Just then Melville came along. Mr. Farnum and the boys would have
ignored him, but he stepped up to the group and snapped:
"You're a fine bunch! Some of my workmen tell me that you young rascals
were sneaking about my yards and set fire to the sheds."
"That will do, Mr. Melville. We'll listen to no such talk," and before
the boys could speak or Melville reply Mr. Farnum pushed the boys before
him out of the crowd.
"All those fellows heard him say that, and some of them will believe
it!" cried Hal.
"That's bluff on his part, and silly bluff, at that," said Jack. "These
firemen can say where we were when the alarm came in."
"But not where we were when the fire started," grumbled Eph.
"The fire's practically out; we'd all better go home now," said Mr.
Farnum.
CHAPTER XX
CONCLUSION
The next afternoon Commander Ennerling of the United States Navy reported
to Messrs. Farnum and Pollard that the naval board had witnessed the
tests of the submarine and were ready to report to the authorities. They
did not conceal the fact that the boat had made a favorable impression,
then they continued:
"You have a crew of experts, though they are very young. John Benson
especially is a genius."
"We are well aware of that, gentlemen," replied Mr. Farnum beamingly.
Soon after the naval men had taken their train for Washington, David
Pollard came into Mr.
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