Even the coming of the boys caused Pollard a bit of relief. They were
to be of the crew at the launching, and their early arrival showed the
inventor that there ought not, now, to be the faintest hitch.

"I thought there was going to be a naval officer here, Mr. Pollard,"
whispered Jack.

"Looking for a uniform, eh?" laughed the inventor. "There is a naval
officer here--Lieutenant Jackson. There he is, over there, in the gray
suit and straw bat."

"Does he go on the boat with us?"

"Oh, no. He's simply to watch the launching, and see how the craft sits
on the water after she goes in. Some time in the near future there'll
be a board of naval officers here, when we're ready to show them what
the boat can do."

With everything in readiness, the nerves of all the interested persons
present began to suffer from the suspense. Only the tireless band saved
the day.

"Come along," said Jacob Farnum, at last. "It's a quarter of ten. We'll
get up in our places."

Those who were going made a rush for the shed. The band leader, catching
the enthusiasm, led his musicians, with a crash, into a triumphal march.
Eph Somers slid, unobtrusively, into the shed. David Pollard turned to
look at him keenly.