“Then I hope you’ll start, this minute,” exclaimed the yard’s owner.  “It means more to us, Dave—­more to us, boys—­than any of you suppose at this moment!  Let me tell you something.  This letter holds the key to the secret.  Trying to interest people in our work, I’ve been writing right and left trying to raise more capital on terms that would be fair to us.  Now, here’s a letter from Broughton Emerson, a man worth millions.  He admits that my letter has interested him.  He’ll come here, soon, and he states that, if we can show him a good enough chance to make money he will put in the needed capital, taking satisfactory security, and yet leave the business under its present control.  In other words, he’s likely to do just what we wanted George Melville to do.  Isn’t that good enough news for one morning?”

“Yes, provided we can make as good a showing as he expects,” replied the inventor, cautiously.

“Oh, if we could only get a chance to make a trial trip for a United States Naval board!” sighed Jack Benson, wistfully.  “The Navy Department has money now at its disposal for the purchase of submarines.  If we could get the Government to buy the ‘Pollard,’ that would show investors what’s what in money-making.”  Benson’s face was all aglow with mingled enthusiasm and wistfulness.  He, and his mates, took as keen an interest in the future of the “Pollard” as though they themselves owned that doughty little craft.

“A trial trip for the Navy Department?” smiled Mr. Farnum, gravely.  “Well, I don’t mind telling you that we may have that, too, before long.”

“Is any date set?” breathed Captain Jack, quickly.

“Not yet, nor is the matter even fully decided.  But the newspapers have produced a big effect on the Navy Department.  The makers of other types of submarine boats are green with jealousy of us, just now.  Your escaping trick, Jack, has made so much public clamor that Farnum stock is going up all over the country.  We’ll have some big chances, mighty soon, I’m thinking.  If we get the chances, I’m certain enough that you boys will help push us on to victory!”

Happy dreams were these that builder, inventor and crew dreamed!  The fever of conquest was in their veins.

Shutting himself up in a room at Farnum’s home, depriving himself of much of his needed sleep, often refusing food, David Pollard attacked the problem of perfecting the device that Captain Jack and his mates had originally planned.

Two days later Broughton Emerson arrived.  He was a pleasant, portly man of more than fifty years.  His manners were quiet and easy.  He was affable with everyone, but he had a keen way of looking into things.  No one could guess quite what he thought of the chances of success in the enterprise of building submarine boats.  Before the day was over George Melville, who was slightly acquainted with Mr. Emerson, learned that he was in town.  That evening Mr. Melville succeeded in meeting Mr. Emerson and getting him over to his hotel.