Jacob Farnum started as though he had been shot.  There was a great bound at his heart.

“Jack Benson!” he throbbed.  “By the Great Shark, are my eyes playing me a hideous prank?”

CHAPTER X

A RACE FOR MIXED PRIZES

As the moon’s ray vanished behind a cloud Jacob Farnum was breathing hard.

Nor was it any wonder that the boatbuilder felt staggered with astonishment.  He had grown to trust Captain Jack Benson to the utmost.  Now, to find him faithless came like a heavy blow on the head.

To this man’s ears came Don’s low but clear cut tones: 

“You’ll keep your eyes open, won’t you, Benson, and bring us all the points you can?  Anything that you think will be useful to us?”

The boy in uniform nodded.  Though the boatbuilder could not see the uniformed one’s face very well, he observed that nod, as did also Messrs. Emerson and Melville.

“You don’t want to have anyone see us here together, then,” went on Don.  “So scoot!  You know how to communicate with me when you want to.  That’s all.”

Don waved his hand as a sign of dismissal.

The other boy, with a nod, turned to make his way off.  “No, by the
Great Porpoise, that isn’t all!”

The words, shouted, with a tremendous energy behind them, caused some other hearts to bound.

Jacob Farnum, his blood now boiling, found himself unable to contain himself any longer.

As he shouted out, he burst through the bushes, making a bee-line for the departing boy in uniform.

Don Melville gasped, in sheer dismay, yet he had the presence of mind to yell: 

“Scoot, Benson!  Travel as fast as ever you can!”

Then Don ran a few steps in the opposite direction.  Young Melville was a very fair sprinter, but he wanted to have a bit of a start in case of need.

“Melville, you young scoundrel, I’ll settle with you later!” roared Jacob Farnum, keeping on down the road.

Straight in the middle of the road the fugitive was now dashing along, until Don yelled after him: 

“Take to the woods, Benson!  You can lose him there!”

“I’ll get him, anywhere on earth!” shouted Jacob Farnum, full of purpose and vim.

The boatbuilder was long-legged and slim.  He had been a runner at college, and now his old knack was coming back to him.

Undoubtedly the most humiliated man present was George Melville.  Though that capitalist had not been averse to stooping to the purchase of secrets from another man’s trusted employe, he felt badly indeed to have Farnum detect his son.

So George Melville now came out quickly from cover.

“Don,” he demanded, “how could Farnum ever have gotten wind of this?”

“Talk it over with Mr. Emerson,” panted Don Melville.  “I’m off after Benson and Farnum.”