The Submarine Boys Trial Trip | Page 6

young captain was talking his two mates
were still--Hal, because it was his nature, and Eph Somers because he
was actually staggered into silence.
"That's what I've been thinking of," Jack wound up.
"Don't you do it, old fellow--don't you dare!" ordered Hal, sitting up
straighter and resting an appealing hand on his chum's shoulder.
"But think of the lives that have been lost on submarine boats during
the last few years," pleaded Jack Benson, seriously.
"And you want to add your life to the others," retorted Hal, with
mocking irony.
"I want to save, perhaps, hundreds of lives in the future," returned Jack,
spiritedly.
"Then, at least, old chum," begged Hal, "tell your scheme to Mr.
Farnum, and let him hire a trained diver to make the experiment."
"You think there's a lot of danger in it, do you?" queried Captain Jack,
mildly.

"I certainly do," said Hastings, with emphasis.
"Then I'll do the trick myself," contended Jack. "I'm not going to think
up a trick too dangerous for myself, and then hire another man to take
all the risk for me."
Hal said no more. He knew the folly of trying to persuade his chum out
of a decision like the present one.
"I don't believe Farnum will let you try it," hinted Eph. "It sounds too
dangerous."
"Mr. Farnum won't know what it is until it's been done," responded
young Captain Benson, with a light laugh, as he rose from the table.
"Fellows, I'm going on shore for a little while. Look the electric motor
over, and test the compressed air apparatus. We want to be sure that
everything is working right."
"Let me go ashore with you," suggested Hal, also rising.
"Not this time," laughed Jack. "You might try to say something to Mr.
Farnum to queer my plan. Stay here. You and Eph make mighty sure
that everything is in running order."
Going on deck, Captain Jack signaled for a shore boat, which was
quickly alongside. Landing, the young captain walked slowly up to the
yard office, thinking deeply all the time.
Just as the young submarine commander entered the outer office Jacob
Farnum stepped out from his private, inner office. He was smoking a
cigar, and looked as though he had come out to stretch his legs.
"Hullo, Jack," he greeted the young man, pleasantly. "Say, I hope you
haven't come to talk business. Say something foolish, won't you, lad?
I'm just in the mood for nonsense. All 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 capital, and we need it to expand this business. He's

in there, now, with another capitalist, a lawyer and an accountant. But I
had to break away. What do you know that's reckless?"
Jacob Farnum was not playing any part of treachery, or deception, in
not telling his submarine boys about the proposed shifting of command
to Don Melville's shoulders. The fact was that George Melville, after
that first hint, had said nothing more about the subject, but was now
craftily laying the wires for securing gradual control of the shipyard's
enterprises.
"Why, I am glad to find you at leisure, and willing to be amused,"
smiled Captain Jack, quietly. "Will it be too much like business if I ask
you down to the water to watch a little demonstration that we want to
make with the 'Pollard'?"
"Is it something brand-new?" laughed Mr. Farnum, resting an arm on
the young captain's shoulder.
"So far as I know, it's shiningly new," laughed Jack Benson.
"What is it?"
"If you don't mind, Mr. Farnum, I'd rather show it to you first."
"How long will the demonstration take?"
"It ought not to require more than fifteen or twenty minutes, sir."
"I'll take you up, then," agreed Mr. Farnum, pleasantly.
Just at that moment the inner door opened. Mr. Melville came out,
followed by his lawyer, Don bringing up the rear of the file.
"I guess you'd better come along with me, gentlemen," called Mr.
Farnum. "Captain Benson has just invited me to witness something new
in the submarine line."
"What is it?" questioned Mr. Melville.

"I don't know," admitted Jacob Farnum.
"What is it, boy?" demanded Mr. Melville, turning upon Jack. The very
tone in which the word "boy" was uttered was meant to reduce the
youthful captain to confusion, but it had the opposite effect. Though it
brought a quick flush to Jack's cheeks, he answered, courteously:
"It is intended, principally, as a surprise to Mr. Farnum. If I were to tell,
now, it would rob him of much of the pleasure of being astonished."
To this George Melville did not deign to reply, though he compressed