Then, once more, Hal turned on the gasoline, set
the ignition, and watched.
The engine ran as smoothly as ever.
"There won't be any more trouble, unless someone is turned loose here with
files and a blast lamp," pronounced Hal. Then he and his chum sought the
deck, to report to the officer in charge.
"You think we're in running order, now?" asked that officer.
"If you give the speed-ahead signal, sir, I think you'll feel as though
you had a live engine under your deck," Hal assured him.
The signal was given, the "Pollard" immediately responding. She cut a wide
circle, at good speed, returning to her former position, where the
propellers were stopped.
"You suspect your own machinist, who was aboard?" asked the naval officer,
in a low tone, of the submarine boys.
"If you'll pardon our not answering directly, sir," Captain Jack replied,
"we want to have more than suspicions before we make a very energetic
report on this strange accident. But we shall not be asleep, sir, in the
matter of finding out. Then we shall make a full report to Mr. Mayhew."
"Success to you--and vigilance!" muttered the naval officer.
The gunboat's cutter came alongside, transferring Jack and Hal back to the
"Farnum.
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