The Submarine Boys Trial Trip | Page 4

If he says so, then I'll unlock it with
pleasure."
"Benson," retorted Don Melville, again trying to disconcert the young
captain with a stare of cold insolence, "I guess you don't understand
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 a big amount of capital into
this enterprise. Farnum wants my father to do it."

"Then I hope your father does," nodded Jack Benson, with a look of
polite interest.
"Of course, in that case," pursued Don, "the whole business will be
reorganized."
"I should imagine so," nodded Jack.
"And, as a part of that reorganization, I'm to have command of the
'Pollard,' and of any other boats that may be built here!"
Captain Jack Benson's face blanched in an instant. He did not falter, but
he felt, for the moment, as though he had been stabbed to the heart. Hal
Hastings gave a little, barely perceptible gasp. Eph Somers, with a snort
of wrath, turned and stepped through into the motor room.
"I'm to command this boat, and the others that may be built; that's one
of my father's conditions in putting up the required capital," continued
Don Melville. "Of course, I shall select my own helpers and crews. If
you three are really competent, and show sufficient respect for
authority over you, I may be able to provide some sort of places for you
aboard this boat and the new one that's being built. Now, do you
understand who I am?"
"I've heard all you said," replied Captain Jack, dully. He was so dazed,
so tormented, that, for the moment, he did not dare trust himself 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-morrow."
"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 cordiality as he started up the
steps: "When I come aboard next I trust there will be no
misunderstanding 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, savagely. "I don't believe the
yarn. Do you?"
"I'm half afraid," replied Captain Jack, raising his eyes, "that I do."
CHAPTER II
A SUBMARINE STUNT THAT DUMFIOUND THE BEHOLDERS
"It 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 hundred fathoms of good salt water!"
"We may like him better when we know him," ventured Jack.

"I'm betting though," put in Hal, thoughtfully, "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 dullard," 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 fellows. 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