fellow have had for wanting to damage your
motors?" demanded the naval officer, looking hopelessly puzzled.

"I can't even make a sane guess, sir," Jack Benson admitted.

An hour and a half later the "Hudson" and the two submarines headed back
for a safe little bay on the coast. Here the three craft anchored for
the night.

CHAPTER XVII

THE EVIL GENIUS OF THE WATER FRONT

It was nearly eight in the evening when the three craft were snug at
anchor.

The bay was a small one, hardly worthy of the name. The only inhabited
part of the shore thereabouts consisted of the fishing village known as
Blair's Cove, a settlement containing some forty houses.

Hardly had all been made snug aboard the "Farnum" when Jack, standing on
the platform deck after the cadets had been transferred to the "Hudson"
for the night, saw a small boat heading out from shore.

"Is that one of the new submarine crafts?" hailed a voice from the bow
of the boat.

"Yes, sir," Jack answered, courteously.

No more was said until the boat had come up alongside.

"I thought maybe you'd be willing to let me have a look over a craft
of this sort," said the man in the bow. He appeared to be about forty
years of age, dark-haired and with a full, black beard. The man was
plainly though not roughly dressed; evidently he was a man of some
education.

"Why, I'm mighty sorry, sir," Captain Jack Benson replied. "But I'm
afraid it will be impossible to allow any strangers on board during
this cruise."

"Oh, I won't steal anything from your craft,", answered the stranger,
laughingly. "I won't be inquisitive, either, or go poking into forbidden
corners. Who's your captain?"

"I am, sir."

"Then you'll let me come aboard, just for a look, won't you?" pleaded
the stranger.

Such curiosity was natural. The man seemed like a decent fellow.
But Jack shook his head.

"I'm sorry, sir, but I'm positive our owners wouldn't approve of our
allowing any strangers to come on board."

"Had any trouble, so far, with strangers?" asked the man.

"I didn't say that," Jack replied, evasively. "But the construction of
a submarine torpedo boat is a secret. It is a general rule with our
owners that strangers shan't be allowed on board, unless they're very
especially vouched for. Now, I hate to appear disobliging; yet, if
you've ever been employed by anyone else, you will appreciate the need
of obeying an owner's orders."

"You're under the orders o