At the end of an hour, however, the “Pollard” was signaled to lie to, the gunboat doing the same.  It was time to break up the ward-room party.  The visitors went down the side gangway to a small boat, and were transferred to the submarine.

“The Navy has something to talk about, now, wherever officers meet for dinner, or social talk in the ward-room,” declared Commander Ennerling.  “At the same time, Benson, your ingenuity and skill have shown us how easy it is for such a boat as this to destroy any warship afloat.  And now, for Dunhaven and a long sleep—­if we don’t run into further big adventures on this eventful night.”

CHAPTER XIX

JACK STUMBLES UPON A BIG SURPRISE

“Busy, Farnum?”

“At this moment, not especially.”

“I’m glad of that.”

George Melville’s attire was particularly fashionable this morning, three days after the first trial trip run, when he dropped in at the boatbuilder’s office, finding the latter there alone.

Mr. Melville’s eyes were twinkling, his face beaming.  He had the whole appearance of a man who is satisfied with himself and anxious to please others.

“I’ve come to hold out the olive branch, Farnum, if anything of the sort is needed,” continued the capitalist.

“It isn’t.  Nothing is needed here but a good decision from the United States Government,” replied Jacob Farnum, briefly.

“Ahem!  Now, see here, Farnum, of course I understand that you had abundant reasons for feeling offended the other day.  But this state of affairs ought not to last between us.  You have a splendid type of boat, but you need more money in order to push your yard properly.  You need a lot more of building plant here.”

“Yes,” assented Mr. Farnum.

“Now, on the terms that I was inclined to refuse before, I am ready to supply a sum even greater than was at first spoken of,” and the man beamed on Mr. Farnum.

“I no longer care to talk business with you, Mr. Melville.”

“Why not?”

“We need not go into that.  I bid you good day, Mr. Melville.”

“You don’t seem to know what you’re doing, Farnum.  I control millions.  I also have some influence—­in Washington,” and the man strode from the room, leaving Jacob Farnum a bit shaken but not repenting his decision not to deal with George Melville.

“One other road is open to Melville if he but knows it,” thought the boatbuilder.  “One hundred and ten thousand dollars’ worth of bills for materials are now a few days overdue.  My creditors have faith in me, but Melville, with his money, could buy up these bills by offering a bonus and could then press me for immediate payment.  If only Washington did not move, so slowly!” and the man groaned.

That same evening about ten o’clock the submarine boys were on their way from the village to the “Pollard” when they heard the fire alarm.  They were in front of the volunteer fire house, and were at once pressed into service to take the place of some of the young firemen who were not at hand.