As for the boatbuilder, he stepped briskly across the room, pulling open
the door of a cupboard. Taking out a broom, he began to sweep very
carefully where the Melville group had sat or stood, and continued his
sweeping across the threshold of the doorway. Then, returning, he
tossed the broom into the cupboard. Stepping springily over, he
dropped into his desk chair, letting out a hearty laugh.
"Well, that's over with, and a narrow escape," he announced.
"But you couldn't quite sweep all their dirt out after them," declared
David Pollard, looking up with a smile.
"What do you think of that crowd, boys?" asked Jacob Farnum, cheerily.
"I'm not giving much thought to them, sir," Jack replied, adding warmly:
"But we fellows, Mr. Farnum, simply can't think of words that will
express how we appreciate the splendid way Mr. Pollard and yourself have
stood up for us."
Jacob Farnum eyed the boys quizzically, then turned to the young captain
of the submarine to inquire:
"Wouldn't you stand by me in anything? Wouldn't you yell for this yard
and its product with your last gasp? Answer me."
"Why, of course we would," Jack Benson admitted.
"Then I take just offense, if you expect me to be any less of a man than
yourself," declared Farnum, with a pretense of anger.
"The same sentiment puts me on record," chuckled David Pollard:
"Then let us forget the low comedy, the melodrama, or whatever it was,"
proposed the boatbuilder.
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