anything we might have a mind to do to an enemy's ships that might be
in that harbor. But now, sir, you propose that, lest we have accidents,
it will be best to rise to the surface and enter the harbor at Spruce
Beach as plainly and stupidly as though the 'Benson' were some mere
lumber schooner."

"I see the thing just the way Jack Benson does," murmured David Pollard,
thrusting his hands down deep in his trousers pockets.

"Oh, well, if I'm voted down, I'll give in," laughed Jacob Farnum. "I
wonder, though, how Hal and Eph feel about this?"

"I don't have to ask them," nodded Captain Jack, confidently.

"Why not?"

"We settled it all, days ago, sir."

"And they both agreed with you?"

"Down to the last jot, Mr. Farnum. They saw the beauty and the boldness
of the plan."

Oh, well, go ahead, then, responded Mr. Farnum, rising and standing by
the cabin table. "Of course, the picturesque and romantic possibilities
of the scheme are plain enough to me. We'll have the people at Spruce
Beach agape with curiosity, then wild with enthusiasm. And, really, to
be sure, we have to arouse the enthusiasm of the American people over
this whole game. That's the surest way of forcing Congress to spend
more money on our boats."