bottom and become the hopeless grave of the crew. Yet the 'Pollard' lies
at the bottom of this harbor, and Captain Benson has just come to the
surface, laughing and uninjured."

"I suppose he opened the manhole cover, and rose to the surface,"
hazarded Mr. Melville.

"In that case, sir," smiled Captain Jack, "wouldn't you expect the
'Pollard' to be filled with water, and my companions drowned? Besides,
sir, at a depth of seventy feet, the pressure of the water is such that
it would be sheer impossibility to raise the manhole cover."

"Then how did you get here?" demanded the capitalist.

"Pardon me, sir," replied Jack, courteously, though firmly.

"Do you refuse to answer my question, boy?"

Again the irritating, half-contemptuous use of "boy" made Jack's cheeks
flush, though he answered merely:

"I think, sir, Mr. Farnum has a right to the first information."

"Do you understand, boy, that I am about to take a large interest in this
business?"

"I have heard so, sir. But I hope you won't mind my saying that this
little surprise was thought out by my comrades and myself. It seems to
me, therefore, that we have some rights in the disclosing of the secret."