The Submarine Boys on Duty / Life on a Diving Torpedo Boat

nhaven?" inqui

sing from the chair in which he sat tilted b

muttered Hal Hasting

Jack, with a smile, as he set down a black, cloth-covere

rs," thought Holt to himself, and did not form a very high estimate

hich condition, at a merely first glance, concealed the fa

eception that was not wholly flattering, set down a box not unlike Jack's, and also something hidden in a green cloth cov

ez Holt, after a pause spent

It helps out a bit when two fellows witho

n when dealing with strangers, and especially strangers who follow callings that do not commonly lead to prosperity. Probably "Old Man" Holt, as he was known, remembered a few

ss around here?" ask

admitted the hotel keeper, "an' some likely-lookin' cross streets. Dunhaven

ness here?" insisted H

ness photografters, then?"

siness are there

oothpick and placed another in his mo

t the town is doing any talkin' about at present

at business be?"

d they're putting up a craft th

want that photographed?

e Government, and the United States Government don't care 'bout

boat?" demanded Jack, his eye

at'll drown its score of men, I reckon, an' th

isn't it?" contin

crazy craft that men will build against

e newspapers said, I've gathered the idea that David Pollard's boat is goi

lt, grimly. "But folks 'round Dunhaven, I must say,

way of a town, I don't care a heap about their ideas of boats. And-but I beg your pardon, Mr. Holt. My tongue's running a bit ah

kled Jabez Holt. "But as to her comin' up again, I

lding her? Farnum's

space down by the water front. Farnum's "boatyard," as thus seen, was about an eighth of

f the boat?" was J

ed a pretty good business man, though he don't know much 'bout boats, an' can't seem to learn a heap, nuther. So Jake leans on Asa Partridge, the superintendent, who was also superintendent under old man Farnum. Howev

" hint

use with tools in his hands. But he an' young Jake Farnum hang 'round, watching and bossing, and they have a foreman of the gang, Joshua Owen, who knows he knows most everything 'bout buil

ose Mr. Owen

e!" rang a shrill, feminine voic

ising and leaving the two boys. But no sooner was he out of

en that Dunhaven was the home of the Pollard boat. But, si

get in on that job?"

teristic of him. "Hal, my boy, we're simply going to shove ourselves into jobs in that boatyard, and we're going to have a whack at the whole game of building and fit

, wistfully. "I hop

ops, and at other trades, and we know something about the way boats are handled. Why shouldn'

the one we want to see,

a

Benson. "And, as this hotel is right at the water front, and within two j

r that he always displayed, he had found a home and paid for his keep and schooling, either by doing chores, or by working at various occupations in his native seaport town of Oakport. He had kept at school up to a few months before the opening of this narrati

ly. Hal, too, had worked at odd jobs, almost fighting for his schooling. Hi

hts and other boats around Oakport. Both had learned how to h

photographer who, at the beginning of summer, had failed. Hal, with a considerable bil

Hal's newly acquired camera outfit and "tramp it" from town to town, earning their living by photographing and all the while keeping their eyes open for real cha

at more money than their expenses had amounted to. Jack Benson, who was the

is already a great field. It's going to be bigger and bigger, for a lot of inventors

ving, I guess," nodd

ake our fortunes in a few years. Look at some of the poor young men who had sense enough to get into the automobile bu

out upon the por

he asked, look

, I guess, if it's agreeable to you, M

I don't want no

made, Mr. Holt," Benson ran on. "We're

r hours," suppl

t two days,"

llars a day. If ye hain't got no other baggage I'll have ter loo

ughed. "I'm going to pay our charges two days in adv

partners' roll of banknotes. He quickly counted

were eight dollars. The boys were now in high standing with their host. When matters had been settled in the office Holt led them to the wash room. Here the young men dusted themselves off, washed,

ed them back to chairs

ck now, and supper'll

ock off work in the b

" the landlor

he submarine boat job e

n his way home," Mr.

'd introduce us to

Holt. "An', ye know, Dave Pol

eagerly. "Then we'll certainly try

d two boys who suddenly fell to planning their futures with all the rosy enthusiasm of youth. The longer they talked about the submarine boat, the more

ooks at its best to young, hopeful minds. Absorbed in thei

ed youth of about eighteen years. He had a swaggering way of carrying himself, and undoubtedly considered himself of much importance. His clothing proclaimed him to

anded the scowling one, as he h

d Jack Benso

a stranger hereabouts would know ye were in my c

the tone and manner of the stranger. But B

guest of

usiness," came

said

say ye were sitt

es

get up o

matter," replied Jack. "You see, my b

r, sneeringly. "Reckon

's way of d

n Jaggers?" demande

" rejoined the swagger. "

son. So swiftly was the thing done that Jack went down on all fours on the porch. But, thoroughly aroused, and his eyes fl

of that, Jaggers?" ch

rejoined Dan, with a

're sitting down," replied Jack so qui

nded Jaggers, with

id," Jack insisted.

ight, are ye?" qu

n check. "I never go about looking for trouble. I supp

t?" scowled

t out of the chair, I'll let it g

an Jaggers, aghas

on Jack's shoulder. But Benson, without flinching,

tty poor grade of tough," s

ckly realized, for Jack Benson, from much practice in boxing, was as agile and slippery as a monkey and an

intense astonishment Jack wasn't in the way of either blow, but came in with a neck b

lenged the bully, hoarsely.

ing. Yet, seeing that Jaggers meant to have a fina

a taste of the smaller youth's quality. Jack was about two inches shorter and fully thirty pounds l

rat ye?" roared Dan, driv

uncertain, for a moment, but Jack was tantalizingly just out of his reach, smiling confidently. Then Jaggers leaped forward, hopeful of winding his arms around this foe and crushing him into submission.

astonished Jabez Holt, in

not intend to carry the affair further. Then the younger boy stepped lightly back

aggers, wrathfully, glaring at young Benson with his undamaged e

"I guess that sartain done Dan Jaggers some good. He needs some of that me

ze down the road at a man just coming

to meet," cried Jack

minously. "I dunno as it'll do ye much good, now