'
CHAPTER X
A RACE FOR MIXED PRIZES
S the moon's ray vanished behind a cloud
Jacob Farnum was breathing hard.
Nor was it any wonder that the boat-
builder felt staggered with astonishment. He
had grown to trust Captain Jack Benson to the
utmost. Now, to find him faithless came like
a heavy blow on the head.
To this man's ears came Don's low but clear-
cut tones :
“You'll keep your eyes open, won't you, Ben-
son, and bring us all the points you can? Any-
thing that you think will be useful to us?”
The boy in uniform nodded. Though the
boatbuilder could not see the uniformed one's
face very well, he observed that nod, as did also
Messrs. Emerson and Melville.
“You don't want to have anyone see us here
together, then," went on Don. “So scoot! You
know how to communicate with me when you
want to. That's all.”
Don waved his hand as a sign of dismissal.,


TRIAL TRIP
109
The other boy, with a nod, turned to make his
way off.
“No, by the Great Porpoise, that isn't all!”
The words, shouted, with a tremendous
energy behind them, caused some other hearts
to bound.
Jacob Farnum, his blood now boiling, found
himself unable to contain himself any longer.
As he shouted out, he burst through the
bushes, making a bee-line for the departing boy
in uniform.
Don Melville gasped, in sheer dismay, yet he
had the presence of mind to yell:
“Scoot, Benson! Travel as fast as ever you
can!”
Then Don ran a few steps in the opposite di-
rection. Young Melville was a very fair sprin-
ter, but he wanted to have a bit of a start in case
of need.
“Melville, you young scoundrel, I'll settle
with you later!" roared Jacob Farnum, keeping
on down the road.
• Straight in the middle of the road the fugitive
was now dashing along, until Don yelled after
him:
"Take to the woods, Benson! You can lose
him there!”
“I'll get him, anywhere on earth!” shouted
Jacob Farnum, full of purpose and vim.


TRIAL TRIP
111
like this, to make matters pretty bad for all con-
cerned.”
Wanting to see the matter through Broughton
Emerson kept a little to the rear of the other
capitalist. It was a curious Indian file that
stretched out through the woods with the uni-
formed boy in the lead.
“You may as well stop!” yelled Jacob Far-
num, after the fugitive. “I'm going to catch
you, anyway!”
It looked that way, indeed. Dark as it was,
with the moon behind a cloud, the running boy,
looking back over his shoulder, could see the
enraged boatbuilder coming after him at great
strides.
Mr. Farnum was soon so close upon the heels
of his quarry that he could all but reach out his
hand and grasp the boy's collar. But just then
the boy went down to earth, instantly rolling
himself as nearly into a ball as he could.
Jacob Farnum, unable to stop in time, tripped
and fell over the fugitive, plunging, head-first,
into a clump of bushes and scratching himself.
With a jubilant laugh the boy in uniform was
up again, and off. He got a good start, but the
boatbuilder, after listening a few seconds, and
getting the sounds of flight, bounded off, once
more, in the right direction.
Don had halted precipitately, when he saw


112
THE SUBMARINE BOYS'
the tumble, but now he too darted forward once
more.
“If Farnum can catch him," shivered Don,
“I've got to be at hand to help out in a light-
ning rescue.”
Mr. Farnum did some tall running before he
again came in sight of the runner ahead.
Yet the pursuit had not reached its finish.
The fugitive suddenly dived through a fringe of
bushes, going out of sight.
Mr. Farnum reached the spot, then halted,
looking undecided, almost bewildered.
There was now no sound to guide the pur-
suer.
“Confound him, if he has gotten away,” mut-
tered the boatbuilder, impatiently, to himself.
Yet he did not dare risk running forward in
any direction, for fear of getting further from
his quarry.
Don Melville halted, too, chuckling softly to
himself.
“Oh, you!” snorted Farnum, glancing back-
ward over his shoulder in high disgust.
Don chuckled again.
Just then the sound of stealthily moving feet
came to the boatbuilder's ears. Don, in his glee,
had lost the chance to make so much noise with
his own feet that the other boy could steal softly
away undetected.


114
THE SUBMARINE BOYS'
Putting on a better spurt, as a last, desperate
resort, Farnum did all in his power to overtake
the uniformed boy.
He seemed likely enough to do it-would have
done it, no doubt, but for a new trick on the part
of the enemy.
Don Melville, seeing how matters were going,
and being in much better training, increased
his own burst of speed, running as softly as pos-
sible.
Then, with an exultant cry, Don leaped upon
the back of Jacob Farnum, catching him around
the neck and bearing him to the ground.
· “Run, Benson!” cheered young Melville.
“He'll never catch you now!”
CHAPTER XI
WHAT BEFELL THE REAL BENSON
THISTLING softly, the real Jack Ben-
son went along cheerily to the ap-
pointed place.
Being wholly courageous, there was no
thought of dread in his mind over any possible
treachery.
As he came in sight of the two trees, between
which he had been asked to meet the Italian, he
made out a man waiting there.


116
THE SUBMARINE BOYS'
“I hear you have some interesting word for
me," began Benson. “I-oh, great Scott! How
dare you?”
For, dropping his cigar from between his
teeth, this second Italian, while still holding the
boy's hand, gave his wrist a wrenching twist
that forced Captain Jack over to the ground.
In a twinkling the guide fell upon him, too.
“What on earth does this mean?" demanded
Benson, freeing his right hand and doing all in
his power to fight.
The spot was fearfully lonely. Captain Jack
remembered, in a jiffy, all the gruesome tales he
had heard about the dread doings of the Black
Hand. Brave though he was, the young sub-
marine expert felt suddenly cold and creepy,
though he did not once think of giving up the
fight.
“Now, be still you!” ordered the late guide,
plaintively. “We not want to hurt you. But,
if you make us—
“Be still, behave, and you be all right," prom-
ised the other Italian, in a gruff appeal for rea-
sonableness.
Though he tried to fight like a savage, Jack
Benson soon found himself being yanked to his
feet, while a stalwart laborer held him by either
arm.
“You see, you can do nothing," advised the


TRIAL TRIP
117
Italian who had thrown the boy. “You not
want to get hurt? We no want hurt you, but if
you be one big fool, then- !!
“What's the meaning of this rough game?”
Jack demanded, hoarsely.
“You be verra good, no make noise, come
with us and wait little while, then you go loose
bimeby. Make fight, and well—then we no can
help!”.
That statement, coupled with the sinister,
menacing tone, was sufficiently clear. It didn't
take the submarine boy more than a few sec-
onds to realize that he was helpless, and that
the most sensible thing to do would be to go
along, provided no worse violence than had al-
ready been used were attempted.
“Where do you want me to go?” he asked.
“Oh, we show you,” replied the late guide,
in a tone half implying that he stood ready to
do his young captive a great favor.
There appeared to be no help for it. Grim-
faced, and with teeth tightly clenched, Cap-
tain Jack allowed himself to be led on through
the woods, both his arms being still tightly held
by his conductors. Had they intended any more
dastardly violence, he reasoned, they could
easily have carried out their purpose without
having hauled him to his feet.
No more was said as the three tramped



IN
Jack Knelt at the Trapway, Breathing an Inward Prayer.
119


TRIAL TRIP
121
“Now, this is easy,” smiled one of the pair,
pointing to the darkness under the open trap-
way. “We have take ladder away, but you can
drop. Not far." .
Then, seeing a look of alarm flit across the
boy's face, the fellow laughed, adding:
“No hurt. All right. See?"
He dropped a stone through the trapway. It
fell on ground underneath, nor did the distance
down appear to be more than a few feet.
“Cellar, that's all," grinned the Italian, re-
assuringly. “Now, drop, and we not hurt you.
No danger. In two, three, four hour we put
down ladder and let you up. Keep you here
little while; that's all.”
Of course Jack Benson could have tried to
put up a fight, but he knew he would easily be
beaten. Besides, these men, smiling and polite
as they now appeared, might have tempers bad
enough to lead them to resort to Italian steel,
if they had to do it. Therefore Jack nodded,
then knelt at the trapway, and next, with an
inward prayer, let himself drop down into the
darkness. He landed on damp, soft earth.
“Good boy!" called one of the Italians, the
lantern lighting his smiling face as it appeared
framed by the trapway for an instant. “Not
so very long to wait. Let you out so you go
home, bimeby."


122
THE SUBMARINE BOYS'
Then the trapdoor was gently put back in
place, after which Jack heard the click of a
padlock above to secure the barrier in place.
Young Benson got upon his feet, stretched to
make sure he was unhurt, then broke forth,
under his breath:
“Of all the prize fools in the world, commend
me to Jack Benson! Here, at the request of a
perfect stranger, I've taken a long walk this
night, just in order to place myself wholly in
the hands of men who, however mild they may
be in their piracy, certainly wish me no good.
Oh, you, Jack! Oh, you blooming, prize idiot!"
Then he smiled grimly, wondering. From
what had happened so far he felt inclined to
believe the smiling rascals above. Had they
intended worse violence, they had had abundant
opportunity to show it.
“Of course, they're probably stretching a
point when they say I'm to be here only three
or four hours,” reflected the boy. “Yet, now
I'm here, I imagine I'll have to remain here
until they're pleased to let me out. But-will
I, though?”
Overhead, at that moment, sounded the tinkle
of a mandolin. It came, apparently, from the
room nearer the front door. The two for-
eigners began to hum softly to the accompani-
ment of their instrument.


TRIAL TRIP
123
“May-be it was a lucky thing it never oc-
curred to the pair to search me,” murmured
the submarine boy. “Probably they wouldn't
have left this box of matches in my possession."
Lighting one of the matches, Jack began to
explore. The cellar was much like any other,
and wholly empty. On each side was a little,
low window, probably not large enough for the
submarine boy to crawl through. Even at that
the openings had been bricked up and looked
as though they would resist a long assault.
At the rear of the cellar were steps, leading
up to a stout-looking bulkhead. It was pad-
locked, on the under side, with stout hasp and
staples.
“Nothing doing here, either," muttered Jack.
"Yet-hold on-blazes !”
Almost feverishly he felt in an inner pocket.
It was there a case containing seven or eight
small, fine saws and other tools often employed
by machinists in constructing small devices or
models. He had been using some of the instru-
ments on the boat that afternoon.
“Wow!” sputtered the submarine boy, joy-
ously. “And again some more wow!”.
Lighting another match, carefully selecting
his saw, and then lighting still another match,
he took a look at the padlock, trying to find some
portion of the ring where the metal was more


124
THE SUBMARINE BOYS'
slender. The saw was intended for use on
metals. After he had made a sufficient notch
in the ring, young Benson was able to work,
much of the time, in darkness.
"Blessings on that mandolin," chuckled this
industrious young human beaver. “If it wasn't
for their jolly old twang-twang those Italians
might hear my fairy buzz-saw at work."
Yet, though he progressed, what a fearful
length of time this task appeared to take!
“And, if it turns out that there's another pad-
lock in place on the outside, this will be just an-
other case of love's labor lost," sighed the boy.
Occasionally, when the mandolin sounds
ceased for a few moments, Benson rested, too.
It would never do to take the risk of having his
slight noise overheard.
At last! The saw went through the ring, pro-
claiming the task all but finished. First, with
trembling fingers, the submarine boy replaced
the saw in its case. Then, with another tough
little tool, he started patiently to bend the sev-
ered ends of the ring metal sufficiently far apart.
In this he succeeded finally. .
Removing the padlock, he let the hasp fall
away from the staple. On the floor above the
mandolin was twanging merrily, the voices of
the Italians rising somewhat in their song.
With his pulses throbbing, Jack Benson


TRIAL TRIP
125
essayed to raise the bulkhead. Glory! It rose!
A moment later Captain Jack Benson was out
in the open, under the cloudy skies.
No time did he lose there, however. Steal-
ing softly for the woods, he sped on into them.
Nor did he cease his hurried gait until he had
covered at least a quarter of a mile.
“Not much risk of their finding me, now, even
if they're wise at last,” reflected the submarine
boy, slowing down to an easier walk.
In all, Captain Jack must have gone nearly
three-quarters of a mile from the scene of his
late confinement when something occurred that
made him fairly jump.
Ahead there came the sound of rapid steps.
Then the sounds of a slight scuffie, followed by
Don Melville's undoubted tones, shouting:
“Run, Benson! He'll never catch you now!!
“How on earth does Don Melville know I'm
here?” quivered Jack, stopping short.


