ill be
reorganized."

"I should imagine so," nodded Jack.

"And, as a part of that reorganization, I'm to have command of the
'Pollard,' and of any other boats that may be built here!"

Captain Jack Benson's face blanched in an instant. He did not falter,
but he felt, for the moment, as though he had been stabbed to the heart.
Hal Hastings gave a little, barely perceptible gasp. Eph Somers, with
a snort of wrath, turned and stepped through into the motor room.

"I'm to command this boat, and the others that may be built; that's one
of my father's conditions in putting up the required capital," continued
Don Melville. "Of course, I shall select my own helpers and crews. If
you three are really competent, and show sufficient respect for authority
over you, I may be able to provide some sort of places for you aboard
this boat and the new one that's being built. Now, do you understand
who I am?"

"I've heard all you said," replied Captain Jack, dully. He was so dazed,
so tormented, that, for the moment, he did not dare trust himself to make
more of a reply.

"Don!" called the elder Melville, briskly. "We're going on shore now.
You'd better leave your further studies aboard until to-morrow."

"Good-bye, then, lads," said Don Melville, laying a hand on the nickeled
railing of the spiral stairway leading up through the conning tower. He
spoke with a trace more of cordiality as he started up the steps: "When
I come aboard next I trust there will be no misunderstanding of new
facts."

Jack Benson still stood by the little cabin table, resting one hand on
it. His eyes were turned toward the floor, his chest heaving. The blow
had struck him like a bolt from a clear, sunny sky!

"That cold duffer coming aboard to boss us all around like cattle?" burst
from Eph Somers, as he stamped out from the engine room.

"Confound it!" growled Hal Hastings, savagely. "I don't believe the yarn.
Do you?"

"I'm half afraid," replied Captain Jack, raising his eyes, "that I do."

CHAPTER II

_A SUBMARINE STUNT THAT DUMFIOUND THE BEHOLDERS_

"It ain't true! Can't be! I won't believe it!" declared Eph, in a rage.

"We've had such a good time aboard, and have been so proud of what we've
been able to do," added Hal, chokingly.

"Mr. Farnum won't put that snob in here!" asserted Eph. "Not in charge,
anyway. Why, Mr. Farnum couldn't stand the fellow any more than we
could."

"Fellows," rejoined Jack, looking a