Melville was engaged in the manufacture of submarine torpedo boats.

Both Farnum and Pollard looked somewhat grave when this knowledge was
first brought to them by Eph Somers, who had a great knack for picking
up local news. However, the young builder was quick to cheer up.

"So we're to have a rival yard, and the 'Pollard' is to have a rival?"
said Mr. Farnum. "Competition ought to stir us forward to the very best
that is in us. Somers, ask Captain Benson and Hastings to come here.
We'll talk this matter over."

Twenty minutes later the few devoted friends of the "Pollard" boat were
gathered around Mr. Farnum's desk.

"Unless I'm in great error," said the young boatbuilder, "we're in for
a lively rumpus, now. Melville is aroused over our refusal to let him
in to this enterprise, and he's starting an opposition. He can command
a great deal of money, and I understand that he has a good many
influential friends in Washington. If he can carry on the most
successful rivalry, he may do us a great deal of harm. For instance,
if he can build so fine a boat that he can put ours in the shadow.
In fact, while I don't mean to be a quitter or a skulker, I'll admit
that Melville may possibly be able to dig a hole and drop us into it.
If he produces a type of boat that goes far ahead of ours, then the
Government is likely to buy his, overlook ours and leave me stranded
financially. About all I'm worth is tied up in the present 'Pollard'
and in the new torpedo submarine that I'm now building."

"He can't invent or build a finer submarine than the 'Pollard,'" declared
Captain Jack, with conviction.