“Hullo, there!” called Jack, pausing.  “This fellow is a thief, and we’re trying to get him to town.  Help us to get him, will you?”

“Want me to look behind me, an’ then ye’ll jump me, hey?” leered Dan Jaggers.  “That won’t work.”

The newcomer grinned broadly, then shot forward.  Ere Jaggers could change his mind he felt himself clasped from behind, a pair of strong hands joined over his windpipe, his body thus bound securely to the tree.

“He—­help!” sputtered the victim of this attack.

“We’re bringing it to you,” laughed Jack, leaping forward.  In a twinkling, now, the three boys had Dan Jaggers down, and held so closely that he could not stir.  Benson produced another length of cord, and Dan had to submit to having his wrists lashed, this time in most workmanlike manner.

“Thank you, ever so much,” acknowledged Jack, looking up at the new boy.

“Oh, you’re welcome,” laughed the young stranger.  “I know Dan Jaggers, and I’m willing to believe anything against him.”

“I’ll live to get square with ye for this, one o’ these days, Eph Somers!” growled the captive.

“Oh, take your time about it, Dan,” laughed Eph, unconcernedly.  “I’m patient, you know, about such things.  In fact, I come of a patient family.”

CHAPTER IX

THE SUBMARINE MAKES ITS BOW TO OLD OCEAN

“Which way were you headed when you happened along?” inquired Jack Benson.

“Dunhaven way,” responded Eph Somers.

“Good enough.  That’s where we’re going, too.”

“It’s me for the submarine launching today,” Eph remarked, rather ungrammatically.  “I wouldn’t miss that for the world.”

“Nor would we, either,” added Hal.  “Especially, as we’ve helped in the work on her.  And, gracious, what time is it?”

“Just about eight o’clock,” replied Somers, consulting his watch.

“And the launching is at ten o’clock.  Come; we must hustle along.  What will Mr. Farnum be thinking of us?”

“He probably believes we stole the money, and he must have officers out looking for us by this time,” hinted Jack; with a wry face.

Jack thought, to be sure, of Josh Owen, back there in the woods, but clearly it would be out of place to ask Eph Somers to go back and attend to the ex-foreman.  Besides, they could all soon be in Dunhaven, and then a constable or two could be sent out to search.

At first, Dan tried his old tactics of balking, but a few energetic, rough-and-ready punches from Eph caused the bully to change his mind.  After that he went along in sullen silence.  It was not long before the quartette turned down into the shore road that led up to the boatyard.

As they came near the big gate, still closed to the public, the boys beheld a crowd of several Hundred people.  There were many vehicles and automobiles there, also.