126
THE SUBMARINE BOYS'
CHAPTER XII
THE CAPITALIST DOESN'T LIKE THE SITUATION
COMEONE was dashing through the woods
straight at Jack Benson.
Almost immediately there came the
yell, in baffled rage:
“Confound you, Don Melville! I'll settle
with you for this!”
“That's Mr. Farnum's voice!" throbbed the
real Jack, all agog with wonder.
Immediately there dashed between the trees
a panting boy in a uniform identically like Ben-
son's.
“That you, Hal?" shouted the real Jack.
“Yes,” came a hoarse answer.
“What's wrong?"
“Run to Farnum-quick!"
“You're a liar, whoever you are!” retorted
Jack, putting himself in motion after the fugi-
tive. “You're not Hal Hastings—nor yet Eph
Somers!”
The race was a spirited one. The fugitive
ran splendidly, gamely, but Jack Benson's wind
had had a long rest, and now he was in the pink
of condition for sprinting.
So, ere three hundred feet had been covered,


TRIAL TRIP
127
the young submarine boy made a flying leap that
carried him onto the shoulders of the fugitive.
Down went both to earth.
“Now, hold quiet, will you, or shall I have to
pummel your face out of any human likeness?”
demanded Jack.
“Oh, Jack! Jack Benson! That you?”
shouted the wondering voice of Jacob Farnum.
“Yes, and I've got some fellow who's mas-
querading in our uniform!” yelled Captain
Jack.
Jacob Farnum had succeeded in hurling Don
Melville away from him, and now the all but
exhausted boatbuilder came through the forest
with lumbering steps.
All of a sudden the downed fugitive began
to fight, and Jack was forced to be strenuous.
"Here, let me take him. I'll quiet him,"
promised Jacob Farnum, grimly. That gentle-
man was in a state of mental maze over the
sight of what at first appeared to be two Jack
Bensons fighting each other. Yet the incident
gave him evidence that there was something un-
usual in this night's appearances. Without any
difficulty, now, he separated the real from the
false Jack, and promptly laid hands on the
latter.
Don Melville's face was not a sielly Flite,
but he felt that he had to act on the instant.


128
THE SUBMARINE BOYS'
“Here, let that fellow go,” he ordered, dart-
ing up, his eyes blazing.
“Get back there! Stand away! Hands off!"
roared the submarine boy, facing young Mel-
ville and sending him back by a blow in the
chest.
“Let that fellow go!" insisted Don, angrily.
“If you try to hold him, I won't be responsible
for what I do!”
“I can tell you what you'll do, if you try to
mix in at all where Mr. Farnum is busy,” re-
torted Jack, facing his foe with a savage grin.
Nevertheless, Don, espying a stick of wood
lying on the ground, snatched it up, then tried
to dart around Captain Jack in order to get at
Mr. Farnum, who was having a rather one-sided
struggle with the recent fugitive.
But Jack stopped Don-stopped him all of a
sudden, by rushing at him and forcing him back
up against a tree trunk. Whack! thump! It
was no time for delicacy. Young Benson struck
Don two hard blows in the face, next wrenching
the stick away from him.
“The ground's good enough for you-full
length!” snapped Jack, wrathfully. Leaping
at the Melville heir once more, he bore that
angered youth to the ground. Had not Don been
winded by so much running he would not have
been so easy to handle.


TRIAL TRIP
129
“Now, you stay there,” commanded Jack,
testily. “I believe you know a good deal about
things that have happened to me to-night, and
we've got to get it all straightened out.”
“I've got this one, Jack,” called Mr. Far-
num, gleefully.
The arrival of the real Jack Benson on the
scene, in contrast with the sham one, had opened
the boatbuilder's eyes. He could not fathom,
yet, what it all meant, but he was certain that
his hitherto trusted young captain would be able
to explain it all satisfactorily.
The young stranger in blue now lay on his
back, while Jacob Farnum sat astride of him.
The boatbuilder felt carefully over the outside
of the clothing of his captive, until his hands
encountered the feel of paper.
"I guess this is what I'm looking for," mut-
tered the “Pollard's” builder, thrusting his
hand into a pocket and pulling out an envelope.
“This looks like the envelope Don Melville
handed you, back there up the road. Let
us see how much you got for your rascality
to-night.”
Striking a match, Mr. Farnum drew some
banknotes from the envelope, counting them.
“Twenty dollars, for all that dirty work,”
sneered the boatbuilder. “Young man, you sell
yourself too cheaply. It ought to be worth
9-The Submarine Boys' Trial Trip.


130
THE SUBMARINE BOYS'
more than twenty dollars, just to have to be
found with the Melvilles.”
Hearing that, Don gnashed his teeth. Like
many another rascal, Don wanted people to
think well of him.
"Jack,” called out the boatbuilder, “see if
young Melville has a long, white envelope any-
where about him. In the inside coat pocket, if
I remember rightly."
“Don't you dare!" challenged young Mel-
ville. But Jack glanced down at him with con-
tempt, retorting:
"I follow only Mr. Farnum's orders. Peo-
ple who follow your orders take too big a risk
of having to go to jail.”
In Don's inner coat pocket rested a long, white
envelope. Jack fished it out with a cry of tri-
umph.
“Got it, Jack?” hailed the boatbuilder.
“Yes, sir."
“Then hold on to that envelope until we have
a good chance to look it over. It's supposed to
contain plans, or some sort of information, that
you were supposed to be selling the Melvilles
to-night.”
“What?” gasped Captain Jack.
“Oh, there's a lot to the affair, and some of
it needs unraveling, but we'll get to the bottom
of it yet.”


TRIAL TRIP
131
“I should say we'd have to!”
“This young hoodlum that I'm holding down
is dressed in a uniform just like yours.”
“I noticed that, sir.”
"He's your figure, and complexion, and
doesn't look a whole lot unlike you, Jack. I
was fooled to-night, from the distance, when he
impersonated you. But, now I have a closer
look, this young fellow looks more like a thug,
and he's slightly cross-eyed, too."
"I hear voices, so they must be over this
way," sounded the tones of Broughton Emer-
son, between the trees. Then he and George
Melville came upon the scene.
The elder Melville stared incredulously, with
a startled gasp, when he got close enough to
make out what had happened.
“Benson,” blurted the capitalist, “how dare
you? This is an outrage, you young puppy!
Don, get up out of that undignified position.
Get up this instant!”
“He will,” said Jack, dryly, "as soon as he
can get away. At present he's held down by
force of circumstances.”
“Get off my son, you impudent young up-
start!” insisted George Melville, aghast at the
ignoring of his first order. “Don, get up this
instant."
“Mr. Farnum gives all the orders here, so


132
THE SUBMARINE BOYS'
far as I'm concerned, Mr. Melville,” announced
the submarine boy.
“Oh, let him up,” said Farnum, dryly. “We
know just where to find Don Melville any time
that we need him.”
Jack got up willingly enough, then. But Don,
as soon as he had recovered some of his
crumpled dignity, held out one hand imperi-
ously.
“Give me that envelope you just took from
my pocket,” he commanded.
"Oh, will I?” rejoined Benson. “Ask Mr.
Farnum for it.”
"Hold onto that envelope, Jack," commanded
the boatbuilder.
Jack Benson thrust it into his inner coat
pocket, next firmly buttoning the front of his
coat. Don made a move forward, as though to
prevent, but drew back sullenly when he caught
the flash of the submarine captain's steady eyes.
“Did young Benson take anything from your
pockets ?" demanded George Melville, stiffly.
“Yes, that envelope that he has just buttoned
up in his own coat,” said Don, sulkily.
“Return that to my son, at once,” insisted
the capitalist.
Jack, this time, did not even honor the com-
mand so far as to admit having heard it.
Broughton Emerson, deeply puzzled, had left


TRIAL TRIP
133
this group to go over to Mr. Farnum and the
strange boy in blue.
"Jack!” called the boatbuilder, and Benson
ran to him.
“Do you think you can fasten onto this youth,
and prevent his getting away from us?” asked
· Jacob Farnum.
“I'm rather sure of it,” nodded Benson.
“Then keep your eye on the fellow, Jack.
He's got to go to jail. He's been engaged in
some conspiracy against us, and I'm going to
fathom it all, and have the fellow sent up for
years and years at hard labor.”
The fellow whom Jack was now holding heard ·
this with a start and a shiver.
“You hear that, Don Melville?” he gasped.
“Remember, you promised to see me through
safely, if any trouble happened. You've got to
keep your word.”
“Hold your tongue if you think I'm going
to do anything for you,” growled Don.
“If you don't stand by me," threatened the
prisoner, “I'll make things warm for you—and
you know I can do it!”
Don paled, visibly, under that threat.
“Ho, ho!” laughed Jacob Farnum. “When
thieves fall out- "
“Mr. Farnum, sir," thundered the elder Mel-
ville, stalking over to where the boatbuilder


134
THE SUBMARINE BOYS'
stood, “do you realize you're talking about my
son?"
“Well, why not?” asked Mr. Farnum, coolly.
“It's becoming pretty evident that he isn't a
bit too good to be talked about."
“What does all this hubbub and outrage
mean, anyway?” cried George Melville.
“It looks to me,” rejoined Farnum, coolly,
"as though your son would have the extensive
task of informing us."
“Come on, father; let's be getting away from
these people," proposed Don. “But what are
you going to do with that young man?”
"In the name of the Commonwealth,” replied
the boatbuilder, “I've placed this young man
under arrest, and I'm going to deliver him up
to the authorities. He has been engaged in a
conspiracy, and must suffer for his full share in
the affair. If he confesses, and implicates
others, they'll have to stand the consequences."
Again Don lost color, though now he was care-
ful not to betray himself any further. But he
hesitated, afraid to go away, lest Jack's pris-
oner be led into betraying him.
"Start your young man towards the road,
Jack," directed Mr. Farnum, who now had the
envelopes taken from Don and the stranger.
Jack started, holding to the arm of his late
impersonator.


TRIAL TRIP
135
“Mr. Farnum, may I have a word with you?”
asked George Melville, as the others walked
along.
“Mr. Emerson,” urged the boatbuilder, “will
you walk on the other side of Captain Benson's
prisoner? I want to make sure that no attempt
at rescue is made.”
Broughton Emerson readily nodded his agree-
ment, and stepped up ahead. As for Don, he
fell in behind this group, while Messrs. Melville
and Farnum walked still more to the rear.
“Now, what does this whole affair mean?”
demanded George Melville.
“As far as I understand it," answered Jack's
employer, stiffy, “it looks as though your son
and yourself had framed up a scene, to be wit-
nessed in poor light, at night, in which my young
captain would appear to be bound enough to
sell out Pollard's business secrets, and mine."
“I can assure you,” said the capitalist, coldly,
“that I had nothing to do with any deception."
“Then your son, without your knowledge,
fixed up to-night's affair.”
“You seem bound to fasten something upon
my son."
“Well, Mr. Melville, can't you yourself un-
derstand that everything appears to point to
Don as the prime mover in all this business?”
“I do not agree with you, sir.”


