CHAPTER II

HOW EPH FLIRTED WITH SCIENCE


Jack Benson was the first of the trio to move.

Without a word he broke into a run, heading for the narrow little shingle
of beach.

"Got an idea, Captain?" shouted Jacob Farnum, darting after his young
submarine skipper.

"Yes, sir!" floated back over Jack's shoulder.

"Then what's at the bottom--"

"Eph and the boat, both together, or I miss my guess," Captain Jack
shouted back as he halted at the water's edge, where a rowboat lay hauled
up on the shore.

Jacob Farnum's face showed suddenly pallid as he, also, reached the
beach. Hal, who was in the rear, did not seem so much startled.

"Do you think Eph has gone off on a cruise all alone?--that he has come
to any harm?" gasped the shipbuilder.

"I don't know, but I'm not going to worry a mite about Eph Somers until
I have to," retorted Jack Benson, easily.