succeed, it will make the 'Pollard' absolutely perfect in her class."

"But it would seem mean of me to take your idea, so nearly finished, and
go ahead with it," protested the inventor.

"Well, you see, sir," Jack replied, earnestly, "we don't care who brings
the idea through provided it makes the 'Pollard' a world-beater. Do you
care to take this in hand, Mr. Pollard, and try to perfect it? For
we'll admit we're stuck fast and can't get any further with it."

"Do I care to?" repeated the inventor. "Why, boys, I'll be delighted to
work over it. It'll be better than sleep to me for many a night to come.
But I hate to take it out of your hands, since you originated it."

"Take it and welcome," begged Hal Hastings. "The only thing we want is
to see it work."

"And the sooner the better," grunted Eph Somers.

"Then thank you, I will," cried the inventor, earnestly. "But you boys,
if the device can be made to work, shall have your full share of the
credit."

"Hullo, boys," greeted Jacob Farnum, coming out from the inner office,
a letter in his hands. "By the way, here's something that may interest
you. I've a letter from a man who writes about the new trick of leaving
a submerged boat. He refers to you boys as our young experts."

"He doesn't know, does he," chuckled Jack, "that we're only three
apprentices, and rather raw, at that?"