Can't you make out who it is, Hal?"

"Josh Owen! But he gave up his keys."

"He had at least one duplicate, then," declared Jack, in a tremulous
whisper. "There, he's gone inside. Come on, Hal--soft-foot! We'll
take a near look at what he's doing."

There was some distance to be traveled, and it had to be done with
the utmost stealth. Whatever Josh Owen--if it was truly he--was
doing in the submarine shed, the young shadows did not wish to put
him on his guard until they had caught him red-handed.

"Where's the night watchman while all this is going on?" wondered
Jack as he tip-toed forward. It was afterwards discovered that the
watchman, who sometimes drank liquor, was at this moment sound asleep
in one of the sheds. There was no time to be squandered in looking
for him if Josh Owen was to be followed and foiled.

Creeping to the now open door of the submarine's shed, Jack, who was
in the lead, took a peep inside.

There was a dim light in there, though it came from the further side
of the hull. Benson signaled, and his friend followed him, stealthily,
a step or two at a time, around to the stern of the "Pollard" as she
lay on the stocks.

By this time a noise that plainly proceeded from the use of tools
came to the ears of the boys. Their nerves were on the keenest tension
as they reached the stern of the propped-up hull.