The Submarine Boys Trial Trip | Page 2

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. Farnum 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 distance 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. 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, saluting 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
behind 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 additional working capital for the making of
submarine boats.

"We're coming aboard, captain," added Mr. Farnum, shouting between
his hands, across the water. "Everything ship-shape for inspection?"
"Aye, aye, sir!" Captain Jack responded.
"It was a shame, really, to ask that question," laughed Mr. Farnum,
turning to his companions. "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 'Pollard,'" 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 before 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 volume 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 vanquished 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 maneuvers fleet, and remember the
pretty romance, 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.

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