136
THE SUBMARINE BOYS'
“Well, perhaps that's hardly to be expected,”
laughed Jacob Farnum. “However, since the
real Jack Benson wasn't in that little picture
so neatly framed for inspection, let us get up
closer to him, and ask him to tell us just what
did happen."
So Jack, as the party turned into the road,
related the story of the trap that had been
sprung on him, and how he had escaped from it.
At the conclusion of the narrative, Mr. Far-
num turned around to say to Don:
“Young man, if you have engineered the
whole of to-night's plan, I must compliment you
on your originality and ingenuity. Nothing but
accident prevented you from having a complete
triumph.”
“Be careful, sir, what you say about my
son!” warned George Melville, pompous in his
anger.
“As it disturbs you," smiled Farnum, “I
won't say any more about it. The whole busi-
ness will keep.”
The elder Melville, however, pulled Mr. Far-
num by the arm until he had him well to the
rear of the others.
“Now, Farnum," murmured the capitalist, in
a conciliatory voice, “I am ready to admit that
it begins to look a bit as though my son may
possibly have been a bit reckless. I shall want


138
THE SUBMARINE BOYS'
Mr. Emerson excused himself, going to his
own stopping place, but Mr. Farnum and Jack
continued with the officer until they had seen the
young stranger locked up.
Then Mr. Farnum hurriedly telephoned to the
house of a lawyer, rousing that gentleman, and
sending him to the lock-up to interview the pris-
oner. Jacob Farnum had already returned to
the young stranger the twenty dollars found in
the envelope in his pocket. The boatbuilder had
also handed to Don Melville the envelope taken
from him, after having ascertained that it con-
tained only blank paper.
As Mr. Farnum and Captain Jack again
turned into the street they encountered David
Pollard, rushing along and looking much ex-
cited.
“Oh, here you are,” burst from the inventor.
"I've been looking for you everywhere, since
you were not at home. Two things of the utmost
importance have happened.”
“Some other things, also, of which I do not
believe you yet know,” smiled the boatbuilder.
“But let's have your news, first, Dave."
“A thief, dressed in a uniform very much like
Jack's, and of the same size and similar build
to our captain, broke into my room and stole
the drawings for the automatic closer for the
torpedo tube," hastened on the inventor, almost


TRIAL TRIP
139
breathlessly. “I fired a shot at him, from my
window, but he escaped.”
“We know the fellow, I guess," nodded Jacob
Farnum, “and we know he disposed of some
blank paper to-night. But I did not know your
drawings had been stolen."
“Say,” broke in Jack Benson, thoughtfully,
“do you remember the two holes in the right
side of the fellow's coat?”
“Yes, I do," rejoined the boatbuilder.
“Probably he's the same fellow. A bullet,
passing through his coat, might have made those
two holes without touching his body."
"Jove!” muttered Farnum. “Yes; that's so.
I believe your guess is wholly right, Jack."
“Tell me about that,” begged Mr. Pollard.
“One thing at a time, please," urged the boat-
builder. “Now, if that young rascal had the
drawings, did he turn them over to Don Mel-
ville before the arranged meeting that I saw?
For our prisoner had no such papers aboard
him when I searched him.”
"That will have to be solved," muttered
Jack, seriously. "We can't afford to have those
secret drawings in the possession of the rival
submarine boat builders."
“But what about your other news, Dave?”
interposed Mr. Farnum.
“This telegram !” burst, eagerly, from the in-


140
THE SUBMARINE BOYS'
ventor, producing a yellow envelope. "It was
addressed to you, but in your absence I opened
it.”
While Jack struck a match, the boatbuilder
read with feverish interest showing in his eyes.
“Oh, but this is great news!” he gasped.
“We've finally got the Navy Department awake.
This dispatch inquires how soon we can be ready
to run the ‘Pollard' through an exhaustive trial
trip with a board of Naval officers aboard. Do
you grasp it, Jack? If the trial succeeds we'll
sell our first boat to the Government and be on
the high road to success and fortune! Oh, this
is the grandest news! It overshadows every-
thing else!"
It truly did.
CHAPTER XIII
ON TRIAL AS YOUNG EXPERTS
ERY early the next morning Jacob Far-
num sent the following telegram to the
Navy Department at Washington:
Send board of officers as soon as you desire. Everything
in readiness. Advise me promptly, and how many will be
in party.
Then, knowing that he could not expect to
hear from the national capital for at least sev-


142
THE SUBMARINE BOYS'.
James Potter, which undoubtedly was fictitious.
No bail was offered for “Potter.” If Mr. Mel-
ville felt inclined to do that, he undoubtedly
dreaded that such an act would be construed as
a tacit admission of Don's connection with the
strange business.
Captain Jack was sent, with an officer, to see
whether he could identify the two Italians who
had trapped him the night before. Though all
the workmen of the yard were rounded up, Jack
could not find his recent assailants among them.
“And now," cried Mr. Farnum, when Cap-
tain Jack returned to the Farnum yard, “you
will have to get busy with any preparation on
board the boat that has to be made."
“No preparation is necessary,” replied Ben-
son, "except to remove the automatic closer
from the after port of the torpedo tube, so the
Navy men won't see it. That can be done in ten
minutes or less. The 'Pollard' is all ready for
inspection or any kind of tests, sir.”
So Jack spent his time at leisure aboard the
submarine. Eph and Hal listened enviously to
the recital of his night's adventure.
“And all that time," grumbled Hal, “I was
taking an extra nap in the starboard stateroom.
“And I was reading a great story about the
boy scouts of the War of 1812," sighed Eph,
regretfully. “Doing that when something real


TRIAL TRIP
143
was happening within a long stone's throw of
here. Oh, Jack, Jack! Why didn't you tip us
off ?"
"If I had only suspected that something was
up, I would have done it,” Jack replied. “I
tell you, fellows, there was a time, when those
Italians were marching me through the woods,
that a little company of my own sort would have
been mighty pleasant. I couldn't be very sure,
at one time last night, of whether you'd ever
see me again. But I had the conviction that, if
I tried to put up a useless fight against those
two powerful fellows, there'd be sure to be a
new captain aboard the ‘Pollard.'”
It was well along in the evening when Mr.
Farnum received a telegram from Washington,
informing him that a board of three Naval offi-
cers, provided with proper credentials, would
arrive in Dunhaven on the next morning but
one.
The boatbuilder came promptly on board the
submarine with the news, adding, earnestly:
“Don't you boys leave this boat unguarded
for an instant until after the trial trip is over.
Mr. Melville will very likely hear about this
news, and I'm not sure he'd hesitate to disable
our boat if he could. At the rate at which work
is going on at his yard his boat may be finished
before our second submarine is ready for dem-


144
THE SUBMARINE BOYS'
onstration. It would be greatly to his interest
to have a boat to show the Government first,
especially if he now has the plans of our auto-
matic closing device.”
It turned out that the suspicion of Mr.
Melville receiving the news of the coming
trial trip was wholly correct. The next morn-
ing that capitalist called at Jacob Farnum's
office.
"Farnum,” he announced, “I've decided that,
in order to heal all breaches, and also to make
what is very likely to be a good investment for
myself, I'll be ready to put in all the money
desired with you, and on what I think will be
your own terms."
“Of course I feel greatly obliged to you," re-
joined the boatbuilder, with evident sarcasm.
“But to put money into this enterprise, Mr.
Melville, would be to encourage, needlessly,
competition with your own submarine build-
ing."
“Oh, we can merge the two yards, Mr. Far-
num," responded the capitalist, with a wave of
his hand.
"Some little time ago, Mr. Melville, I would
have been very greatly pleased with your offer.
Now, Mr. Emerson stands ready with hundreds
of thousands of dollars. He knows that a trial
trip is being arranged for the Government, and


TRIAL TRIP
145
he stands ready to act by the result. If we can
sell our first boat to the Government he stands
ready to turn over all the money we can pos-
sibly use."
“But what if the Government doesn't buy?”
“Then there would be no sense in using more
capital for the present.”.
“The Government may be fairly well satis-
fied, and yet there may be a hitch about buying
one of your boats. What, then?”
“We shall have to wait and see,” replied Mr.
Farnum.
“But my offer, Mr. Farnum, if not accepted
to-day, will not be repeated,” warned the capi-
talist.
“Your offer, Mr. Melville, would not, under
any circumstances, be considered, or even tol-
erated,” rejoined the boatbuilder, coolly.
George Melville leaped to his feet, his face
flushing.
“Do you mean that?” he demanded, glaring
at the man opposite him.
“I never meant anything more in all my life,”
smiled the boatbuilder. “Mr. Melville, I thank
you for suggesting that you are ready to ad-
vance money, but I assure you, on my word, that
I shall never have any business dealings with
any members of your family.”
“Man, you are talking like an idiot! Throw-
10-The Submarine Boys' Trial Trip.


146
THE SUBMARINE BOYS'
ing away chances like a fool!” stormed Mr. Mel-
ville, his look becoming blacker every instant.
“And I appreciate the fact that you are much
too wise a man to talk with a fool," laughed
the boatbuilder, walking over and throwing the
office door open. “Good morning! This will be
my busy week.”
“You'll want me when it's too late,” cried
the angry capitalist, striding through the door-
way. “You will live to see the day, very
soon "
What that day was Mr. Farnum didn't learn,
for he closed the door on his departing caller,
going, laughing, back to his desk, where he
picked up a cigar and lighted it.
“How poison runs through the blood of some
families,” mused the boatbuilder, blowing out
several rings of smoke.
On the morning appointed the three Naval
officers arrived at Dunhaven. Their appear-
ance did not excite much interest among the na-
tives, for all three were in ordinary civilian
dress.
Commander Ennerling came as president of
the board; the other two members were Lieu-
tenant Commander Briscoe and Lieutenant Mc-
Crea, the latter serving as recorder of the
board.


148
THE SUBMARINE BOYS'
on the broad ocean, we'll be ready for any tests
that these gentlemen want.”
Within a very few minutes more the “Pol-
lard” was a mile off shore, heading almost due
east and traveling at nearly her full speed.
“We'll see how fast you can log the knots off
for an hour,” proposed Commander Ennerling,
picking up a satchel that he had brought with
him. With McCrea's help he adjusted a patent
log that he had brought along with him, casting
the line over the rail into the water.
“Now, let me know how soon you are ready
to have the record of your speed begin,” he sug-
gested.
“Take the log from this minute," requested
Captain Jack, for, as soon as he saw the Naval
officers adjusting the log, he had quietly passed
word by Eph to Hal Hastings, who was in the
engine room, to crowd on every revolution of
the twin shafts that the gasoline motor would
stand.
For an hour there was nothing to do but to
steer straight ahead. Part of the time some
of the officers spent below smoking, though al-
ways at least one of them remained on deck, to
make sure that the log record was not tampered
with.
At exactly the end of the hour the indicator
of the log was read off.


TRIAL TRIP
149
“Twenty-one and four tenths knots !” cried
Commander Ennerling, with an expression of
amazement. “Whew! I knew we were travel-
ing fast, but I didn't imagine we were doing
quite as well as this."
“You're satisfied with your test, aren't you?”
inquired Mr. Farnum.
“Yes, for the log was carefully standardized
for us before we came.”
Hal Hastings was called on deck to be com-
plimented for this performance.
“The motor can be improved so as to beat
that speed,” declared Hal, flushed and happy,
for he had nursed that motor along during the
hour!
“As it stands, the twenty-one-spot-four rec-
ord beats anything of the kind with any other
submarine boat in the United States, doesn't
it?” inquired David Pollard.
“I–I-it may do. It's a very excellent rec-
ord for speed, anyway; very remarkable,” ad-
mitted the president of the board, cautiously.
“Now, gentlemen, what test will you have
next?” asked Mr. Farnum.
“Suppose," replied Commander Ennerling,
after glancing at his associates, “that you sub-
merge the boat, on even keel, and let us see how
many feet under water you dare to go with this
craft?'


