dly," nodded the boatbuilder "And, though I am seeking for
capital that will come in on terms fair to us, it's mighty uphill work."

This conversation was carried on in young Benson's hearing. Captain
Jack turned to them with a laugh, to say: "Wait and see, though, if the
exhibition before the newspaper correspondents won't take a lot of wind
out of the Melville sails."

"It ought to," nodded the builder, "unless the Melvilles, or some of
the experts they're dealing with, are shrewd enough to figure out how
you left the boat and returned to it."

"Would you have figured that out, Mr. Farnum, if I hadn't told you?"

"Probably not, Jack. It's one of the things that are too simple to
guess at easily."

Passers by the Melville yard were now able to hear the hammering of the
riveters daily. It looked as though the new yard must be pushing a
submarine boat to rapid completion.

"There hasn't been a launching, anyway, so I don't believe the Melville
people will be able to do anything to beat our show to-morrow," remarked
Captain Jack, on the night before the day that had been set for the show
before the newspaper men.

Early the next forenoon newspaper correspondents began to arrive in
numbers from half a dozen large cities. As the hotel was monopolized,
by the Melville crowd, Mr. Farnum had engaged other quarters at which
to entertain the men of the press. Some of the newspapers sent women
writers.

None of these visitors were taken direct to the yards. Mr. Farnum and
Mr. Pollard took the journalistic visitors in charge and finally
conveyed them in carriages to the boatyard, arriving at about a quarter
before eleven.

Here Jack, Hal and Eph, looking at their best in their natty uniforms,
were on hand to be presented. Of course, the mere fact of a competent,
well-trained boy crew was a novelty to the newspaper writers, who made
much of the submarine boys and asked them many questions about their
work.

"How soon are you going to take us out aboard the 'Pollard'?" inquired
one of the women reporters.

"Just as soon as Captain Benson and his young men have had a chance to
show you the remarkable feat that you have come here to see," promised
Mr. Farnum.

"And what is that remarkable feat?" asked another journalist.

"The wonder of it will strike you all the more if we do not announce it
in advance," rejoined David Pollard.

"Captain Benson, what have _you_ to say about it?" pleaded one of the
newspaper