t the hot faces of his mates, "we
mustn't be too hasty, even in talking among ourselves."

"That fellow's a snob," asserted Eph. "I'll stand by that anywhere."

"I don't know that I'd say that," replied young Benson, who had recovered
his calmness. "In the first place, Don Melville has evidently had a
golden spoon in his mouth from the day of his birth. He's used to having
things his own way. He may be all right at bottom."

"Then that's where I hope he goes," quivered Eph. "Straight to the
bottom! Under a hundred fathoms of good salt water!"

"We may like him better when we know him," ventured Jack.

"I'm betting though," put in Hal, thoughtfully, "that we're much more
likely to like him less."

"He's a duffer!" snorted Eph.

"We may have to change our minds about that," smiled Jack, dully.

"Ain't he a rich man's son?" demanded Eph, blazing.

"That doesn't make him out a fool or a dullard," retorted the young
captain. "Rich men's sons aren't as often fools as they're suspected of
being. Some of them are mighty clever. The number of great American
fortunes that are doubled, or trebled, in the second generation, show
that."

"Then you're going to side with him?" sneered Eph.

"I don't know what I'm going to do, until the time comes," Captain Jack
answered, quietly. "But I do know one thing I'm going to do, at any and
all times--and so are you fellows. You couldn't help it, if you tried."

"What's that?" Hal wanted to know.

"We're going to be as square with Jacob Farnum as he has always been with
us. That carries with it the idea of a big lot of loyalty."

"Right!" agreed Hal.

"Of course," nodded Eph, less angrily. "Just as long as Farnum runs the
business. But, if other folks get in here and get the control--"

"Of course, we can drop out of this business at any time we want to,
provided it wouldn't carry with it disloyalty to the employer who's been
mighty good to us," supplied Jack Benson.

"Mr. Farnum sent the boat out, to see if you young men want to go
ashore," announced a voice from above.

Within two minutes the three submarine boys were making for the shore.
After reporting at the office of the yard, and finding that Mr. Farnum
would not want them again that afternoon, the young cronies sauntered
off up into the village. At Jack's suggestion they talked no more about
the Melvilles for the present. Yet each felt as though a lump of lead
lay against his heart.

Though they