150
THE SUBMARINE BOYS'
“It shall be done,” nodded Mr. Farnum. Ac-
cordingly the ventilators were shipped, all hands
went below, and the conning tower manhole was
closed. Everything was in readiness for the
drop below the surface. The gasoline engine
was shut off, the electric motor being started.
At Captain Jack's order Eph stepped up to take
the conning tower wheel, while the young com-
mander stood by the diving controls.
“Even keel, if you please,” again requested
Commander Ennerling.
Jack began to flood, slowly, the water tanks,
the “Pollard” sinking gradually. With the
young captain at one side of the gauge, Messrs.
Farnum and Pollard took their posts at the
other side, to watch the readings.
“How many feet down do you want to go?"
asked young Benson, coolly.
“How far down do you dare to take the
boat?" asked Mr. Farnum, almost hesitatingly.
"As far as you dare to let me," replied Jack,
with spirit. “Watch the gauge, and tell me
when to stop.”
“Jove, but you have a cool nerve, lad, if you
back that up,” laughed Lieutenant McCrea.
"Perhaps our young skipper is relying upon
the caution of his employer," suggested Com-
mander Ennerling, smiling.
It is always a question of great importance


TRIAL TRIP
151
just how far below the surface a submarine tor-
pedo boat may go with safety. The greater the
depth the more enormous the pressure of the
water. At sufficient depth the water pressure
is terrific enough to crush in the hull of the stout-
est submarine. At even less depth the pressure
may easily start the plates so that the inrush
of water will destroy all on board.
Yet Jack Benson's proposition was to send
the “Pollard” further and further below the
surface, until owner or inventor should order
him to stop.
All three of the Navy officers shot a look of
admiration at the doughty young skipper:
Then, almost immediately, their faces resumed
their usual expressions. To the Navy officers
this experience carried with it no dread. The
“Pollard” might prove, under severe test,
wholly unfit to stand the pressure below sur-
face. Their death might be but a minute or
two away, but with these Naval officers it was
all in the line of duty.
It was not, with the members of the board,
so much a matter of actual grit as of constant
association with all forms of danger.
“We're going pretty low," muttered Mr.
Farnum to himself, as he read the gauge.
“Can we stand much more depth ?” won-
dered David Pollard, inwardly uneasy, though


TRIAL TRIP
153
constant reading. We can't go any lower, for
the water tanks are as full as they'll hold, and
there's still the buoyancy caused by all the air
in the interior of the boat. So we're as far be-
low the surface as we can go.”
“Bully for you, Benson!” cried Lieutenant
McCrea, slapping the young skipper on the back.
“You understand what you're doing, and no one
could do it with more coolness. You must have
been born aboard a submarine.”
“He never saw a craft of this kind, until a
few weeks ago," retorted Jacob Farnum ad-
miringly.
Taking out a notebook and pencil, Com-
mander Ennerling recorded the reading of the
submergence gauge, which showed how many
feet the craft was below the surface of the water.
“Of course," hinted Mr. Farnum, smilingly,
"you don't know the gauge to be correct.”
“We've the means with us of testing and
standardizing the gauge in the harbor,” replied
the president of the board.
“If we ever see the harbor again,” muttered
Eph Somers, overhead in the conning tower.
“How does this compare with the depths
touched by submarine boats now owned by the
Navy?” asked David Pollard, a bit feverishly.
He was not afraid of their present rather dan-
gerous position, but was frightfully nervous


156
THE SUBMARINE BOYS'
fully comprehended the chances that now con-
fronted them, all three did their work without
faltering.
In fact, none of the eight human beings
aboard during this extremely hazardous under-
taking betrayed any cowardice, nor even alarm.
Lieutenant McCrea watched the gauge, the
other two officers going forward to make rec-
ord of the number of revolutions per moment
at which the electric motor could drive the pro-
peller shafts.
After ten minutes the president of the board
approached Mr. Farnum to say:
“We are satisfied with this part of the work.
Let us return to the surface for a welcome look
at the sky."
“Will you hold your watches, gentlemen,"
inquired Captain Jack, “in order to see how
much time passes before we are running on the
surface?"
One of the members of the board, watch in
hand, climbed up the staircase to stand beside
Eph in the conning tower.
“Awash, sir,” Eph soon called down.
The time was noted.
“Now, show us anything that you wish,” sug-
gested Commander Ennerling.
Captain Jack looked significantly at Messrs.
Pollard and Farnum. Both nodded.


TRIAL TRIP
157
"Then, sir," rejoined Captain Benson, “if
you don't mind, we'll run back to Dunhaven,
and show you a specialty of ours in the harbor
at Dunhaven.”
“Very good,” agreed the president of the
board.
Not until they were in sight of the little harbor
was the manhole opened. Now, soine of the
party stepped out onto the platform deck and
remained there a few minutes.
“I'll have to ask you to come inside, now,
gentlemen,” requested Jack Benson, courte-
ously, after making an unobserved signal to
someone on shore. We're going down to the
bottom of the harbor.”
As soon as the “Pollard” had sunk, and
rested on bottom, Jacob Farnum invited the
members of the board into one of the staterooms
aft.
“For just a few minutes, gentlemen," he ex-
plained, "we want to keep you from seeing
something."
As soon as the visitors were out of the way,
Captain Jack sprang forward to the torpedo
tube. Hal Hastings, stripping off his outer
clothing, stood forth in his bathing suit.
“Into the tube with you, now," whispered
Jack. “Crawl well forward-right up to the
forward end of the tube 80. Get hold of the


158
THE SUBMARINE BOYS'
crossbar of the cap. Hold on hard. Now, when
we close the rear port, and open the for'ard cap,
with a little rush of compressed air, the cap will
open for’ard and up, dragging you out into the
water. Now, then, got a good hold?”
“A grip like death itself," laughed Hal.
“Be ready, then.”
Captain Jack closed the rear port of the tube,
and turned on some compressed air, which also
drove the forward port open and up. A mo-
ment later the submarine boy tapped at the door
of the state-room.
“Has anything happened?" smiled Mr. Far-
num.
“Hal Hastings is missing, sir,” reported
Jack.
“Missing?" demanded the boatbuilder, lead-
ing his guests out into the cabin.
Young Benson pointed to the pile of clothing,
just as Hal had left it on the floor.
“Get to the surface," commanded Mr. Far-
num. “We shall have to look into this."
Soon the conning tower of the “Pollard” re-
appeared above the waves.
“Hal is safe, gentlemen," reported Captain
Benson, from the tower.
An instant later he opened the manhole of
the tower, allowing all hands to step out on
deck.


160
THE SUBMARINE BOYS'
immediately after which the “Pollard” again
sank.
Two or three minutes passed. Then Captain
Jack's head shot above the surface. He made
for the boat, hanging onto the gunwale.
“It would be bad judgment to call you young
fellows mermaids,” said Commander Ennerling,
dryly, “but you are surely merboys.”
A moment later Hal Hastings's head came
above the surface.
“Mr. Pollard and young Somers could as
easily leave the boat and join us,” explained
Mr. Farnum. “However, if the last man aboard
leaves the boat then there is no way provided
for a return to the ‘Pollard,' and we would be
placed at great expense in raising her. I think
we have, however, shown you enough to make
you believe that we have mastered some new
wrinkles in submarine work.”
“You have shown us more than we can quite
digest," admitted Lieutenant Commander Bris-
coe. “But how is this all done?”.
“That,” responded Mr. Farnum, gravely,
“the Government will know when the boat is
purchased for the American Navy.”
The anchor being again lowered, both Jack
and Hal dived below. In five minutes the “Pol-
lard” was on the surface. Mr. Farnum asked:
“Have we shown you enough at one time?”


TRIAL TRIP
161
“Yes,” admitted the officers. “This evening,
after dark, we may ask you to take us out and
show us your boat's diving powers."
"Jack, my boy," whispered Jacob Farnum,
when the young captain joined the party on
shore, “your trick of leaving and returning to
the boat when it lies on the bottom has gotten
our friends of the Navy into a state of hard
guessing. Do you think we'd better show them
some more of it at another time?”
“If you want my opinion, sir, I think we'd
better not. We've puzzled them this time, but
if we keep on doing the trick for them, I'm
afraid they'll soon guess how it's done. I don't
believe, sir, you can fool the American Navy
more than once."
CHAPTER XV
SERVING IN THE CAUSE OF PEACE, NOT WAR
66 TT seems almost a shame to have to go be-
low," sighed Lieutenant McCrea.
It was evening, the time about nine
o'clock. For nearly an hour the “Pollard” had
been running out to sea at something below her
full speed. She was now something like a dozen
miles off the coast.
Commander Ennerling had just decided that
11-The Submarine Boys' Trial Trip


TRIAL TRIP
163
ling the water, at the same time admitting water
to the tanks aft.
Gracefully, and with the precision of a trained
living being, the submarine craft curved upward
until Lieutenant McCrea shouted down:
“We're awash, sir."
Benson drove the water from the tanks aft,
and the boat rode the waves.
“Now, let us see you run a little lower than
awash, with just enough of the conning tower
in the air for the helmsman to see where he
is steering,” proposed the president of the
board.
Jack went above to relieve Eph at the wheel,
while Commander Ennerling stationed himself
beside the boy.
“You may use your searchlight, of course,”
proposed the commander, "and proceed just as
though you were trying to pick up a battleship
of the enemy without much exposing yourself.”
As the broad, bright beam of the searchlight
shone out over the waters ahead, Captain Ben-
son called down for the best speed.
Commander Ennerling watched the boat's
performance, and the work of the young captain
for some minutes before he said:
“Benson, I'll admit that the more I see of
this craft the more anxious I am to see her
under our Navy flag."


164
THE SUBMARINE BOYS'
“I'm glad to hear you say that, sir,” cried
Jack, his face glowing
“Yet I'm a bit puzzled, after all.”
“How so, sir?"
“Why, the more I think about it, the more I
wonder just how much of my delight and inter-
est are due to the boat itself, and how much to
the splendidly expert way in which you young
men handle her.”
“You call us experts, sir?”
“Don't you believe, yourselves, that you
are?"
“We hope that some day we shall be," was
Jack's slow response.
“Benson,” went on the Navy officer, ear-
nestly, “if you're not now experts, you never
will be.”
“Does that mean, sir, that we shall never
know much more about such craft than we do
now?”
“By no means. You'll know more every year
that you stick to the work. What I intended to
convey is that you three are the best experts in
this line I have ever seen, considering, of course,
the amount of time you have already given to
this work. Give you three lads time enough,
and the United States appears destined to pos-
sess the three greatest submarine experts in the
world."


TRIAL TRIP
165
“That's great praise, sir,” said Jack, quietly,
his cheeks tingling.
"I mean all I've said,” rejoined Commander
Ennerling, gravely.
They had run some miles by this time. Cap-
tain Jack, reaching up to swing the search-
light about over the course ahead, suddenly
uttered:
“Look over there, sir—two points off star-
board. What do you make out?”
Commander Ennerling instantly became ab-
sorbed as he caught sight of a steam yacht some-
thing more than a mile away.
“Going under full power, but shooting
rockets,” added Jack. "They've just sent up
two from aft.”
“Distress sign, without a doubt,” rused the
Naval officer. “Wonder what it means?”.
Jack had reached for a pair of night glasses,
which he now handed Commander Ennerling.
Already the “Pollard” had swung to a
bow-on course and was making straight for the
steam yacht.
“Mutiny, by Jove!" murmured the Naval
officer. He did not speak excitedly, but with a
certain grim dryness. “Catch up with them as
soon as you can, Captain Benson.”
“There they go, heading away from us," mut-
tered Captain Jack.


