So much racket of firearms on a still night had aroused many people.  It was not long before there was a crowd at the yard.  Mr. Farnum was quickly on the scene.  Soon after him came David Pollard.

The rowboat was recovered and those on the submarine brought ashore.  Grace Desmond’s faint had been a short one; at the first dash of water in her face she had come out of her swoon.  The handcuffs were quickly filed off Jack’s wrists.

In the yard office as many persons as were admitted heard a tale that made them feel creepy.

“You splendid, brave girl!” cried Jacob Farnum, patting Miss Desmond’s shoulder.  Then he sent a man after a carriage to take the young woman to the home of her friends.

That night the yard’s owner made announcement of a reward of one thousand dollars for Josh Owen’s capture—­dead or alive.

“That fellow has proved himself more dangerous than an ordinary lunatic, and he knows too much about submarine boats for my comfort.  He’s even capable, some dark night, of putting a mine under the ‘Pollard’ big enough to destroy her at anchorage.”

“We’ll have to keep deck watch through the night, then,” proposed Jack Benson.

“Very well, Captain.  I put you in command,” smiled Mr. Farnum.

“I can keep a sharp lookout without the title of captain,” responded the submarine boy.

“But you are going to be in charge of the boat—­at least until she’s sold to the Government or consigned to the junk-heap.  So why not be captain from now on?”

Thus it was settled, off-hand.  Jack flushed with delight.  Had it been possible for him to be more loyal, or devoted to the interests of the builder, he would have been from that moment.

Jack took his own first deck-watch that night, dividing the remaining time up to six o’clock between Hal and Eph.

In the morning captain and crew had hardly more than finished breakfast when Jacob Farnum and Mr. Pollard came off from shore in the tender.  Both looked highly pleased about something.

“I haven’t mentioned anything about this before,” announced the builder, “but I’ve been pulling some strong wires at Washington for some time.  As a result I’ve just received orders from the Navy Department to attend the summer manoeuvres of the fleet at Cape Adamson.  We’re to have our trial by the Government there.”

“How soon do we start?” cried Jack, eagerly.

“We’ll start this afternoon, so as to be in plenty of time.  It’s only about a seven hours’ run for us, though, and we’re not expected at Cape Adamson before to-morrow evening.  Can you be ready, Captain?”

“Why, there’s nothing to do, sir, but to take aboard more gasoline and water.  We can do that in an hour.”

“We’ll drop out to sea, then, about five o’clock this afternoon,” decided Mr. Farnum, as he and the inventor rose.  “Don’t get flurried about anything, Captain Benson.”