"
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.
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