166
THE SUBMARINE BOYS'
“From her present performance she doesn't
look to be over a fourteen-knot boat,” declared
Ennerling. “You won't be long in running
alongside.”
“What do you make out, sir?”.
“A white-haired old man, in a yachting suit,
and another man in white duck. They are aft,
and both appear to be holding pistols. There
are two women, one middle-aged, I should say,
and the other barely more than a girl. Excel-
lent glasses, these, Benson.”
“Can you make out any mutineers ?”
“There are some men, pressing back astern,
yet seemingly not wholly liking to risk revolver
fire,” went on Commander Ennerling. “I don't
believe I can make out all the mutineers, from
this point of view.".
“What shall we do, sir, when we get along-
side?"
“Quell the mutiny,” retorted Commander
Ennerling, with emphasis. “It's the one choice
a Naval officer has in a case of this sort. Bris-
coe! McCrea!”
The two junior officers came hastily up the
spiral stairway. Commander Ennerling told
them as rapidly as he could what had happened.
“There's something wholly wrong on that
yacht,” he wound up, “and we've got to get
alongside and look into it."


TRIAL TRIP
II
167
“Want to get out on the platform deck?” in-
quired Captain Jack
“Yes, by all means.?'
More of the water was expelled from the tanks
until the platform deck was two feet above the
surface. Then the manhole was opened, and an
interested crowd hurried out on deck. Only
Eph remained below, he, to his disgust, being
sent to the motor.
Jack Benson now stood at the deck wheel,
while the others gathered at the rail to watch
the progress of the pursuit.
Even as they looked, the older man aft on
the yacht fired his revolver twice, aiming for-
ward. The flashes could be distinctly made out,
though the reports of the weapon were borne
away by the breeze.
"Have either of you gentlemen a revolver?”
demanded Commander Ennerling of his sub-
ordinate officers.
Neither of them had. Nor had any of the
submarine's own people.
“Hm!” muttered the commander, grimacing.
“This is a fine Naval outfit to lay alongside of
a craft that has a mutiny aboard!”
“Do you want to hail, or try to board the
yacht?” inquired Jacob Farnum.
“I think we'd better run alongside and
hail that crowd," answered Commander En-


168
THE SUBMARINE BOYS'
nerling. “Yet, if it comes to it, we'll have to
board!”
Three shots flashed out, amidships, on the
yacht, showing that the fire was directed
towards the stern. Two shots from the two
men aft replied. No one appeared to have
been hit.
“We'll have to fight if we're to be of any
use," muttered Ennerling. “With our fists, too,
confound the luck!”
They were now rapidly overhauling the yacht.
It was with throbbing pulses that Captain Jack
Benson steered the “Pollard” up alongside.
CHAPTER XVI
FIGHTING A MUTINY WITH THREATS
LAL HASTINGS came springing out of
the conning tower with a megaphone.
Jack, with a final swing of the
wheel, brought the "Pollard” in on a course
parallel with the steam yacht, and not more than
two hundred feet away from the other vessel's
port rail.
At the same moment Benson rang the signal
bell for reduced speed, so that the sterns of the
two craft were kept almost on a line with each
other.


170
THE SUBMARINE BOYS
“Do you realize, my man, that we are United
States Naval officers ?”
“Not when I can't see your uniform,"
laughed the mutineer, roughly.
“I'm not going to argue with you any more.
I've given you my orders. Do you intend to
submit, or will you fight?”
“We'll fight!” roared the mutineer. A
hoarse cheer went up from his comrades.
“They don't estimate our fighting power very
highly,” muttered Ennerling, in a low tone.
“If they knew the whole truth they'd be still
less afraid of us.”
From the mutineer at the rail came another
hoarse hail:
“Shove off and get away, or we'll rush the
crowd aft and wind up the women! You start
a fight if you think you can. If you know you
can't, then get away. We're not afraid until
we're killed.”
Now, eight mutineers, in all, lined across the
deck, each man showing a revolver.
“Humph! We've got to fight-and can't!"
muttered Commander Ennerling, in great dis-
gust.
“We can save those women," muttered Jack
Benson, “if they've the nerve to help them-
selves be saved."
“How?"


172
THE SUBMARINE BOYS'.
Now Jacob Farnum rang for the reversing of
the engine, and the submarine, first pausing, be-
gan to glide backward, then stopped altogether.
From the steam yacht went up another hoarse
cheer, the mutineers dancing like demons, dis-
charging their revolvers into the air. All this
while the yacht steamed steadily away from the
scene.
The girl was sinking for the second time as
Jack Benson, with a forward swoop, shot one
arm under her. .
“You won't go down now," he called, cheer-
ily. “Keep cool and just do what I ask you."
The older woman, buoyed up by a greater
spread of skirts, had not sunk below the surface
at all by the time that Hal Hastings reached
her.
“All just as it ought to be," hailed Hal,
blithely. “Don't be at all afraid, madam. Por-
poise is my middle name, and you can't sink
while I have you."
The work of the two Naval officers who had
plunged overboard was easier. Both of the men
who had leaped from the yacht's stern rail were
able to swim. Briscoe and McCrea merely
reached them and swam alongside.
David Pollard had ropes over the side of the
submarine in a jiffy. It was easy work for sea-
faring men to climb these ropes over the sloping,


TRIAL TRIP.
173
easy side. It was scarcely more difficult to get
the women up in safety.
“Let the ladies go below to the port state-
room,” called Mr. Farnum. “They can dis-
robe, rub down and get in between blankets in
the berths. Their men folks can take care of
'em."
“I'm the steward, sir, of the 'Selma,' the
yacht that’s ahead,” explained the man in white
duck. “I'll help them below at once, sir.”
“We can have hot coffee in seven minutes,”
Mr. Farnum continued. “Captain Benson, if
you'll take the wheel again, I'll go below and
get to work in the galley.”
The white-haired man, in the meantime, was
hurriedly making himself known to Commander
Ennerling as Egbert Lawton, owner of the
“Selma,” a hundred-and-forty-foot schooner-
rigged steam yacht. The ladies were his wife
and his sixteen-year-old daughter, Miss Ethel.
Johnson was the steward's name.
“Get after the yacht again, Captain Benson,"
requested Commander Ennerling. "We have
the owner and the ladies safe, but we've got to
take that crew to land as mutineers.”
"They'll fight to the last shot,” declared Mr.
Lawton, shaking his head.
“Did you and your steward bring your re-
volvers with you?” asked Ennerling.


174
THE SUBMARINE BOYS'
“No; we tossed them into the sea as we
dived,” laughed Mr. Lawton. “Bringing
weapons to a Naval craft is like carrying coals
to Newcastle."
“Unfortunately,” rejoined the commander,
plaintively, “this isn't yet a Naval vessel, and
the most dangerous weapon aboard is the bread-
knife in the galley. But how did the mutiny
start, Mr. Lawton? And how did you come to
have such a rascally crew aboard?".
“Two or three bad men got into the crew,
started fights, and some of the old crew quit.
Then these bad men passed the word to other
tough characters to apply to my captain. In
a short time the crew was all of one piece
of cloth, including the fellows in the engine
room."
“How many mutineers are there aboard?”
“Thirteen, in all. Even the cook joined
them."
“But your officers?”.
“Captain Peters and Mate Sidney. It was
the mate's watch when the trouble started.
You see, as most of my cruises have been short,
I carried but one mate. So, on a long run, the
captain had to stand watch in turn. Captain
Peters was below. Mate Sidney went forward,
to the forecastle, for something. He must have
been felled and ironed. One of the crew roused


TRIAL TRIP
175
the captain, saying the mate needed him for-
ward. Then Captain Peters went forward, was
seized and ironed. Then, howling like fiends,
in order to frighten us the more, the mutineers
rushed aft.”
“Yet you stood them off?”
“Yes; Steward Johnson and I both happened
to be on deck, and were both armed. The ras-
cals didn't want any of their side killed, so they
tried to parley when they saw our weapons."
“What started the mutiny?”
“Mrs. Lawton usually carries her jewels,
when on board. They are worth two hundred
thousand dollars — a rich prize to desperate
thieves."
“What folly to tempt men so on the broad
ocean!” muttered Commander Ennerling, un-
der his breath.
“The jewels were kept in a safe in the cabin,"
continued Mr. Lawton.
“And there are the scoundrels just smash-
ing in the cabin door," broke in Jack Benson.
“There they go, piling below."
"They're welcome," jeered Egbert Lawton.
“As it happened, my wife had some sort of
presentiment, and the jewels are in two canvas
pouches securely fastened under her clothing.
She leaped overboard with them.”
As the “Pollard” now ran much closer, those


176
THE SUBMARINE BOYS'
aboard the submarine could hear the yells of
rage that came from the yacht's cabin.
“The safe was unlocked, and the rascals have
found out how badly they've been sold,”
laughed Mr. Lawton. “But why are you going
so close to the yacht? In their rage, they'll fight
like fiends, and you are unarmed.”
“We shall see what we shall see," dryly com-
mented the commander, murmuring a few
words in Hal Hastings's ear.
Hal promptly dropped down below.
"'Selma'ahoy!” hailed Ennerling, when the
submarine was once more up with the yacht.
“Get quiet and go to sleep!” shouted back
the leader of the mutineers, derisively.
“Under the law you mutineers are pirates,"
shouted back the commander, firmly. “If you
don't surrender we shall be compelled to sink
you."
“Sheer off and forget it!" jeered the mu-
tineer.
“Look here, my man,” bellowed Commander
Ennerling, “we'll have no further nonsense from
you. Surrender, without further parley, or
you'll find our nose pointing at your side hull-
and then there'll be some fireworks. You can't
be insolent with the United States Navy."
Then, leaning over the manhole, Commander
Ennerling shouted down:


TRIAL TRIP
179
Of the con-
the "Sel Water.
Clyde City's harbor, was now on its way up the
coast to tie up for the night at Dunhaven.
They were running about six miles off the
coast. As the president of the Naval board had
a great desire to test the craft running all but
submerged, only the upper portion of the con-
ning tower was above the water.
At Clyde City the “Selma" had been put in
charge of the squad of the harbor police boat,
and the yacht's captain and mate, neither of
them badly injured, had been freed.
Dry clothing had been secured for the ladies,
and they were taken ashore. Egbert Lawton
was profuse in his expressions of gratitude, and
declared that he hoped to meet all hands of the
submarine party again at an early date indeed.
Our friends learned, later, that the mutineers
had been sent to prison.
Now only her regular party was aboard the
“Pollard.” For half an hour the little vessel
had been running along, nearly submerged, and
with the searchlight not showing.
At Jack's report Commander Ennerling
looked up from the compass he had been study-
ing by the shaded light that showed at only that
point in the tower.
“She's coming head-on toward us,” said En-
nerling. “Benson, Navy men are handling that
searchlight.”


182
THE SUBMARINE BOYS'
“Say, that's like you!" burst from Eph
Somers, an admiring grin showing in his face.
“Eph, have you sufficient nerve to get into
your bathing suit like lightning, and go over-
board with a lantern and a rocket or two, with
only a state-room door to float on?”
“Of course," nodded Eph. “The sea's not
rough, and a state-room door is big enough to
ride on. But you're not going to leave me
marooned, are you?”
“Not likely,” laughed Jack. “You're right
in the path of the approaching vessel, Eph, and
they'll see your rockets and lantern. They'll
pick you up."
Eph's face went suddenly solemn.
“Say,” he muttered, “I'll have a real inter-
esting time trying to make some sort of an ex-
planation, won't I? What shall I tell them if
they do pick me up?'!
“Tell 'em anything you like, except that the
*Pollard' is trying to tie up,” responded
Jack.
"That all?” demanded Eph, with a grin. “If
it is, I'm off to get into my traveling clothes.”
"Hurry,” nodded Jack. “Send Hal up to the
wheel, while I explain the whole thing to
Mr. Farnum. But, commander, what if that
shouldn't be a Navy vessel ?”
“It is,” responded Ennerling, with emphasis.


