aptain bore out
his words fully. Jack did love this fine craft. He gloried in having
the command of her, though he never made the weight of his authority
felt by his two comrades, who, indeed, virtually shared in the command.
Captain Benson was especially proud and grateful at the confidence shown
in himself and in his mates in being allowed full charge of the
"Pollard." Love the life? It wouldn't be life, for him, without the
"Pollard!"

Don began to ask some further questions about the boat. His tone was
slightly supercilious. It was plain to be seen that he looked upon
these daring, tried and proven youngsters as being decidedly his
inferiors. Yet Jack fought against a growing feeling of irritation,
giving good-humored and attentive answers.

Then Don went over to the little door of a compartment in the wall.
Behind this door was some of the delicate mechanism--invention of
David Pollard--by means of which the compressed air supply was better
regulated than on any other type of submarine craft.

"Why, this place is locked," observed Don.

"Yes," nodded Captain Jack.

"You have the key?"

"I--I believe so."

"Then be good enough to unlock this little door," ordered Don Melville.

"I hope you'll pardon me," said Captain Jack, quickly, yet politely. "It
wouldn't be just the thing for me to do."

"Why not?" Don shot at him, coldly.

"Well--because I've no orders from Mr. Farnum to that effect.
Because--well, behind that little door are a few mechanisms that amount
to about the most important secret about the boat."

"Then you _refuse_ to unlock that little door?" demanded Don, coldly,
trying to disconcert the young captain by a steady, cold look into his
eyes.

"Oh, no; I don't refuse," answered young Benson, in the same cool,
pleasant tone. "But the order should come from Mr. Farnum. He's right
overhead. You can call up to him. 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 w