“But what if the Government doesn’t buy?”

“Then there would be no sense in using more capital for the present.”

“The Government may be fairly well satisfied, and yet there may be a hitch about buying one of your boats.  What, then?”

“We shall have to wait and see,” replied Mr. Farnum.

“But my offer, Mr. Farnum, if not accepted to-day, will not be repeated,” warned the capitalist.

“Your offer, Mr. Melville, would not, under any circumstances, be considered, or even tolerated,” rejoined the boatbuilder, coolly.

George Melville leaped to his feet, his face flushing.

“Do you mean that?” he demanded, glaring at the man opposite him.

“I never meant anything more in all my life,” smiled the boatbuilder.  “Mr. Melville, I thank you for suggesting that you are ready to advance money, but I assure you, on my word, that I shall never have any business dealings with any members of your family.”

“Man, you are talking like an idiot!  Throwing away chances like a fool!” stormed Mr. Melville, his look becoming blacker every instant.

“And I appreciate the fact that you are much too wise a man to talk with a fool,” laughed the boatbuilder, walking over and throwing the office door open.  “Good morning!  This will be my busy week.”

“You’ll want me when, it’s too late,” cried the angry capitalist, striding through the doorway.  “You will live to see the day, very soon—­”

What that day was Mr. Farnum didn’t learn, for he closed the door on his departing caller, going, laughing, back to his desk, where he picked up a cigar and lighted it.

“How poison runs through the blood of some families,” mused the boatbuilder, blowing out several rings of smoke.

On the morning appointed the three Naval officers arrived at Dunhaven.  Their appearance did not excite much interest among the natives, for all three were in ordinary civilian dress.

Commander Ennerling came as president of the board; the other two members were Lieutenant Commander Briscoe and Lieutenant McCrea, the latter serving as recorder of the board.

“I’ve had the pleasure of meeting you before, haven’t I, Lieutenant?” murmured Mr. Farnum, in an aside.

“Yes, and the commander of your boat is the same who played that wonderfully funny trick by leaving the submarine’s card painted on the side hull of the battleship ‘Luzon’ during the hours when I was watch officer,” replied the Naval officer, in an equally low tone.  “But please don’t refer to it before my comrades, They’ve stopped hazing me about it, and have almost forgotten the incident.”

As Lieutenant McCrea spoke his face was very red.  He had been tormented much by his brother officers over the laughable prank that Captain Jack had played upon him, as related in the first volume in this series.

Mr. Farnum took the Naval board first of all to his house, where the inventor was presented to them.  Then, after an early lunch, the party went out to board the “Pollard.”