ailed for the work, was expected
hourly at Dunhaven. The three submarine boys were eager for their first
taste of this work. Barely less interested were Jacob Farnum,
shipbuilder, and president of the submarine company, and David Pollard,
inventor of the Pollard type of submarine craft.

In this shed, placed on racks in three tiers, lay the two dozen Whitehead
torpedoes with which the first work was to be done. As Jack stepped
about the shed, looking to see that everything was in order, he was
thinking of the exciting work soon to come.

Eph Somers was near at hand, though up in the village at that particular
moment. There was a fourth member of the crew, however, named
Williamson. He was a grown man, a machinist who had been long in
Farnum's employ, and who was considered a most valuable hand to have in
the engine room of a submarine.

Williamson, during the preceding fortnight, had been away in the interior
of the country. He had taken a midwinter vacation, and had gone to visit
his mother. Now, however, the machinist knew of the work at hand, and
his return was expected.

"Really," declared Jack, turning around to his chum, "Williamson ought
to be here not later than to-morrow morning. He had Mr. Farnum's
letter in good season."

At this moment a heavy tread was heard on the light crust of snow
outside. Then a man's head appeared in the doorway.

"Speaking of angels!" laughed Hal.

"Williamson, I'm mighty glad to see you back," hailed Captain Jack,
delightedly.

"I'm glad to be back, if there's anything unusual going to happen,"
replied the machinist, as they shook hands all around. Then, as they
fell to chatting, the machinist seated himself on a keg, the top of
which was about half off, revealing, underneath, a layer of jute bagging.

"We're going to have some great practice work," declared Hal, moving
about. "We're just waiting for that Navy man, and then we're going out
on the new submarine--the one that's named after me, you know."

Out in the little harbor beyond rode at anchor two grim-looking little
torpedo boats, each about one hundred and ten feet long. The older one
was named the "Benson," after Captain Jack. But the latest one to be
launched, which had had its full trial trip only some few days before,
bore the name of "Hastings" after the capable young chief engineer of
the Pollard boats.

Both of the boys, by this time, happened to be looking away from the
machinist. Williams