184
THE SUBMARINE BOYS'
With only a couple of feet of the conning
tower above surface, the “Pollard” began to
make good submerged time forward. Presently
the little craft dropped below the water alto-
gether. Ten minutes later the tower flashed
above the water for just a moment.
The Naval commander quickly brought the
night glass into play.
“That's the ‘Massapequa,'" he declared, lay-
ing down the glass.
“There, they've picked us up,” cried Jack,
as the light passed over the top of the conning
tower.
“They won't be sure after just that brief
flash at us,” rejoined Ennerling. “Drop out of
sight.”
Jack let the "Pollard” drop at a semi-dive.
Just as they had barely gone under there was
a steadier flash of light on the water in front
of them. Jack chuckled.
“Quick work,” nodded Ennerling, approv-
ingly. “The lookout on the gunboat thought
they saw something here on the water, and
swung the ray back to find out what it was.
Now, they've doubtless concluded that they
were fooled by a shadow.”
“The next time we come up we'll have
passed the ‘Massapequa' and be astern of her,"
predicted Jack.


TRIAL TRIP
185
“Good enough, if you can calculate correctly
the distance. The gunboat, of eourse, has no
searchlight aft."
For some minutes the "Pollard” ran under
water.
“I'm sure we're a little astern, now," said
Captain Jack. "I'll take a lift up into the at-
mosphere."
With that the “Pollard,” which had been
running not more than five feet below the sur-
face of the water, rose gently.
“Jove!” murmured Commander Ennerling.
“Did you work by calculation, Benson, or guess-
work?"
“I calculated the distance as nearly as I
could,” replied Jack Benson quietly.
“Then you're a marvel, lad,” cried Comman-
der Ennerling, admiringly.
It was little wonder that the Naval officer was
astounded. For the “Pollard” had emerged
barely a hundred feet to the starbord of the gun-
boat's line of course, and barely two hundred
feet astern.
“The rest is going to be easy," laughed Cap-
tain Jack, confidently. "The trick is as good as
played on the ‘Massapequa.'”
He gave the wheel a hard turn to bring the
nose of the submarine about.
“There's your gleeful friend, Eph Somers,”


TRIAL TRIP
187
.
“How did you come to be there, boy?”.
“Floated,” admitted Eph, truthfully.
“How did you ever get six miles off the coast
on that float you're on?"
“Can't remember,” replied Eph, dubiously.
“How long have you been out here on the
water?”
“Ever since February, 1976,” Eph Somers
asserted, solemnly.
“Crazy!” muttered the officer to himself.
“We'll have to get him aboard and turn him
over to the officers at the next port. I'll try him
on one more question.”
Raising his voice, he called:
“What's your business? Do you follow the
sea ?”
“Say, you haven't caught me leading it
anywhere, have you?” inquired Eph, wonder-
ingly.
“If we throw you a rope, will you try to
catch it?”
“Yep, or a beefsteak, either," Somers de-
clared, promptly.
“Send the boy a rope," directed the officer on
the bridge. “Be careful not to sweep him off
the float. The lad doesn't seem over-bright."
Though this remark was not intended for his
ears, Eph caught it nevertheless.
“Not bright, am I?" muttered Eph, to him-


188
THE SUBMARINE BOYS'
self. “Gracious, what a lot of company I have
in the world, then!”
Through the air the rope, deftly thrown, came
swirling. Eph caught his end of the line in a
manner to make the officer say to himself:
“That boy has followed the sea. He knows
as much about life on salt water as I do."
Very deliberately Eph bent over, fastening
his end of the line around the knob on the state-
room door.
“Haul in, my hearties," he hailed.
Eph stood up, balancing himself nicely while
the sailors hauled the slack until the door lay
bumping against the side hull of the gunboat.
"Look out,” sang out Eph. “Little Willie,
the Boy Dewey, is coming on board.”
With that he began to climb the rope, hand
over hand, until he reached the rail and clam-
bered over, standing dripping on the deck.
“Say,” remarked a petty officer, “you left the
line fast to that raft.”
“Certainly,” nodded Eph, with cool assur-.
ance. “That's so you can haul the door on
board, too. Mother'd make a fuss if I got home
without the door to her ice chest.”
“Shall we haul the door aboard, sir?" called
the petty officer to the bridge.
“Yes," nodded the young officer up there.
So that came aboard, too, almost in a jiffy.


TRIAL TRIP
189
Eph, with a very wide grin on his face, stood
regarding the sailors who had curiously gathered
around him.
“Where are you from?” asked one of the
seamen.
“Just in from the salt water," Eph assured
“Let the boy alone, men,” warned the officer
on the bridge. “I'll have the guard take care
of him for the night. In the morning I'll report
the case to the captain. But bring the boy up
here for a moment."
Two sailors thereupon escorted Eph to the
bridge. The officer in charge looked him over
curiously.
“Now, young man,” began the young officer,
“have you anything to tell me about yourself ?”
“Yes," volunteered Eph.
“Go ahead.”
"I'm wet."
“Boy, you're in the wrong place to try to get
funny,” came the stern rebuke. “I guess I know
what you need."
Just at that instant the sounds of a decided
though indistinct commotion came from aft.
“Then shake," begged Eph, offering his hand.
“I know, too, what you need.”
“What is it that you think I need?" demanded
the officer, suspiciously, eyeing the boy closely.


TRIAL TRIP
191
move only with the barest headway. The instant
he saw that the line had passed around the baso
of the flagstaff, watchful Hal Hastings set the
reverse deck control in order to keep from bump-
ing the “Massapequa.” Next, the submarine
stole quietly over towards port, Jack, with a boat-
hook, gathering in the line that he had thrown
around the flagstaff. This end he made fast in
a trice.
“The marine guard, if there is one, didn't see
the line flying," whispered Jack, gliding back
over the “Pollard's” hull to the platform deck.
“I don't think I'll be caught now until I'm on
that other boat's deck."
“Good work! Fine!” whispered Commander
Ennerling, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction.
“Here's the note.”
Captain Jack slipped the folded paper in his
pocket, then hastened back to the line. Hal ran
the submarine far enough back to leave the dou-
ble line all but taut. Seizing the rope with both
hands, Jack made his way swiftly up to the gun-
boat’s stern rail.
In another twinkling he was over. It was not
until his feet touched the deck that the slight
noise caught the marine sentry's ear, causing
him to wheel about.
"Halt!” hailed the marine, throwing his gun
to port. "What are you doing there?”


192
THE SUBMARINE BOYS'
“I've a message for your commanding offi-
cer,” Jack answered, halting with a click of his
heels as he brought them together.
“Where did you come from?” demanded the
marine, wonderingly.
“Are you the commanding officer?” ques-
tioned Jack. “If not, take me to him.”
“Corporal of the guard !” bawled the marine.
Almost in a jiffy the corporal was there.
“Corporal,” said Jack, crisply, “I've a mes-
sage, in writing, and an official message, too, for
your commanding officer."
“I'll take it to him, then," said the corporal.
“Or shall I conduct you to his quarters?"
“You may take it to him," agreed Jack, hold-
ing out the folded paper.
“Sentry, keep your eyes on this stranger,"
ordered the corporal of the marine guard, as he
received the paper.
A moment or two later, the commanding
officer of the “Massapequa” was reading this
brief but astounding communication:
Commanding Officer, U. S. S. “Massapequa”: You are
towing the submarine torpedo boat “Pollard” astern. Tech-
nically and theoretically, haven't you lost your ship?
(Signed) ENNERLING,
Commander, U. S. N.
With an explosive remark the gunboat's com-
mander snatched up his cap, darting aft. The



illi NU
“What Is This Nonsense?” Demanded the Commander.
13– The Submarine Boys' Trial Trip.
193





196
THE SUBMARINE BOYS'
Commander Ennerling's hearty laughter came
up from below.
“Captain John Benson, the young man who
came over your stern rail, is the genius who
planned the joke,” called up Ennerling.
“But with your approval, eh?”.
“Of course, Braylesford.”
“Then, Ennerling, I'm sorry I can't have the
pleasure of putting you in irons," nodded Lieu-
tenant Commander Braylesford, dryly.
“Let down a rope ladder, and I'll come aboard
for a moment, Braylesford.”
The watch lieutenant, who had hurried aft at
this juncture, stood waiting respectfully for a
word with his superior...
“What have you to report, Lieutenant?” de-
manded Braylesford.
“We stopped, sir, to rescue a boy afloat on a
door. He's in bathing suit, and gives none but
the most idiotic replies to my questions."
“He must be part of this outfit," retorted the
lieutenant commander, pointing below at the
submarine, at which the watch lieutenant was
now staring with wide-open eyes.
“Yes; that's Eph Somers, one of our crew,"
smiled Captain Jack. “He was turned loose on
the door to take up your attention, while we did
the tie-behind trick."
A rope ladder having been lowered, Comman-


198
THE SUBMARINE BOYS'
Within two minutes the two craft were on
their way south. The members of the Naval
board, Messrs. Farnum and Pollard and Captain
Jack were entertained in the ward-room of the
gun-boat, while Hal and Eph ran the submarine
along some two hundred yards to the westward.
It was a jolly time, indeed, in the “Massape-
qua's” ward-room, for Naval officers are keen to
enjoy a good joke, and Jack's exploit was voted
a prime one.
At the end of an hour, however, the “Pollard”
was signaled to lie to, the gunboat doing the
same. It was time to break up the ward-room
party. The visitors went down the side gang-
way to a small boat, and were transferred to the
submarine.
"The Navy has something to talk about, now,
wherever officers meet for dinner, or social talk
in the ward-room,” declared Commander Enner-
ling. “At the same time, Benson, your ingenuity
and skill have shown us how easy it is for such
a boat as this to destroy any warship afloat. And
now, for Dunhaven and a long sleep—if we don't
run into further big adventures on this eventful
night.”


200
THE SUBMARINE BOYS'
“Now, on the terms that I was inclined to re-
fuse a while ago I am at present ready to supply
you with all the money that can reasonably be
needed—a sum even larger than you at first
named.”
“If the trial trips now going on don't induce
the Government to buy a submarine boat from
us, there'll be no need of more capital here,”
replied the young boatbuilder, directly. “If the
Government does buy, and we see the need
of building several more boats, Broughton
Emerson stands ready to furnish the needed
money."
“You'd rather have Emerson's money ?”
“Frankly, Mr. Melville, I'd ten times rather
take the money from Broughton Emerson.
Further, I wouldn't take your money if I
couldn't get any other.”
“Are you still angry with me, Farnum?” in-
quired the capitalist, coaxingly.
“Perhaps not that exactly, but-but-
“Be wholly frank with me, my dear Farnum,”
urged the capitalist, suavely.
Jacob Farnum hesitated, then suddenly broke
forth:
“Then I will, Mr. Melville. I'll be candid
enough to tell you that I could never bring my-
self to trust you. I don't want you around with


202
THE SUBMARINE BOYS'
manipulate matters as to ruin a small business
man?”
“I have heard of such things,” admitted the
boatbuilder.
“Do you realize, also, that I have not a little
influence in some quarters in Washington? Has
it occurred to you that, no matter how excellent
your submarine may be, I can very likely have
it rejected by the Government?!!
Farnum paled a trifle, perhaps, for his fortune
and his hopes were all wrapped up in the “Pol-
lard." Yet he replied, stoutly:
“Melville, if it comes to that, I'd sooner be
ruined without you than by going into any one-
sided partnership with you. I'm trying to make
myself plain without insulting you. I don't want
anything to do with your money or with you.
That will be my answer no matter how often or
how forcefully you bring the subject up. Now,
won't you be good enough to wish me good
morning."
Jacob Farnum was a little paler as he rose, a
signal that the interview was over.
"Farnum," announced the capitalist, drop-
ping his voice to a low, deadly earnest tone, “I
shall not make the mistake of coming here again
to be repulsed by you. I shall avoid you as much
as you can want. But from now on I shall de-
vote myself to ruining you. Emerson can't save


204
THE SUBMARINE BOYS'
bills against me. He's even capable of offering
a bonus in order to get hold of the bills. Then
he can press for immediate payment, sue and at-
tach. He can have a receiver appointed, and can
have things so manœuvred that the yard and its
business will be put up for sale. Melville can
buy the whole thing in—and dirt cheap at that!”
Jacob Farnum was not easily discouraged.
Yet, with his vivid recollection of the look on the
departing capitalist's face, he felt that Melville
must know of the bills due, and that he was pre-
pared to get hold of them.
“My wife's money, of course, would save
this. But I've sworn never to risk a dollar of
her money in this business, and that oath must
be kept. Poor Pollard! He'll be wiped out and
broken-hearted if this smash comes. And Jack
Benson and the other boys. Their one ambition
in life will be shattered!”
Farnum covered his face with his hands for a
few moments.
"Even a small part of Emerson's money
would avert this smash, to be sure,” he told him-
self. “Yet it is expressly understood with Em-
erson that he won't be asked to invest unless the
Government business comes out on top. George
Melville can spring the crash on us long before
the lagging department officials at Washington
conclude whether they want our boat or not.”


