"The Farnum business looks very inviting, despite what Melville says
against it," thought Broughton Emerson, later that night. "Yet, if I
put any money into the venture, on any terms, I must insist on the one
condition that the boys be banished from Farnum's employ."

Of this far-reaching mischief, following Don's deliberate lie to his
father, Captain Jack Benson and his mates had not even a suspicion.

Two days later the three submarine boys were delighted at knowing that
Broughton Emerson, despite the advice he had received from Mr. Melville,
was thinking most seriously of advancing a few hundred thousand dollars
to help boom the "Pollard" type of submarine boat.

"That will put a crimp in the Melvilles, when they hear, won't it?"
laughed Jack, in talking it over with Hal Hastings and Eph Somers.

Not one of the boys would have slept that night, had they known of the
plans forming to disgrace Jack Benson even in the eyes of Messrs.
Farnum and Pollard.




CHAPTER IX

A RASCALLY PIECE OF WORK


"Now, we shall soon know!" cried David Pollard, hoarsely.