prepared a meal, which was eaten.

Then followed a restless two hours, waiting until the town was asleep,
for the gasoline tanks were filled, and all was ready for the first turn
of the drive-wheel below.

It was after half-past ten when Pollard at last said:

"Go below and get the gasoline engines started, Andrews."

The boys followed him below to watch the work. Messrs. Farnum and
Pollard, too, were soon below, for they wanted to observe the work of
the air compressors and the dynamos. The work had to be started by
lantern light, but, within ten minutes, it was possible to turn on
electric lights below.

"Everything is working as perfectly as though the boat had been in
commission a year," remarked the inventor, hoarsely. His suspense was
almost painful to watch.

"Everything is all ready for a start, isn't it. Andrews?" inquired
Mr. Farnum.

"Everything appears to be, sir, so far as the power's concerned,"
replied Andrews. "But I'm going to stay by the engine. I want to be
on hand to watch whatever might happen."

Power was applied to raise the anchor.

"You take the wheel, Benson, since you had it during the launching,"