“Will you direct us to our moorings, sir?” Jack shouted to the watch officer aboard the gunboat.

“Proceed slowly east.  Our launch will follow and show you your moorings,” came the reply.  Then the launch glided around the stern of the gunboat, leading the way.

Ten minutes later the “Benson” and the “Hastings” were moored, at the extreme eastern end of the line of submarine craft.

Then Hal, mopping his face from the engine room heat, came up on deck for a breath of air.

“I don’t suppose we can get ashore,” murmured young Hastings, gazing wistfully at the city beyond.

“No,” muttered Jack, shaking his head.  “We’re short-handed as it is, and we’ve got to be on hand to watch these boats.  There are too many of the enemy about, in the shape of rival builders and their employees, and among them there may be some mean tricksters who’d do anything in their power to put the Pollard boats out of the running in the tests to come.  No; I reckon we won’t see much of the shore, except from our decks, though it is mighty cramped and confining on one of these small craft.”

Hal took a couple of turns up and down the deck.  No one, until he has tried it, can realize how cramped such small craft are when one has to remain any length of time aboard.

Suddenly Hal paused, pointing landward.

“Great Scott!” he gasped.  “Look who’s here!”

A roomy whaleboat was approaching them.  In it, as passengers, sat Grant Andrews, foreman, and five workmen from the home yard.

“What can have happened?” wondered Captain Jack, as he and his chum waved their hands in greeting; then stood staring.

“Surprised, eh, lads?” laughingly demanded Jacob Farnum, who had stolen up behind them.

“Yes; what’s wrong?” asked Jack.

“Nothing,” replied the shipbuilder.

“Then what are Andrews and the other men doing here?”

“Do you notice,” hinted Mr. Farnum, “that the men with Andrews are all picked from among our older, trusted shipyard men.”

“Yes, sir.  That’s true.”

“Well, in the first place,” pursued Farnum, “if any sudden repairs, fixings or other work are required in a hurry, while we’re here, we have a fine lot of our own men to attend to it.  Before leaving I told Grant to bring these men with him.  Then they’ll serve another purpose.  I want you youngsters to be keyed up to your best performances all the time we’re here.  That you can’t do if you’re kept confined closely aboard until your very souls ache.  So, as much of the time as is wise, you young fellows will be ashore, stretching your legs, and Grant Andrews and his men will be on board as guards.”

“That’s great!” glowed Jack.  “And mighty considerate of you, too, sir.”

“Considerate?  Not a bit of it!” retorted Jacob Farnum, half indignantly.  “Jack Benson, I want to drain the last bit of performance out of you youngsters that I possibly can while we’re here.  That’s why I am going to take some good care of you, also.  Right this way, Grant!”