tried to enjoy themselves in the village, there was too
great a weight of dread upon them. It began to look as though all the
pleasure of their recent life must fade. Though Don Melville, if he
secured command of the "Pollard," might tolerate them aboard, all three
knew that they would feel the burden of his cool contempt for them as
inferiors. Listlessly, at last, the three submarine boys turned back
toward the yard, went aboard, cooked a supper for which they had no
appetite, and then waited for turning-in time.

In the next few days there were many signs that Melville intended to
find and supply the desired capital for the promotion of the yard's
business. Don and his father were much about the place, though they
rarely came out to the "Pollard." Business friends of Mr. Melville's
also appeared. Finally there came an important looking lawyer and an
expert accountant.

"I reckon it's all settled except the signing of the papers," ventured
Hal Hastings.

"The toe of the boot for ours, then, or as bad," murmured Eph Somers
sardonically.

During these days David Pollard, the inventor who had made this splendid
type of submarine boat possible, did not appear. For one thing, he was
away in secret, pondering over the invention of further appliances to be
tried out on the boat now building. More than that, David Pollard, shy
and with no head for affairs, entrusted all new business arrangements to
Jacob Farnum, who, he felt sure, could be trusted with a friend's
interests.

"It's tough to be poor," grimaced Hal Hastings. "If I had the money, I'd
put it into the business for the sake of keeping my berth aboard, and
having things as pleasant as we've had 'em all along."

"So would I," grunted Eph. "But what's the use of talking, when this is
all the capitalist that I am?"

He took out four paper dollars, passing them ruefully between his fingers.

"Why don't you say something, Jack?" demanded Hal. "Dry of words, for
once?"

"I'm thinking," responded young Benson, absently.

"Well, it's a sure thing that thinking does less harm than talking,"
nodded Hal.

"But when a fellow's silent he can't spit out all that's boiling inside
of him," snorted Eph Somers.

"I'm getting ready to talk presently," smiled Captain Jack.

"If it's anything strong, say it now," begged Eph.

The three boys were sitting about the cabin table. Eph sat with his
elbows on the table, his chin in his hands, his eyes glaring defian