THE "POLLARD" GOES LAME
"The submarine boats when out in the Bay will keep abreast of the
'Hudson,' two hundred yards off on either beam. The speed will be
fourteen knots when the signal is given for full speed. The general
course, after leaving the mouth of the Bay will be East."
Such were the instructions called from the rail of the gunboat, through
a megaphone, Monday forenoon.
On each of the submarine craft were sixteen cadet midshipmen, out for
actual practice in handling a submarine in diving, and in running
under water. On board the gunboat were eighty more cadets. Thus
a large class of the young men were to receive instruction during
the cruise, for the detachments aboard the submarines could be changed
at the pleasure of Lieutenant Commander Mayhew, who was in charge
of the cruise.
Captain Jack, his own hands on the conning tower wheel, ran the "Farnum"
out into the river, first of all. Then the "Pollard," under command
of a naval officer, followed. Both backed water, then waited for the
"Hudson" to come out, for the gunboat was to lead the way until the
Bay was reached. Then the formation ordered would be followed.
Though it was nearing the first of November, the day, near land, was
ideally soft and balmy. As many of the midshipmen as could sought
the platform deck of the "Farnum." Those, however, who belonged to
the engineer division were obliged to spend the greater part of their
time below.
By the time that the three craft were in the ordered formation, abreast,
and well started down Chesapeake Bay, the parent vessel signaled that
the designated cadets were to take charge of the handling of the
submarine boats.
Jack Benson cheerfully relinquished the wheel to Cadet Midshipman
Merriam, and stepped out on to the platform deck. At need, as in case
of accident or misunderstanding of signals or orders, Benson was still
in command. While all ran smoothly, however, Mr. Merriam enjoyed
command.
Hal, being likewise relieved in the engine room, came also out on deck.
"Where's Eph?" inquired the young commander of the "Farnum."
"In the engine room," smiled Hal. "He said I could leave, if I wanted,
but that he'd be hanged if he'd let Truax out of his sight while I
was away."
"Eph seems to have Truax on the brain," laughed Jack.
"Well, Truax is a queer and surly one," Hal admitted. "This morning
he gives one the impression of peeking over his shoulder all the time
to see whether he's being watched."
"So Eph means to humor him by watching him, eh?" asked Jack.
Hal laughed quietly.
Some of the cadets who were familiar with the landmarks of Chesapeake
Bay pointed out many of the localities and sights to the two submarine
boys.
At last, however, Eph was obliged to call for Hal.
"You know, Hal, old fellow, I've got to look out for the feeding of a
lot of boarders to-day," complained Eph, whimsically.
This task of Eph's took time, though it was not a hard one. The food
for the cadets had been sent aboard. Eph had to make coffee and heat
soup. For the rest, cold food had to do. The young men, on this trip,
were required to wait on themselves.
Hal found Sam Truax sitting moodily in a corner of the engine room,
though there was something about the fellow's appearance that suggested
the watchfulness of a cat.
"Why don't you go on deck a while, Truax?" asked Hal, kindly.
"Don't want to," snapped the fellow, irritably. So Hal turned his
back on the man.
"Doesn't that part need loosening up a bit, sir?" asked the cadet in
charge of the engineer division.
"Yes," replied Hastings, after watching a moment; "it does."
"I'll do it, then," proposed Truax, roughly. He attempted to crowd
his way past Hal, but the latter refused to be crowded, and stood
his ground until the midshipman passed him a wrench. Then Hastings
loosened up the part.
"You might let me do a little something," growled Sam Truax, in a tone
intentionally offensive.
"Don't forget, Truax, that I'm in command in this department," retorted
Hal, in a quieter tone than usual, though with a direct, steady look
that made Sam Truax turn white with repressed wrath.
"You won't let me forget it, will you?" snarled the fellow.
"No; for I don't want you to forget it, and least of all on this cruise,"
responded Hal Hastings.
"You don't give me any chance to--"
"Silence!" ordered Hal, taking a step toward him.
Sam Truax opened his mouth to make some retort, then wisely changed his
mind, dropping back into his former seat.
The noon meal was served to all hands. By the time it was well over
the mouth of the Bay was in sight, the broad Atlantic rolling in beyond.
The sea, when reached, proved to be almost smooth. It was ideal weather
for such a cruise.
Then straight East, for an hour they went, getting well out of the path
of coasting vessels.
"Hullo! What in blazes does that mean?" suddenly demanded Hal, pointing
astern at starboard.
The "Pollard" lay tossing gently on the water, making no headway. Hardly
ten seconds later the "Hudson" signaled a halt.
