achinery we use. Better give him a chance." The note was
signed in David Pollard's well-known, scrawly handwriting.

"I'm sorry you can't see Mr. Farnum tonight," said Benson, pleasantly.
"He'll be here early in the morning, though."

"When do you sail?" asked Truax, quickly.

"That you would have to ask Mr. Farnum, too," smiled Jack.

"But, see here, Mr. Pollard engaged me to work aboard one of your
submarines."

"It looks that way, doesn't it?" laughed the young skipper.

"And you're the captain?"

"Yes; but I can't undertake to handle Mr. Farnum's business for him."

"You'll let me go aboard the craft to sleep for to-night, anyway?"
coaxed Truax.

"Why, that's just what I'm not at liberty to do," replied the young
submarine captain. "No; I couldn't think of that, in the absence of
Mr. Farnum's order."

"But that doesn't seem hardly fair," protested Truax. "See here, I
have spent all my money getting here. I haven't even the price of a
lodging with me, and this isn't a summer night."

"Why, I'll tell you what I'll do," Benson went on, feeling in one of
his pockets. "Here's a dollar. That'll buy you a bed and a breakfast
at the hotel up the street. If you want to get aboard with us in time,
you'd better show up by eight in the morning."

"But--"

"That's really all I can do," Jack Benson hastily assured the fellow.
"I'm not the owner of the boat, and I can't take any liberties. Oh,
wait just a moment. I'll see if there's any chance of Mr. Farnum
coming back to night."

Jack knew well enough that there wasn't any chance of Mr. Farnum
returning, unless possibly at a very late hour with the naval officers,
but the boy had seen the night watchman peering out through the gateway.

Retracing his steps, Jack drew the night watchman inside, whispering:

"Just a pointer for you. You've seen that man on the street with us?
He has a letter from Mr. Pollard to Mr. Farnum, but I wouldn't let him
in the yard to-night, unless Mr. Farnum appears and gives the order."

"I understand," said the night watchman, nodding.

"That's all, then, and thank you."

Jack Benson hastily rejoined the others on the sidewalk

"I don't believe, Mr. Truax, it will be worth your while to come here
earlier than eight in the morning. Better go to the hotel and tie up
to a good sleep. Good night."

"Say, why did you take such a dislike to the fellow?" queried Eph, as
the three submarine boys strolled on up the street,