of his ground. "If my friends and myself decide to invest the required
several hundred thousand dollars in your business, the first step of the
reorganization on a broader basis will be the placing of my son in
command of your boat."

"Hm!" murmured Jacob Farnum.

"Don is wholly fitted for learning the work that I have cut out for him,"
pursued Mr. Melville. "He has frequently taken command of my steam
yacht, the '_Greyhound_,' and my sailing master, Captain Carson, assures
me that Don is not only a splendid sailor, but born to command. So,
after a little time spent in mastering details, Don will make the ideal
captain for the 'Pollard'."

"I have a very capable young man in charge now," said Mr. Farnum.
"Captain Jack Benson has already done a few things with the boat that
have astonished Naval officers."

"How old is this fellow Benson?" inquired Mr. Melville.

"Sixteen."

"Only sixteen?" queried Mr. Melville, in a voice of amazement. "Bah!
He is entirely too young to be entrusted with the hopes of such a great
boat-building company as I hope to help you organize. Don, too, is
quite young, but he has a great deal of capacity and has had a valuable
lot of experience. As to a boy of sixteen--however, your youth,
Benson, may no doubt be retained aboard as a member of the crew, if
Don likes him. And now, sir, it's two minutes of two."