"I want to be on hand to help just a bit, if I can," murmured Eph,
pleadingly, "and to wish the boat good luck as she strikes the water.
My father used to work in this yard, and I worked here last summer."

"He's all right," nodded Mr. Farnum, so Eph got inside the shed.

The ladder rested against the hull; this was to be the last time that
it would be used. David Pollard ascended, first, to the submarine's
platform deck Farnum followed Then Grant Andrews went up. Last of all
came Jack Benson and Hal Hastings. These were all who were scheduled
to slide down the slippery ways with the "Pollard." But Eph was there,
close at hand, consumed by an unquenchable desire to go, too. Nor was
he wholly convinced that he wouldn't.

Outside, at one side of the shed, stood Lieutenant Jackson and the
invited guests. On the other side were the members of the band.

On the platform deck, near the conning tower, were an outside steering
wheel and the engine controls. Back of all were the funnels of the
ventilators.

"Are you going to take the wheel, sir?" whispered Grant Andrews, to
the inventor.

"I--I'm afraid I'm too nervous to," replied David Pollard, in an
undertone. "You'd better take the wheel, Andrews."

So the foreman stationed himself there, for the craft might need guidance
during the headway that the launching would give her.