The Submarine Boys Lightning Cruise | Page 6

look for the 'Mary Bond.' Your boats can go a big
distance in a few hours. We're afraid, Mr. Farnum, that the smack's

canvas or sticks may have suffered in the big blow of yesterday. We're
afraid, too, that the 'Mary Bond' may be drifting about helplessly on the
sea, just for the need of a little aid. We're afraid, sir, that good
Dunhaven men may be in great danger of going to the bottom, and
leaving behind families that--"
The spokesman stopped, a little choke in his voice. As though in
answer sobs came from some of the women.
"Now, now, friends, if that's the trouble, we'll soon know about it,"
promised the shipbuilder, one of the biggest-hearted men living. "One
of our boats is going out for practice. But, if you'll supply a good
sea-going hand or two, the second boat shall go out and sweep the seas
hereabouts, looking for the 'Mary Bond.'"
A cheer went up at once. Mr. Farnum flushed with pleasure. Not above
doing a kind act, he also enjoyed having it appreciated.
"Who'll command the relief boat!" called one of the women. "Jack
Benson?"
"No," replied Mr. Farnum, shaking his head. "Captain Benson must go
out on naval business to-day."
A murmur of disappointment went up from the crowd. Jack Benson
was a young skipper on whose success a Dunhaven crowd would make
bets.
"But, see here," proposed the shipbuilder, "I'll go out myself, on the
'Benson,' and take Williamson along with me. Now, you folks find any
local salt-water captain and a couple of good deck hands to go with
me."
"When will you start, sir?" asked the spokesman.
"The minute you have my helpers ready. There's Captain Allen among
you now. If he'll go, he's as good a salt-water dog as I want on a cruise
with me. Let him pick two sailors out of the crowd. We can start in five

minutes."
Another cheer went up as Jacob Farnum, leaving the outer door open,
hurried back to his own party. Captain Allen, a retired master of
coasting vessels, had five times as many volunteers in the crowd as he
needed.
"Jack, I'm sorry I can't go with you," sighed Mr. Farnum, as he returned.
"But the call of humanity is too big a one. I'm going to take Williamson
with me. The rest of you go with Lieutenant Danvers and his men. I'll
hope to be able to go with you to-morrow, anyway."
"Isn't there a tug hereabouts that those people could hire?" questioned
the naval officer.
"Oh, yes; there's a small one to the south of here, but her captain would
charge at least fifty dollars a day," replied the shipbuilder, as he drew
on a heavy deck ulster.
"I suppose these people expect you to go out for nothing," hinted
Lieutenant Danvers.
"Oh, yes, of course," nodded the shipbuilder. "But one can't be a crank,
or a miser, when women are red-eyed and weeping from worry over
their missing husbands and sons."
There was a suspicion of moisture in Mr. Farnum's own eyes as he
snatched up a cap, bidding his own party a hasty good-bye ere he ran
from the office.
"There goes a good-natured man," laughed Lieutenant Danvers.
"A big-hearted one, you mean, sir," corrected Captain Jack Benson.
"He's a man with a heart bigger than any torpedo craft he could
possibly build and launch."
"I wish him all luck," said the naval officer, heartily. "And that crowd,
and also the poor seafaring men that put out in the like of the 'Mary

Bond.'"
The crowd had gone from the office building, now, following Mr.
Farnum and his volunteers down to the little harbor. Jack, his chums
and the naval party slowly followed down to the water front.
Little time did the shipbuilder lose in getting under way. A rousing
cheer ascended when the grim little "Benson" slipped her moorings and
turned her nose out toward the sea.
"Your pipe-hungry machinist went on that craft, didn't he!" asked the
naval officer, as the crowd began to turn back from the beach.
"Yes," nodded Captain Jack. "So there's nothing at all to prevent our
getting the 'Hastings' out on the wave as soon as you like."
"I'm going to send my men up to the hotel, first, for a jolly big feed,"
proposed Lieutenant Danvers. "They've been on the rail, eating on the
jump, and now they'll appreciate a good square meal."
"Suppose we all go up to the hotel for luncheon!" proposed Captain
Jack.
"Then how about having torpedoes aboard when we return?"
"How many real torpedoes will you want for to-day, Mr. Danvers?"
Benson inquired.
"Two, besides the dummies, will be plenty."
"Then I'll run over to Mr. Partridge, the superintendent of the yard, and
he'll have a