Then followed some rapid signaling between the gunboat and the submarine
that had stopped. There was some break in the "Pollard's" machinery,
but the cause had not yet been determined.
"Blazes!" muttered Jack, uneasily. "It couldn't have happened at a
worse time. This looks bad for our firm, Hal!"
The "Farnum" now lay to, as did the "Hudson," for the officer in command
of the "Pollard" signaled that his machinists were making a rapid but
thorough investigation of the unfortunate submarine's engines.
Finally, a cutter put off from the "Hudson," with a cadet midshipman
in charge. The small boat came over alongside, and the midshipman
called up:
"The lieutenant commander's compliments, and will Mr. Benson detail Mr.
Hastings to go over to the 'Pollard' and assist?"
"My compliments to the lieutenant commander," Jack replied. "And
be good enough to report to him, please, that Mr. Hastings and I will
both go."
"My orders, sir, are to convey you to the 'Pollard' before reporting
back to the parent vessel," replied the midshipman.
The cutter came alongside, taking off the two submarine boys, while
Eph Somers devoted himself to watching Sam Truax as a bloodhound might
have hung to a trail.
Arrived on board the good, old, familiar "Pollard," Jack and Hal hurried
below.
"The machinery is too hot to handle, now, sir," reported one of the
naval machinists, "but it looks as though something was wrong right
in there"--pointing.
"Put one of the electric fans at work there, at once," directed Hal.
"Then things ought to be cool enough in half an hour, to make an
examination possible."
After seeing this done, the two submarine boys left for the platform
deck, for the engine room was both hot and crowded.
"How long is it going to take you, Mr. Hastings?" asked the naval
officer in command of the "Pollard."
"Half an hour to get the parts cool enough to examine, but I can't say,
sir, how long the examination and repairs will take."
So the officer in command signaled what proved to be vague and
unsatisfactory information to Lieutenant Commander Mayhew.
"This is a bad time to have this sort of thing happen," observed the
naval officer in charge.
"A mighty bad time, sir," Jack murmured.
"And the engines of the 'Pollard' were supposed to be in first-class
condition."
"They _were_ in A-1 condition, when the boat was turned over to the Navy,"
Jack responded.
"Do you imagine, then, Mr. Benson, that some of the naval machinists
have been careless or incompetent?"
"Why, that would be a wild guess to make, sir, when one, remembers what
high rank your naval machinists take in their work," Jack Benson replied.
"And this boat was sold to the Navy with the strongest guarantee for the
engines," pursued the officer in charge.
Jack and Hal were both worried. The sudden break had a bad look for the
Pollard boats, in the success of which these submarine boys were most
vitally interested.
At last, from below, the suspected parts of the engine were reported
to be cool enough for examination. The naval officer in charge followed
Jack and Hal below.
Taking off his uniform blouse and rolling up his sleeves, Hal sailed in
vigorously to locate the fault. Machinists and cadets stood about,
passing him the tools he needed, and helping him when required.
At last, after disconnecting some parts, Hal drew out a long, slender
brass piston.
As he held it up young Hastings's face went as white as chalk.
"Do you see this?" he demanded, hoarsely.
"Filed, crazily, and it also looks as though the inner end had been
heated and tampered with," gasped Jack Benson.
"This, sir," complained Hal, turning around to face the naval officer
in charge, "looks like a direct attempt to tamper with and damage the
engine. Someone has done this deliberately, sir. It only remains to
find the culprit."
"Then we'll find out," retorted the naval officer, "if it takes a court
of inquiry and a court martial to do it. But are you sure of your
charge, Mr. Hastings?"
"Am I sure?" repeated Hal, all the soul of the young engineer swelling
to the surface. "Take this piston, sir, and examine it. Could such
a job have been done, unless by sheer design and intent?"
"Will the lieutenant permit me to speak?" asked the senior machinist,
taking a step forward and saluting.
"Yes; go ahead."
"Yesterday morning, sir," continued the senior machinist, "we thought
the engines needed some overhauling by someone more accustomed to them
than we were. We saw one of the machinists of the 'Farnum,' sir,
hanging about on shore. So we invited him aboard and asked him to look
the engines over."
"Describe the man," begged Jack.
The senior machinist gave a description that instantly denoted Sam Truax
as the man in question.
"Did you leave him alone in here, at any time?" demanded Hal.
"Let me see. Why, yes, sir. The man must have been alone in here some
three-quarters of an hour."
Jack and Hal exchanged swift glances.
There seemed, now, very little need of carrying the investigation
further.