o provide itself
with submarine boats equal to those of the Pollard make. You may be
sure that, at this moment, Spruce Beach is overrun with spies
representing every great government in the world. The first country to
buy, steal, coax or drag out the Pollard secrets wins! You know the
master we serve, Sara, among the governments. We must be the spies
who win--even though all the Pollard crew have to be destroyed!"

CHAPTER IV

KAMANAKO APPEARS ON THE SCENE

Had Jack Benson or Hal Hastings heard that strange talk, perhaps neither
of them would have slept as soundly that night.

As it was, both submarine boys slept more soundly and sweetly than any
other human being in that great hotel, unless, possibly, it were Jacob
Farnum.

At daylight all three were astir.

Wrapped in bathrobes that concealed their bathing suits the three made
their way down to the beach. There, for ten minutes, they enjoyed
themselves in the surf.

"Seems mighty queer to be bathing in salt water in December, doesn't
it?" demanded Hal, gleefully, as, with both hands, he launched a column
of salt water that caught Jack neatly in the face.

"Anyway, I believe it's just what the family medical man ordered,"
chuckled Mr. Farnum, as he stepped shoreward, then ran briskly up and
down the beach before he went in again for a final plunge.

Over to the bath house, where an attendant had carried their clothing,
the three now hastened. After a brisk rub-down and dressing, these
three from the "Benson" presented themselves in the hotel dining room,
where, at this very early hour, they were privileged to breakfast all
by themselves.

"The way my appetite feels," laughed Jack, enjoyably, "I pity the guests
who have to follow us at table."

"There won't be any breakfast left. They can have lunch," declared Hal
Hastings, gravely.

Hardly had the food been placed before them when Mr. Farnum glanced up,
to find at his elbow a bowing, smiling little Japanese.

"Honorable sir, may I address you while you eat?" inquired the little
brown man.

"Why not?" asked Farnum, good-humoredly. "Take a chair, won't you,
Mr.--"

"Kamanako is my name, honorable sir," replied the Japanese, with three
more bows.

"Take a seat, won't you, Mr. Kamanako?" Mr. Farnum invited him again.

"It is much better, honorable sir, that I stand."

"Why?"

"Because I am servant."

"Not here, surely," replied the shipbuilder. "All the waiters here
are negroe