“I know how you feel,” nodded Jack Benson.  “And I don’t blame you.  It’s going to be a grand old life, and, Eph, I hope you’re to be in it.”

As soon as the special workmen were aboard Eph followed them below.  He hung about until he saw a chance to help, then joined in the work.  He was as industrious as the proverbial beaver when Messrs. Farnum and Pollard at last came aboard and went below.

“Hm!  Does that new boy figure that he belongs aboard with us?” asked David Pollard, of Jack, when the pair came on deck again.

“He’s frightfully anxious to be of the crew, sir,” Benson answered.  “And he seems like a splendid fellow.”

“We might as well let him stay aboard, Dave,” proposed Mr. Farnum.  “He’s a good, straightforward young chap, and comes of good water stock.  I know what it is to be a youngster and to have ambitions.”

“All right, then,” nodded the inventor.  “Let him stay.  I dare say we can use his time.”

“May I, as a great favor, go below and tell him he may stay?” asked Jack, eagerly.

“Why, you seem to take a personal interest in young Somers,” laughed the yard’s owner.

“I do.  And he was useful in your interests this morning, Mr. Farnum.”

“Run along and tell him, then,” nodded the yard’s owner.

When Eph heard the news he stopped work long enough to dance an exultant jig on the cabin floor.

“Oh, Jack Benson, if ever you want a favor—­a great, big one, with trimmings—­come to me!” begged young Somers, imploringly as soon as he caught his breath again.

Then, to keep his rising spirits down, Eph returned, to work as soberly as he could.

Later Grant Andrews, with Eph’s help, cooked a meal at the galley fire, and this all hands ate while the special workmen kept at their task.

When they were on deck again Mr. Pollard said, in a low voice: 

“Boys, I may as well tell you what Mr. Andrews already knows.  Work on the interior of this boat is much further along than we’ve allowed to leak out.  In fact, when the men below finish with the air-compressors, in a few hours, we’re all ready to put out to sea on a stealthy trial trip of our own.”

“Wow!” sputtered Eph, enthusiastically.

“Now,” continued Mr. Pollard, earnestly, “of course we believe most thoroughly in this boat, but, until the actual trial is made, we don’t know how she’ll behave.  If any of you feel like backing out, why, go ashore before we start, but keep your tongues behind your teeth.”

“Reminds me of what my Dad once did in the hen-yard,” remarked Eph, in a low voice.  “He went out with a couple of quarts of corn, looked at the hens, and said:  ’Now, biddies, I’m going to toss your supper down.  But any of you critters that want can go in and roost for the night before I do it.’”

“Well?” asked David Pollard, a bit puzzled.

“Would you believe it?” asked Eph, with a comical twist of his mouth, “Every blessed hen stayed.  Fact, sir!”