trouble with that fellow, Truax, yet," muttered Eph.

"Oh, I hope not," Jack answered, then added, significantly:

"If he _does_ start any trouble he may find that he has been trifling
with the wrong crowd!"

Very little more thought was given to the sulky one. The submarine
boys and their companion, Williamson, enjoyed Saturday and Sunday
ashore.

All of them might have felt disturbed, however, had they known of one
thing that happened.

The naval machinists aboard the first submarine boat, the "Pollard,"
now owned by the United States Government, found something slightly
out of order with the "Pollard's" engine that they did not know exactly
how to remedy.

Sam Truax, hanging around the Basin that Sunday forenoon, was called
upon. He gladly responded to the call for help. For four hours he
toiled along in the "Pollard's" engine room. Much of that time he
spent there alone.

The job done, at last, Truax quietly received the thanks of the naval
machinists and went ashore again.

Yet, as he turned and walked toward the main gate of the grounds, there
was a smile on Sam Truax's face that was little short of diabolical.

"Now, if I can only get the same chance at the 'Farnum's' engines!" he
muttered, to himself. "If I can, I think Mr. Jack Benson will find
himself out of favor with his company, for his company will be out of
favor with the Navy Department at Washington!"

CHAPTER XIV

THE "POLLARD" GOES LAME

"The submarine boats when out in the Bay will keep abreast of the
'Hudson,' two hundred yards off on either beam. The speed will be
fourteen knots when the signal is given for full speed. The general
course, after leaving the mouth of the Bay will be East."

Such were the instructions called from the rail of the gunboat, through
a megaphone, Monday forenoon.

On each of the submarine craft were sixteen cadet midshipmen, out for
actual practice in handling a submarine in diving, and in running
under water. On board the gunboat were eighty more cadets. Thus
a large class of the young men were to receive instruction during
the cruise, for the detachments aboard the submarines could be changed
at the pleasure of Lieutenant Commander Mayhew, who was in charge
of the cruise.

Captain Jack, his own hands on the conning tower wheel, ran the "Farnum"
out into the river, first of all. Then the "Pollard," under command
of a naval officer, followed. Both backed water, then waited for the
"