206
THE SUBMARINE BOYS'
thrown open, and willing hands dragged the
hand engine out.
“Lend a hand, fellows,” cried Jack, leaping
to the running rope, his friends following.
Not one of them, at that moment, had any no-
tion where the fire was. Before long they found
themselves heading for the Melville boatyard.
Volunteer firemen, with lusty blows of their
axes, bore down the big gate of the yard ere the
watchman could respond to their summons. In
rolled the hand engine at the double-quick.
Hose line was coupled on, and the pumping be-
gan.
So many men had responded to the alarm that
Jack Benson suddenly found himself without
employment. So he ran over to the shed where
the Melville submarine torpedo boat was being
constructed.
Other firemen were here ahead of young Ben-
son. They quickly had the main door of the
shed battered down, ready to run the hose in
here.
Jack had a complete glimpse of the inside of
the shed, now lighted by the flames. Suddenly
he sprang back, throbbing with glee and satis-
faction.
“Ho, ho!” he muttered, triumphantly. “The
Melvilles have been putting up a big show of
building a submarine to beat ours. And now


TRIAL TRIP
207
this fire betrays the fact that no boat is being
built here. Nothing but a lot of big iron plates,
and hammers with which workmen have been
beating on the plates every day!"
MR. MELVILI
PROVIDED WITH A THUNDER-
CHAPTER XX
MR. MELVILLE, TOO, IS PROVIDED WITH A THUNDER-
BOLT.
- ACK felt too full of the news to hold it. He
started back to find his chums, only to dis-
cover that Hal and Eph were behind him,
peeping in with understanding, and with the
greatest glee.
"Wow, isn't Melville the huge fake, though?"
demanded Eph, hoarse with chuckling. He
slapped his friends across the backs with either
hand. “All this talk about building a boat that
was to leave the ‘Pollard' tied to a lobster trap.
And all the while he's been paying a lot of close-
mouthed foreigners to come here every day and
hammer iron without ever making anything out
of it. Wow! Say, Mr. Farnum will throw up his
hat when he hears the news!”
A sharp hiss, as of an in-taken breath, sounded
behind them, causing the boys to start. Mel-
ville's Italian foreman stood behind them, with
two other men, and had overheard.


208
THE SUBMARINE BOYS'
“Won't Farnum be pleased when he hear
'bout burning of this place, eh?” scowled the
Italian foreman.
“Come along, Eph," whispered Jack Benson.
“Don't stay to get into any argument. For that
matter, we've seen all we want, and it will look
a heap better if we're on the outside of the
They walked out leisurely, having some diffi-
culty, at the end, in making their way through
the throng of villagers near the gateway.
On the outskirts of the crowd they beheld
Jacob Farnum, standing all alone.
“Oh, Mr. Farnum, but we have news for you,"
breathed Jack.
"I can't stand much news, unless it's unusu-
ally good,” replied the boatbuilder, with a wan
smile.
“Oh, but it is," declared the young submarine
captain. “And it's important, too."
“A big surprise," chimed in Hal.
“A fraud exploded like a firecracker! Wow!"
chuckled Eph.
“Come down the street a little way and let's
hear about it,” requested the boatbuilder. “I
don't know that it looks well for me to be stand-
ing here too close to this scene. A good many
people may think I'm gloating over the destruc-
tion of the rival submarine boat.”


TRIAL TRIP
209
“You don't need to gloat," chuckled Jack, in a
low tone, as they walked briskly away.
Mr. Farnum noted that several people on the
other side of the street were watching them
closely. The boatbuilder winced at the thought
that any fellow-townsmen might suspect him of
being gleeful about a rival's misfortunes.
“Why don't I need to gloat over the loss of
the rival submarine boat?” he demanded, pres-
ently.
“Because there isn't any,” finished Jack, con-
clusively.
"That is, there won't be, now that the fire is
beyond control,” amended Farnum.
“There never was any rival boat. It was all
a big fraud," answered Jack Benson.
Mr. Farnum stopped short in his walk, star-
ing hard at his young captain.
“What are you talking about, Jack?”
The submarine boys quickly explained the
discovery that the shed contained only iron
plates and sledge hammers, and that the whole
Melville enterprise had been a sham and a cheap
pretense.
“Humph! Melville paid a lot, then, just to keep
me guessing," muttered the boatbuilder. “He
spent a good deal of money to force me to let him
into our business rather than have him as a
dangerous rival.”
14-The Submarine Boys' Trial Trip.


210
THE SUBMARINE BOYS'
“Isn't it great news?” quivered Jack, eagerly.
“It might have been a week ago," admitted
Jacob Farnum, gravely. “But as it stands now,
boys—well, I'm going to trust you by telling you
what Melville threatened me with to-day.”
“Can he do that? Can he corner you?” in-
quired Benson, anxiously, after having listened.
“To be honest, boys, there's grave danger that
he may be able to force me out of business just
at the time of my life when success seems almost
on tap. I couldn't fairly keep the news from
Pollard; I had to tell him. The poor fellow is
rather easily disheartened, you know, and this
shock has made him all but sick."
“What an utterly mean scoundrel Melville
is !” burst, indignantly, from Jack Benson.
"A hypocrite, a liar, a thief !” flashed Hal,
carried away with his disgust of the capitalist.
“Melville is a regular snake-in-the-grass-
confound him!” glowed Eph Somers, wrath-
fully. “How I wish he was a real snake! Then
I could step on his head!"
"Hush!" muttered Jacob Farnum, suddenly.
“Here he comes from his yard, heading straight
for us. It wouldn't do to beat a retreat now, but
try to act as though you didn't see him, and
didn't feel any interest in him anyway."
George Melville, however, was not to be.
snubbed. Nor did he intend to pass them.


214
THE SUBMARINE BOYS'
be afraid of anything happening to you. But
the more I see of the man the less I am inclined to
think he can be trusted anywhere or at any time. ·
And he surely does hate us all, for he had
planned and hoped to get this business of mine
all under his own control. He isn't the kind of
man to forgive or forget anything."
“Well, at most," sighed Jack, “we can only
be locked up and then make a huge fight at the
trial. If we can break down Melville's perjured
witnesses, we can then turn around and make
things warm indeed for him!”
“Don't nurse that thought," urged Mr. Far-
num. “Even if Melville's witnesses could be
broken down and convicted of swearing falsely,
you may be sure a man of his experience and
smoothness wouldn't be caught. He would say
only that he had believed the stories they told
him; he would claim he had acted in good faith,
and he would go clear.”
“I can't believe that rascality will win,' mut-
tered Captain Jack. '
Jacob Farnum got up briskly.
“Anyway,” he said, "we'll be ready to fight
whatever may happen. We won't back down
before any forces that can be marshaled against
us. Should anything happen to any of you, or
to you all, be sure that you send for me first of
all."


216
THE SUBMARINE BOYS'
THE DU
aboard their train, on their way back to
Washington, David Pollard, carrying a valise,
appeared in his friend's office.
“Hullo! Where are you going, now?" asked
the boatbuilder.
"If you don't ask me where, I shall be as well
pleased,” pleaded the inventor, in a weary voice.
“The strain of it all has tired me more than
you would believe. So I'm going to slip away
for a little while, carrying some of my books, and
a few drawings and tools with me. I want to
rest—and think.”
Two days followed in which nothing note-
worthy happened. The submarine remained at
her moorings. If George Melville was planning
any mean move against the boys he plainly was
not ready to spring his mine under them. Jack,
Hal and Eph spent most of their time aboard,
attending to what little work there was, and
reading for hours at a stretch.
A little before noon, on the third day, Jack
found it necessary to consult Mr. Farnum about
the purchase of some supplies needed aboard
the submarine. He went straight to his em-
ployer's private office.
“Mr. Farnum hasn't been here since three
o'clock yesterday afternoon," said the young
woman stenographer.
"Is he out of town?"


TRIAL TRIP
217
"Not that I know of, captain.”
“Oh, at his home, then? I'll run up."
A few minutes later Mrs. Farnum came down
to the reception room at her home.
“If you are looking for Mr. Farnum," she
said, seriously, “I may as well admit that I, also,
seek him. I can't imagine where he is.”
“May I ask when you saw him last?" Jack
inquired quickly.
“At half-past three yesterday afternoon. Af-
terwards I received a note from him, telling me
not to worry if he came home very late. The
fact, is, however, that he hasn't returned yet, I
telephoned his office this morning, only to learn
that he has not been there either.”
Jack could not by any means conceal all the
anxiety that he felt.
“You can't account for Mr. Farnum being
away in this fashion, can you, Captain Benson?”
Jack was aware that the wife was scrutinizing
his face very closely.
“No, I can't,” he admitted. “Still, of course,
it's all right, and you'll soon know the explana-
tion, I am sure, Mrs. Farnum.”
“Tell me, captain, whether you have any idea
of anything that could call my husband away in
this fashion?"
“I haven't the least idea of any business that
could,” Jack replied, promptly.


218
THE SUBMARINE BOYS'
“Do you believe it possible that any harm
can have befallen him?" insisted the young
wife.
“I haven't the least knowledge of any harm
that threatened him," Benson answered, “un-
less "
He checked himself quickly.
“Speak! What did you mean to say?"
“I was wondering if anything had gone wrong
with his business,” Benson admitted.
“Yes,” cried Mrs. Farnum, hastily. “He has
been worried about business matters lately. I
know that much, though my husband has been
very careful about what he told me in that con-
nection. Jack Benson, do you think anything
could have happened to him on account of busi-
ness worries?”
Mrs. Farnum's tone was now so wholly ap-
pealing that it went straight to the boy's heart.
“Why, what could have happened to your
husband, Mrs. Farnum, merely on account of
business worries?”
“I-I- have heard,” faltered the anxious
young wife, “that business men sometimes suf-
fer so that their minds become affected. Could
Jacob have wandered away in a state of great
mental excitement? Could he do you think
it even possible, Jack Benson, that he could have
done himself any harm?"


TRIAL TRIP
221
Jack. “While we want to do everything in the
world, there doesn't seem to be a blessed thing
we can do."
Jacob Farnum's unaccounted absence
stretched out into the fifth day. Then Hal
broke in upon his comrades.
"Fellows,'' he almost shouted, “Don Melville
is back, and strutting about as if he owned the
world. Now, see here, Mr. Farnum vanishes,
and then Don comes back as soon as he can be
sent for. Just what I told you—the Melvilles
know the answer to this mystery!"
Whatever underlay it all, it was acute tor-
ment for the submarine boys to be thus forced
merely to wait, helpless, incapable of being of
use in any way.
m
CHAPTER XXII
DON TREADS UPON AIR—BUT COMES DOWN
"T 'M going ashore,” said Eph, the next morn-
ing, as soon as he had hastily bolted his
breakfast in the submarine's cabin.
“Going to do anything especial?” asked Jack
Benson.
“Well, of course I'm going to see if there's
any news of Mr. Farnum. But I've got another
fish to catch. I want to find out what news there


225
dow, but Jake didn't seem to be on hand. Where
is he, anyway?"
“That's what we'd give our savings and our
pay for six months to know,” vented Jack
gloomily. "Didn't you know that Mr. Farnum
has vanished, and that he's been away for
“What?" crashed out of the inventor's
mouth.
Then he heard the whole account of how mat-
ters had stood for the last few days.
“This news spells ruin for us all, then,"
groaned the inventor, who had some idea of how
things stood financially. "The yard's bills are
overdue. The principal creditors will come
down upon us at any moment now. When they
do, they'll grab the yard."
“It almost seems foolish of Mr. Farnum not
to take some help from his wife's fortune,
doesn't it?” asked Eph.
"He won't though. He'd sooner kill himself
than allow his wife's fortune to be risked in this
affair. I believe I honor him for that more than
for anything else I know about my friend,” ex-
claimed David Pollard, with warmth. “Mrs.
Farnum might come forward to help, on the sly,
if she could, but her funds are still tied up await-
ing the slow action of the courts."
“Farnum isn't the kind of man to run away
15- The Submarine Boys' Trial Trip.


