ities they may wish
for going to any part of the fleet. No thanks, gentlemen. I appreciate
your need of haste and wish you every success."

The half-curious eyes of many persons followed these three guests, as
the boatbuilder, the inventor and the young submarine captain hastily
left the room, followed by the marine lieutenant.

As soon as the admiral's order had been transmitted to him, the
lieutenant in charge of the deck ran to the side gangway, looking for a
shore boat.

"Just our confounded luck when we're in a hurry," he muttered. "The only
boat I can get is the one that just took Steward Dudley ashore. See,
there it is over yonder, leaving the pier. It will be here within five
minutes."

"Then I thank our lucky stars," cried Captain Jack, pointing, "for here
comes our own good boat, and we can take it, instanter, if you'll permit
it to come alongside, Lieutenant.

"Certainly," replied that officer.

Hal Hastings was at the deck wheel, in charge of the boat. He had just
taken a party of sightseeing naval officers back to their ship, and was
on his way to the "Pollard's" moorings. He caught sight of Benson's
signals, and, slowing down the speed, ran neatly in alongside of the
battleship's gangway platform.

In another twinkling the trio in haste were aboard their own boat.

"Better hurry below," advised Captain Jack. "Ship the ventilators and
I'll get inside, close the manhole cover and handle the boat from
the conning tower. Then, if Arthur Miller is watching us from the
shore, he'll think we have officers aboard and are manoeuvering to
show off the boat."

"Arthur Miller?" gasped Hal, in astonishment.

"Down below with you, Hastings," replied Jacob Farnum, pushing him
gently. "When we've time to talk we'll tell you."

When, therefore, within sixty seconds, the "Pollard" left the flagship's
side, she was equipped for diving. A casual observer would have believed
she was about to do so with some inspecting party of naval officers.

As he sat in the conning tower Captain Jack steered the most direct
course for the pier to which the supposed Miller had gone in the
flagship's shore boat.

In order to do this, the young captain had to cut across the bow of
a battleship that had just gotten under way. There was plenty of
searoom for this manoeuvre, so Captain Jack did not hesitate.

Once past the bows of that battleship, however, the young submarine
captain's heart gave a mighty bound.

F