"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.