ed to be as big a mystery as ever.

CHAPTER XIX

ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FORCED DOOR

It was nearly dark, on the day following, when the submarine flotilla
made its way up Groton Bay.

As soon as the craft was at its moorings the "Hastings" was immediately
lighter by the going of one passenger.

Jacob Farnum went post-haste to the hospital, to inquire after David
Pollard's condition.

The inventor was in a good deal of pain, yet cheerful. The surgeons
reported that his broken bones were healing slowly.

The chauffeur, too, was coming along as well as was possible, though he
had been much worse hurt than had the inventor.

Grant Andrews and his workmen were aboard the "Benson." Half of the
party was now prepared to come aboard the "Hastings" whenever called.

"Going ashore, Jack?" inquired Eph Somers.

"Not before Mr. Farnum returns. Nor do I believe any of us had better
go ashore, without his express permission, old fellow," Benson replied.

Three gentlemen who did go ashore almost immediately after arrival were
the members of the naval board.

Soon after, an order came for the removal of all torpedoes from the
Rhinds boats. After that the corporal's guard was relieved from duty
aboard the "Thor."

"And thus ends that chapter of the story, I reckon," grimly ventured
Jack, when he saw the gunboat's cutter convey the corporal's guard away
from the Rhinds submarine.

Jacob Farnum came back in the early evening. Lieutenant Danvers was
ashore, which left only the regular crew of the "Hastings" on board.
Grant Andrews and his men mounted guard over the two Pollard boats
through the night, which left the captain and crew free to sleep--which
they did with a royal good will.

No orders came over from the naval board, which fact made it look as
though no new tests would be required immediately.

The next forenoon, at about ten o'clock, Eph discovered that the Seawold
boat was leaving her moorings. Young Somers watched that lesser rival
start down the bay before he dropped below to report the fact to Benson.

"What can it mean?" wondered the young captain, going hastily on deck.
"Is the Seawold craft going into some test that we're not asked to
meet?"

"If so," ventured Hal Hastings, "why isn't one of the gunboats putting
out to sea with her."

"Here's Lieutenant Danvers coming off shore," announced Somers. "Perhaps
he'll have some news."

Danvers boarded the "Hastings," but the shore boa