Our same older readers will remember the thrilling experiences of this boyish trio during the early trials of the new submarine torpedo boat, both above and below the surface.  These readers will remember, also, for instance, the great prank played by the boys on the watch officer of one of the stateliest battleships of the Navy.

Readers of the second volume, “The Submarine Boys’ Trial Trip,” will recall, among other things, the desperate efforts made by.  George Melville, the capitalist, aided by the latter’s disagreeable son, Don, to acquire stealthy control of the submarine building company, and their efforts to oust Jack, Hal and Eph from their much-prized employment.  These readers will remember how Jack and his comrades spoiled the Melville plans, and how Captain Jack and his friends handled the “Pollard” so splendidly, in the presence of a board of Navy officers, that the United States Government was induced to buy that first submarine craft.

After that sale, each of the three boys received, in addition to his regular pay, a bank account of a thousand dollars and ten shares of stock in the new company.  Moreover, Messrs. Farnum and Pollard had felt wholly justified in promising these talented, daring, hustling submarine boys an assured and successful future.

Jacob Farnum at last looked up from the final reading of the telegram in his hands.  Captain Jack Benson’s gaze was fixed on his employer’s face.  Hal Hastings was looking out of a window, with almost a bored look in his eyes.

“You young men wanted action,” announced Mr. Farnum, quietly.  “I think you’ll get it.”

“Soon!” questioned Jack, eagerly.

“Immediately, or a minute or two later,” laughed the shipbuilder.

“I’m ready,” declared Captain Jack, rising.

“It’ll take you a little time to hear about it all and digest it, so you may as well be seated again,” declared Farnum.

Hal, too, wandered back to his chair.

“You’ve been wondering how much longer the Government would leave the ‘Pollard’ here,” went on Mr. Farnum.  “I am informed that the gunboat ‘Hudson’ is on her way here, to take over the ‘Pollard.’”

“What are the Navy folks going to do!” demanded Captain Jack, all but wrathfully.  “Do they propose to tow that splendid little craft away!”

“Hardly that, I imagine,” replied Farnum.  “It’s the custom of the United States Navy, you know, to send a gunboat along with every two or three submarines.  They call the larger craft the ‘parent boat’.  The parent boat looks out for any submarine craft that may become disabled.”

“The cheek of it,” vented Jack, disgustedly.  “Why, sir, I’d volunteer to take the ‘Pollard,’ unassisted, around the world, if she could carry fuel enough for such a trip.”

“But the Navy hasn’t been accustomed to such capable submarine boats as ours, you know,” replied Mr. Farnum.  “Hence the parent boat.”