Then overboard dived the submarine captain, going straight down. A tug
at the line showed when he seized hold of it, down in the depths.
A little time passed, but now the newspaper folks, accustomed to all
manner of sensations, were not apprehensive.
"Here she comes!" shouted David Pollard, gleefully.
More and mote of the conning tower showed above the water, the platform
deck and hull coming next into view. Then, as the manhole cover was
raised, Eph Somers stepped into view at the steering wheel. The
"Pollard" moved over to her moorings, and Hal came up to aid in making
fast. Soon afterward, Jack Benson, in complete uniform, appeared on
deck.
"Now, give us just an idea of how the thing is done, Mr. Farnum," begged
one of the correspondents, turning to the boatbuilder.
"Ladies and gentlemen," replied the yard's owner, gravely, though he was
tempted to laugh over the mystery he was making, "I am certain that you
all want to know."
"We do," came the chorused answer.
"But if I were to tell you," responded Farnum, speaking as gravely as
ever, "it would be to reveal to the whole world one of the strongest
points in our plan of submarine operation. You will understand that, of
course, and will realize that we do not care to explain anything so
valuable, when that idea is not yet patented."
"I suppose you're right about that," admitted one of the journalists,
thoughtfully.
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