had them on our side."

"Couldn't they be lured over into our employ, then?" asked Radwin.

"You don't know the youngsters. They're full of fool notions about
loyalty to the Farnum Pollard crowd. And, besides, the boys have an
interest in the rival company."

"Couldn't we offer the boys a bigger interest with us?" suggested Radwin,
as he peered through the palms at the other submarine group.

"No!" retorted Rhinds, sharply. "I know about that crowd. You don't.
Listen to me."

"I'm listening," said Fred Radwin.

"We've got to make the acquaintance of that whole crowd, Fred. We've
got to get personally acquainted with them all. That will be easy
enough, I think. Then we've got to lay our plans. The Pollard boats
must have no show whatever in the coming tests, do you understand?
Their craft must balk, or behave badly. We must destroy all naval
confidence in Pollard boats. Then we must engineer matters so that
none of that crowd will be fit to find out what ails their boats--in
time, anyway. The easiest point of attack will be the boys themselves.
It is absolutely necessary to get them out of the game some way or
other--I don't care what! Radwin, you're fertile enough in ideas,
and reckless enough in deeds. This is to be your task--put the Pollard
boats and those submarine boys wholly out of the running! First of
all, we'll get acquainted with them. Come along!"

The Farnum party were just turning away, to follow a bell-boy to the
rooms assigned to them upstairs, when John C. Rhinds, his face beaming
craftily, approached them, followed by Radwin. Rhinds introduced
himself to Farnum, then presented Radwin as secretary to the Rhinds
Company.

"We're rivals in a way, of course," declared Mr. Rhinds. "But we want
to be good-natured, friendly rivals, my dear Farnum. We hope to see
a good deal of you all while here."

Jacob Farnum replied with equal cordiality. When it came Jack Benson's
turn to be introduced, Rhinds seized him by the hand, patting his
shoulder.

"Captain Benson?" he repeated. "The brainiest young man in
America--with two chums who run him a close race. We must all dine
together to-night," purred this Judas of the submarine boat world.

CHAPTER VII

EPH SOMERS PLAYS GALLANT

"I don't know when I've enjoyed myself as much," exclaimed Rhinds,
looking round beamingly over the dinner party in one corner of the
dining room.

Lieutenant Danvers was not there, having plea