when necessary. I am beginning to think that
it will be wise move to get you way from here--in time."

"That would give Gaston a fine chance to go clear," retorted young
Benson. "I am a very important witness when his case comes up."

"You are also a very important young man for our submarine company,"
replied Jacob Farnum, "so important, in fact, that I don't want to
have you put out of this world through any of their plots for revenge."

"But don't you see, sir, that, if I run away from here, the fellow
Gaston is very likely to be liberated?"

"Let him go, then," urged Mr. Farnum, though it was plain that he spoke
reluctantly.

"It's just what I won't do, sir. I wouldn't be a good citizen if I
should allow a criminal to escape justice just because I was, afraid
to stay and testify against him," argued Captain Jack.

"I admit the force of all you say," assented Mr. Farnum, slowly. "Yet,
if I should find, after thinking it all over, that it will be best to
instruct you to leave here quietly, you won't refuse to obey, will you?"

"Yes," declared Jack Benson.

"What? It would be the first time you ever balked at orders, then."

"But this is different, Mr. Farnum. I refuse to obey any order that will
tend to defeat the ends of justice."

Jacob Farnum winced at that statement of the matter. He had been
anxious only to save Jack from the attempts of a dangerous crowd.

"Jack is right," broke in David Pollard, decisively.

"When he puts the case in that way, I don't dare say that he isn't,"
admitted the shipbuilder. "At the same time, I can't bear the thought
of the lad being butchered to gratify the grudge of any of the rascally
crew that we've offended here at Spruce Beach."

A slight, rustling sound at the door caused them all to wheel about.
Jacob Farnum's eyes beheld a slip of white paper lying on the floor,
just inside the door. Jack Benson saw it, also, but he sprang past
the paper, pulling the door open.

Around a turn in the corridor the submarine boy heard the sound of
fleet footsteps.

Jack pursued, but could find no one, and the sound of moving feet had
also ceased. As soon as he was satisfied that he could not catch the
prowler, the submarine boy returned to the room.

"Do you see this?" asked the shipbuilder, holding out the slip of paper.

"Another warning, I suppose?" Benson ventured.

"Yes; and it shows that you are being followed and watched. Something
worse is almost certain