The Submarine Boys and the Middies The Prize Detail at Annapolis

pear very anxious to claim its property,

much after the pattern commonly worn by yacht captain

ed Jacob Farnum, principal owner of the shipbuilding yard, "I'm not disposed

herited this shipbuilding business from his father-allowed his eyes to t

shipbuilder knew more than he was prepared to tell, it was not fo

five minutes. That was like Hal. He was the engineer of the submarine torpedo b

been willing to pay much for the privilege of examining. For, at the present moment, there was fierce competition in the air between rival American builders of submarine fighting craft designed for the United States Navy

rode gently at anchor. She was the first submarine torpedo boat built at this yard, af

aunched and put in commission, ready at an hour's notice to ta

Farnum continued, after lighting a cigar. "By the way, did Dave tell

, the inventor of the

Captain J

, after blowing out a ring of smoke, "of calli

" stammered Jack, f

cited, lad," laugh

t for the United Stat

's face flus

object-" smiled Mr.

head," laughed Jack, his face still flushed. "The very idea of there b

uickly enough. You understand, lad, the names we give to our boats last only un

ent to me, Mr. Farnum. More ha

if it hadn't been for you youngsters, and the superb way in which you handled our first boat, Dave an

a boat named after me any mor

ever would have been fitted for the present work, and you three boys, who've done so handsomely by us, wouldn't each own, as you now do, ten shares of stock in this c

all a boat named the 'Somers,' after Eph, and then sell it, say, to the Germans or the Japanese, and all of Eph's American gorge would co

overnments," replied Jacob Farnum, earnestly. "And we won't ei

p us there, have to go abroad to find a market for their inventions! If I could invent a cannon to-day that would give all the power on earth to the nation owning it, would the American Government buy it from me? No, sir! I'd have to sell the cannon to England, Germany or Ja

sponded the ship

speak again for an hour. As a class, engineers, having t

afternoon, a little pas

ends, Jack, Hal and Eph

. They were drawing t

f late there had been

ch given to speaking of plans until he had put them through to the finish. Some big deal was at present "on" with the Government. That much the subm

um turned to his desk to scan one of the papers lying there

houted the boy, panting a bit. "Said it might

nvelope, opening it and glanci

he shipbuilder, a smile wreathing hi

ill. The messenger took the money eag

nswer,

ou," replied Mr. Farnum. "Th

ldly agog over any news that affected the Farnum yard. For, though the torpedo boat building industry was now known under the Pollard na

or a better understanding, let us speak for a moment of

summer day, and how they learned that it was here that the then unknown but much-talked about Pollard submarine was being built. Both Jack and Hal had been well trained in m

volumes knows; how, too, Eph Somers, a native of Dunhaven, managed to "cheek" his way aboard

the new submarine torpedo boat, both above and below the surface. These readers will remember, also, for insta

acquire stealthy control of the submarine building company, and their efforts to oust Jack, Hal and Eph from their much-prized employment. These readers will remember how Jack and his comrades spoiled the Melv

sand dollars and ten shares of stock in the new company. Moreover, Messrs. Farnum and Pollard had felt who

is hands. Captain Jack Benson's gaze was fixed on his employer's face. Hal

," announced Mr. Farnum, qui

stioned Jac

nute or two later," l

eclared Captai

bout it all and digest it, so you may a

ndered back

how much longer the Gov

on Mr. Farnum. "I am i

way here, to take o

d Captain Jack, all but wrathfully. "Do they p

ow, to send a gunboat along with every two or three submarines. They call the larger craft t

'd volunteer to take the 'Pollard,' unassisted, around th

capable submarine boats as ours, you know,"

gs, with his quiet smile. "You might

laughed, th

will proceed, under the care of the Dad boat"-with a side glance of

train the naval cadets

icers? Oh, how I'd like

ack Benso

Navy, do you mean

ance in your submarine service. No; I mean I'd like to see Annapolis. I'd like

't have his wish gratified as

enson, his eyes glowing. Even Hal Hastings sat up straigh

nted for me to send our second boat, the 'Farnum,' a

at," laughe

sely by some of the most capable officers in the United States Navy. I

aptain Jack, "if any efforts of ours can ma

some time," went on Mr. Farnum. "In fact-but don't let

hid a yawn behind one hand, w

the largest-sized caps

t us too f

at Annapolis, you three are to act as civilian instructors to the middies. You three are to teach the midshipmen of the United S

low, he tossed it away, then lean

e think we're in sight of the very time of our lives! Annapoli

tart, sir!" asked Hal Hastings, afte

coast, and the officer in command of her

tain Jack, "and pass him the word. Won't E

his hat "And we'll leave word for Grant Andrews and some of his machinists to i

ng on air. Even Hal, quiet as he was, had caught the joy-infection of these orders to proceed to Annapolis. To be sent

s now being built. From inside came the noisy clang of hammers against metal. The shipbuilder stepped inside alone, but soon came out, nodding. The three now

nstant Jacob Farnum,

gs put up their han

Pollard" rode serenely at her moorings, the "Farnum,"

submarine?" gasped the shipbuilder, as so

, in

at her moorings, for the buoys floated in their respec

cables and vanish without human han

ncanny about this,"

g and closing his hands in a way that testifi