See here,
you come to the yard at eight o'clock in the morning, ready to do
anything that's wanted of you. I won't wire, but I'll write, to-night,
to the references you've given. If we find you're not of much use
we'll drop you. If your references don't turn out to be unusually good,
out you go! But, if you make good, you'll have your chance. It's just
your fighting chance, you understand. I'll fix the matter with Mr.
Farnum."

"And the foreman?" smiled Jack, wistfully.

Mr. Pollard looked grave as he answered:

"Look out not to invite any trouble with Joshua Owen, and avoid trouble
with Jaggers, who works in the boat-fitting crew. I think we can get
over the effects of your little trouble this afternoon. And now, boys,
give me the addresses of your references, and I'll write at once."

A few moments later the chums bade the inventor good night, then hurried
to their own room, though not to retire at once.

"Well!" demanded Jack Benson, his face radiant, as he thought of their
"fighting chance."

"It was the way you put the whole matter to Pollard," replied Hal
Hastings. "Jack, you're a wonder with your tongue. I believe you could
talk a hole through a thick board fence."

"We've got our chance, anyway. And, oh, Hal! I believe it's going to
be our real chance in life!"

"You'll soon be as wild about the 'Pollard' as the inventor himself,"
laughed Hastings, good-naturedly.

"It isn't going to be just the one boat, Hal," urged his chum, seriously.
"It's the whole big problem of submarine warfare. It's going to be _the_
warfare of the future, old chum! And, starting this early, we may
become Pollard's real experts--his leading men when he's famous,
successful and rich! We may even become his partners, through getting
up improvements on his ideas. Hal, boy, we may even put through our own
design of submarine boat one of these days."

"It'll be huge fun, anyway, if we can get a chance to cruise on a
submarine boat-under water and all!" glowed young Hastings. "Say,
there must be a wonderful thrill to going down deep in the ocean."

Thus they talked for another hour. It was very late when the two
turned in, nor did they go to sleep at once. Yet, when the half-past
six call came in the morning, both boys turned out in a jiffy. Excitement
took the place of rest with them. They breakfasted with appetite.
Shortly after half-past seven, though the yard was so near, Jack and
Hal set out for their f