r officer leave the watch
officer and hurry away. This younger officer soon returned with a
paper which he handed to the watch officer.

"'Pollard' ahoy!" came from the latter.

"Flagship ahoy!"

"William Henderson was an inmate of a naval hospital, where he had been
sent to be watched on a suspicion of lunacy. A few days ago he
escaped. We'll take him off your hands and see he is sent back where
he belongs."

"Thank you, flagship."

The fleet patrol boat, which had been hovering near, a small cabin
launch, now steamed in alongside the submarine. An ensign and four
men came aboard. Captain Jack led them below, pointing out Henderson.
The four sailors lifted him, carrying him up and over the side to
their own boat.

"Now, follow us, captain," directed the ensign, "and we'll lead you
to your anchorage."

Five minutes later the "Pollard" rode snugly at anchor, with all made
trim and secure. But Captain Jack and his two boy friends, despite the
lateness of the hour, were in no hurry to turn in below.

It was the first glimpse any of the trio had ever had of such an imposing
war fleet, and all wanted to stay on deck drinking in the glory of
the sight.

CHAPTER XX

"ONE ON" THE WATCH OFFICER

At nine o'clock the next morning Messrs. Farnum and Pollard were sent
for to report aboard the flagship, where they had a long talk with
Admiral Bentley.

The result was somewhat disappointing. During the manoeuvres a board
of naval officers would be sent aboard the "Pollard" to observe what
she could do in surface running, diving, etc. The "Pollard," however,
was not to be included in any of the deep-sea manoeuvres of attack and
defense, as there were already two Government submarines with the fleet,
and the work of these had been mapped out.

"However, that's the best we can do, and we must be satisfied," sighed
Jacob Farnum to Captain Jack. "We'll find plenty of chance to show
what we can do, and I know the Navy officers will see that we get a
fair show at Washington."

"Of course," nodded Captain Benson, loyally. "When they see just what
a handy craft the 'Pollard' is at all times, they'll be wild to have
a few 'Pollards' in the Navy."

"That's the way to talk," beamed the anxious inventor, all of whose
hopes of the future were based on the developments of these few days.

"It's the way to talk, sir," replied Captain Jack, "because it's the
truth. We'll show these Navy folks so much about th