TRIAL TRIP
227
“I've got to get on shore and walk a bit to
work this feeling off,” complained the young
captain. “Hal, do you feel the same way?”
As the two chums were passing the office a
heavy, broad-shouldered, middle-aged man was
coming out.
“Are you in Mr. Farnum's employ?” he
asked.
“Yes, sir," Jack answered.
“I found a bookkeeper and a stenographer in
there," the man went on, “but neither of them
seemed able to give me any information about
your employer. Do you know where he is?"
"I couldn't answer a stranger about my em-
ployer's business, sir,” Captain Jack answered,
politely.
"Here's my card, and here's a bill I'm
anxious to see Mr. Farnum about,” retorted the
stranger. He proved to be a Mr. Stevenson,
head of a firm of ship's steel jobbers. His bill,
alone, was for more than twenty-five thousand
dollars.
“Mr. Farnum is away, at present, sir," Jack
replied.
“I know that, but where is he, and when will
he come back? This bill is overdue, and I can't
let the money go by. I can sell this bill at face
value, but I don't want to do that.”
Both of the chums started, though they tried


230
THE SUBMARINE BOYS'
“I stopped to tell you fellows," Don went on,
superciliously, “that you may as well get your
things ready to move off the boat—that is, if you
have any baggage. Things are going to happen,
and you won't be needed any longer aboard the
‘Pollard.'"
“Why don't you attend to your own busi-
ness ?” demanded Jack, calmly, though he was
stung by Don's insolence.
“My own business?" repeated young Melville,
sneeringly.
“I suppose we'll really have to give you credit
for attending well to some of your own busi-
ness," hinted Hal, coolly.
“What business ?" demanded Don, suspi-
ciously.
“Helping deserving young men to escape
from the lock-up.”
Don Melville's face flared a sullen, ugly red.
“You impudent paupers !” he choked.
“What did you stop here for, anyway?"
asked Jack, coldly. “We didn't want to talk
with you. We're more careful about the kind
of people we're seen with.”
Jack nudged his chum, and both would have
stepped away, but Don, becoming more enraged,
cried out:
“Johnson, did you hear that? Chastise the
young puppy!”
OC


TRIAL TRIP
231
In an instant, grinning as though he liked the
opportunity, the coachman sprang from his seat,
whip in hand. He made a rush at Jack, the whip
uplifted. Young Benson tried to dodge. Hal
Hastings sprang at the coachman, but, with one
heavy fist the fellow struck out, sending Hal to
the sidewalk. Then Johnson wheeled, aiming
another slashing blow at Benson.
“Give it to 'em both !” exclaimed Don, beside
himself with wrathful joy. “Teach 'em how to
insult their betters!”
Around the corner had come another man,
Grant Andrews, foreman in the submarine shed.
He had been uptown on a business errand.
In an instant Andrews divined what was hap-
pening. With a cry of disgust he leaped between
Jack and the coachman, catching the fellow's de-
scending arm, then striking the wretch a crush-
ing blow in the face.
Don gasped, then sank back into his seat, look-
ing scared.



LA
Pos. No
5
Lalur
But
WIDIAS
Andrews Coiled the Whip Around Don's Legs.
233





238
THE SUBMARINE BOYS'
ventor's face pale a good deal when he opened
the state-room door.
“I'll go, Jack, of course," he answered. “But
I'm heartsick and weary and I need some sup-
port. Come with me.”
Hal and Eph, not being invited, had to re-
main behind.
“I hear old Melville's at the office with our
superintendent," muttered the boatman, as he
rowed his passengers ashore.
David Pollard did not answer, but he gripped
tightly at the rail of the boat.
On entering the outer office they found the
stenographer sitting there quietly, not far from
the bookkeeper.
“Mr. Partridge is inside, Mr. Pollard,” said
the young woman. “I'll be here at hand, in case
you need me to come in and take down anything
in shorthand.”
Inventor and captain passed to the private
office. Asa Partridge, the superintendent of
the yard, was sitting at Mr. Farnum's desk,
though he had not pushed up the roll-top.
On other chairs sat Mr. Melville and the law-
yer whom he had engaged to replace Lawyer
Demarest.
“I'm sorry I had to send for you, Mr. Pol-
lard,” apologized Superintendent Partridge,
rising and offering his chair to David Pollard.


240
THE SUBMARINE BOYS'
is over, to be the legal owner of several other
claims against this business.".
“Then you must have done this for the pur-
pose of wrecking this enterprise, or of capturing
the business for yourself," declared David Pol-
lard, looking defiantly into George Melville's
eyes.
"If I have, that's legitimate enough, isn't it?"
asked the capitalist, with a crafty smile.
“I dare say it's within the law,” nodded the
inventor, more wearily.
Mr. Melville glanced meaningly at his at-
torney, then turned and continued in smooth
tones:
“Pollard, from what I know as the result of
investigating this business in the past, I am
aware that Farnum holds your patents, subject
to the payment of some further royalties to you.
Yes; I am preparing to take charge of this busi-
ness, and I shall conduct it on sound business
principles. There will be a complete reorgani-
zation, and some of the people now here will
have to seek other employment-
Here Mr. Melville paused long enough to
glance meaningly at Jack Benson, who stood
quietly in the background.
“At the same time, Pollard,” continued the
man of much money, “I have never had any
difficulties with you. I shall respect your rights


TRIAL TRIP
241
as to the royalties. Moreover, I trust you will
see your way clear to remain with the new man-
agement of this yard, and that you will be able
to contribute many valuable new ideas to the
construction, equipment and running of subma-
rine torpedo boats. I tell you frankly that I look
for a great futurema grand future-in this line
of business, and that is why I am preparing to
buy up all claims and take charge here. You
will remain with me, as my right-hand man,
won't you?”
"I will not,” retorted the inventor, sharply.
"Oh, well, I won't crowd you for your answer
to-day,” replied the capitalist, with a deprecat-
ing smile. "Take your time, plenty of it, to
think the matter over."
Under the surface the capitalist was some-
what disturbed. He knew that he was on the
point of gaining control of the business and of
the present Pollard patents. Yet this inventor
might, some day, conceive a type of boat that
would leave the present “Pollard” and her
sister boat hopelessly behind. If he could not
placate and secure this inventor, then George
Melville realized, at once, that he must rush his
dealings with the Government.
“Do you need me any longer here, sir?” asked
Superintendent Partridge, turning to the in-
ventor.
16- The Submarine Boys' Trial Trip.


244
THE SUBMARINE BOYS'
“Then he'll get the highest voltage in the way
of a shock,” laughed the boatbuilder, softly.
“But, my friends, I won't keep the good news
from you any longer. You've been wondering
where I was. Over in Washington, in secret con-
ference with the Navy Department! The report
of the Naval board was fine, and the Department
wanted the ‘Pollard.' I've sold her—sold her
for $165,000!”
Jack Benson gave a gasp of amazement. This
was much above the price the boatbuilder and
inventor had looked for. Then the young cap-
tain's face was wreathed in smiles of joy. Asa
Partridge, on the other hand, for the first mo-
ment regarded his employer's face keenly.
“Not to have you think I'm telling fairy
tales,” laughed Mr. Farnum happily, “look at
this.”
He drew a long wallet from his pocket, from
which he took out an uncreased check.
“You see, the Navy Department's own check,"
he cried, with the glee of a schoolboy. “Now,
come in with me. We'll try to amuse Melville!”
“One moment, sir," begged Jack. “Does
Mrs. Farnum know, or shall I telephone her?”
“Mrs. Farnum knows, and is at this moment
on her way home,” replied the boatbuilder.
“She has known since the day after I went away.
She told you the truth when you first went to ,


TRIAL TRIP
247
light, then hastened over to one of the windows,
looking out in order to hide the tears of joy that
stood out in his eyes.
George Melville picked up the deed with shak-
ing fingers, for Farnum had quickly jerked the
check back out of his foe's reach.
As he glar o ugh the deed the capitalist's
eyes bulged a w..
The stenographer entered with the check.
Farnum, after glancing at it, and comparing the
amount with that stated in the bill, dashed off
his signature at the lower right-hand corner of
the check, next pressing a blotting paper against
the written line.
“Here's the check in full, Melville," he
chirped, blithely, passing it over. “Now, your
receipt to the bill, if you please.”
Like one in a trance Mr. Melville picked up
the proffered pen and signed his acknowledg-
ment of payment.
“Have you any more assigned claims against
me?” asked Farnum, eyeing his man, sharply.
“N-n-o,” stammered the capitalist.
“That's fine-for you-in case you've been
offering bonuses to get my creditors to assign
their claims to you,” laughed Mr. Farnum.
It was afterwards discovered that George
Melville had paid a bonus of one thousand dol-
lars in order to get this particular bill into his


248
THE SUBMARINE BOYS'
hands. Of course, as matters turned out, that
thousand dollars was an utter loss to him.
Still eyeing his defeated antagonist with a
look of complete amusement, Farnum inquired:
“How does it feel, Melville, to play a game
of this kind, and then to lose out?”
"I don't believe I'll remain any longer,” ra-
plied the capitalist, whose face was fast turning
lead-colored, so greatly was he angered and
agitated.
“Oh, wait just one moment-do,” urged
Jacob Farnum, as he heard an automobile rum-
ble outside, then pause before the door.
The door opened to admit Broughton Em-
erson.
“Great news, Farnum-great news indeed!”
uttered that gentleman, in hearty tones. “I
came as quickly as I could after receiving your
message. Of course you can assure me that
you've not been joking, and then I'll stand ready
to produce the needed extra capital as per our
understanding.”
“Oh, I've all the proof to satisfy you," smiled
the boatbuilder, broadly. “Must you go, Mr.
Melville. By the way, don't present that check
at the bank before ten minutes after nine in the
morning, for my account of to-day won't cover
it. But I'll be there at opening time to deposit
my Government check."


TRIAL TRIP
249
Melville's shoulders stooped forward sadly as
he crossed the room. His head hung down;
there was a hang-dog look in his eyes.
Captain Jack stepped softly to the door to
open it. When the capitalist had passed through,
Jack closed the door very softly. Then, wheel-
ing about, he could not repress the joyous word
that rose to his lips:
“Stung!”
“I don't blame you, Jack, not a bit,” chuckled
the boatbuilder. Pollard turned from the win-
dow to laugh, also. Mr. Emerson, though he did
not possess the key to it all, chuckled.
"I take it that Melville is not highly pleased,"
he remarked, at which all the others went off
into another roar of laughter.
"Jack, get your mates, tell 'em the news and
bring 'em in here," commanded Mr. Farnum.
Within five minutes young Benson was back
with Hal Hastings and Eph Somers. All of the
submarine boys looked, as they felt supremely
happy.
Not much more remains to be told. George
Melville, through his pretended boatyard and
other expenditures made in trying to force his
way to the control of the submarine boat-build-
ing business, lost more than $30,000.
The two Italians who enticed Jack away on
that memorable night have never since been





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