The Submarine Boys' Trial Trip / Making Good" as Young Experts"

e! I won't believe it!"

nd have been so proud of what we've b

ed Eph. "Not in charge, anyway. Why, Mr. Farnum

hot faces of his mates, "we mustn't be to

" asserted Eph. "I'll

"In the first place, Don Melville has evidently had a golden spoon in his mouth from the

vered Eph. "Straight to the bottom! Und

tter when we know h

l, thoughtfully, "that we're mu

uffer!" s

e our minds about tha

man's son?" deman

aren't as often fools as they're suspected of being. Some of them are mighty clever. The numbe

ng to side with

answered, quietly. "But I do know one thing I'm going to do, at any an

t?" Hal wan

um as he has always been with us. That carri

!" agr

as long as Farnum runs the business. But, if

ant to, provided it wouldn't carry with it disloyalty to the

see if you young men want to go as

that Mr. Farnum would not want them again that afternoon, the young cronies sauntered off up into the village. At Jack's sug

. 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 inferi

on of the yard's business. Don and his father were much about the place, though they rarely came out to the "Pollard." B

led except the signing

Hast

rs, then, or as bad," murmu

way in secret, pondering over the invention of further appliances to be tried out on the boat now building. More than that, David Pollard, shy an

ey, I'd put it into the business for the sake of keeping my berth

at's the use of talking, when this

ollars, passing them rue

ing, Jack?" demanded Hal.

responded young

hat thinking does less har

n't spit out all that's boiling i

to talk presently,"

g strong, say it

g defiantly at the wall opposite. Hal, rather listless, sat low in his chair, his feet well under the table, his hands thrust d

ake Farnum and ask him, straight, whether that snob of a duffer is goin

advised Hal, with a

y n

ts to be, now," rejoined Hastings. "When there's anything

alf asse

play the waiting game and rely upon Mr. Farnum bei

h farm labor at a premium, I'm not going t

ommanded Jack Benson

hat day. While the young captain was talking his two mates were still-Hal, becaus

been thinking of

" ordered Hal, sitting up straighter and res

ost on submarine boats during the last f

life to the others," retor

ndreds of lives in the futur

ll your scheme to Mr. Farnum, and let him h

f danger in it, do you?" q

," said Hasting

ot going to think up a trick too dangerous for myself,

of trying to persuade his chum out

let you try it," hinted Eph

laugh, as he rose from the table. "Fellows, I'm going on shore for a little while. Look the electric m

with you," suggest

thing to Mr. Farnum to queer my plan. Stay here. You and

h was quickly alongside. Landing, the young captain walked

b Farnum stepped out from his private, inner office. He was smoking

forenoon I've had my head crammed to bursting with figures and business, and now I'm in the mood for something reckless. You see, Melville is in a position to command a lot of c

ifting of command to Don Melville's shoulders. The fact was that George Melville, after that first hint, had said nothing

ain Jack, quietly. "Will it be too much like business if I ask you down to the

ghed Mr. Farnum, resting an arm

t's shiningly new,"

t is

r. Farnum, I'd rather

l the demonst

re more than fifteen o

then," agreed Mr.

Mr. Melville came out, followed by his la

" called Mr. Farnum. "Captain Benson has just invite

" questioned

w," admitted

d "boy" was uttered was meant to reduce the youthful captain to confusion, but it had the o

r. Farnum. If I were to tell, now, it would rob

though he compressed his lips grimly enough. Don

ty independe

expelling some cigar smoke between his l

ne at which offense could be taken, this rep

to the shore and see what it

ered the shore boat and was row

he called, as soon as he

wo or three minutes later the "Pollard" slipped slowly away from her moorings, going out where the little harbor was deeper

ter, where the boat is going down

sterious work?" demanded Mr. M

as I do," drawled

r a good deal of latitude, and tolerate a good deal

ood-humoredly, though with considerable emphasis on the title. "So far I h

t y

the water, suddenly emitted an incredulous whoop. Then, without explanation, the boatbuilder b

on's head, above the water at the point where the submarine had gone down. And now, Captain Ja

cance of it all, the Melvilles and t

thing suit, stepped out of the water a

an Farnum, then stopped, overpowe

" demanded the elder Melville, p

inst the submarine torpedo boat is that, when one sinks and cannot be brought to the surface again, the crew must miserably perish. Very humane people shudder at the very idea of ordering men into a c

ole cover, and rose to the su

with water, and my companions drowned? Besides, sir, at a depth of seventy feet, the press

get here?" deman

eplied Jack, courte

to answer my

uous use of "boy" made Jack's cheek

rnum has a right to t

t I am about to take a large

ttle surprise was thought out by my comrades and myself. It seems to me

lle. "It's all some decepti

oat, which, with two workmen in it, was hovering ne

it. Under actual war conditions, with a submarine boat guarding a coast or harbor 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

nchor, with plenty of cable to pay out after it. Captain Jack enter

the boat. With that, after getting his bearings fu

he called, pausing and treading wa

anchor overboard. Then, poising himself at the bow

do now?" asked Mr.

than guess," sm

Melville looked, as he

wed by the emergence of the platform deck and upper hull above the water. In another moment the tower manhole was opened, and Jack Benso

the water. "I'll have Dave Pollard excited when I write him ab

lose, after the anchor had been lifted. Now,

with me, Mr. Farn

him how you worked th

le, qu

s,

ve we'll all

r. Farnum comes aboard I shall show nothing. Later on

is boy's nonsense, Farnum?" br

at he was close to inward anger. "Mr. Melville, I must beg you to remember that the secret, whatever it is

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

ving back to her moorings. Mr. Farnum and Captain Jack returne

I was with the 'Pollard' down on the bott

, while Don half scowled, then turned hi

arnum, courteously, "at

remain a secret

pitalist, but his