1 which lay at
her dock, just afloat.

"All aboard!" called Tom, when he saw his financial manager coming down
the pier. "We're ready to start now."

"Bless my fountain pen!" exclaimed Mr. Damon, "but we ought to do
something, Tom--sing a song, make a speech or something, oughtn't we?"

"We'll sing a song of victory when we come back," replied Tom, with a
laugh. "Everything all right at home, Ned?" he asked, for his chum had
just come on from Shopton.

"Yes; your father sent his regards, but he told me to make a last
appeal to you to install a gyroscope rudder."

"It's too late for that now," said Tom. "He attaches, I think, too much
importance to that device. I shan't need it with the improvements I
have made to the craft. Get aboard!"

Ned climbed down the hatchway, which, however, was not closed, as it
was decided to navigate the craft on the surface until it was necessary
to submerge her because of too rough water, or when the vicinity of the
wreck was reached.

"Though we will go down to the bottom when we get to the Atlantic for
the purpose of testing her in deep water," decided Tom. "Most of the
time we'll steam on the surface, for we'll save our batteries that way,
and it's more comfortable breathing natural air."

So, with part of her deck above the surface, the M. N. 1 began her
voyage, sent on her way by the cheers of the small force of Tom's
workmen at the submarine plant. The general public was not admitted,
for the object of the quest was kept secret from all save those
immediately interested.

"Rad, him be plenty mad he not come," said Koku to Tom, as the giant
moved about the cabin, putting things to rights.

"Well, don't start crowing over him until we get back," warned the
young inventor. "He may have the laugh on us."

"Rad no laugh," declared Koku. "Rad him too mad dat I come on trip."

"A submarine voyage is no place for old, faithful Eradicate," murmured
Tom. "He's better off looking after my father."

The first part of the trip was without incident of moment. No mishap
attended the voyage of the M. N. 1 down the river, out into the bay,
and so on to the great Atlantic.

Fairly good time was made, as there was no particular object in
speeding, and on the second day after leaving the dock Tom gave orders
for the hatch to be closed, the deck cleared, and everything made tight
and fast.

"What's up?" asked Ned, hearing the instructions passed around.

"We're approaching deep wate