"Yes, I rather fancied you two fellows would enjoy getting in on a project of this kind," interrupted the superintendent. "I don't suppose it is necessary for me formally to ask you whether you would like to look up this unlucky U-boat."
"Well, hardly." Almost in unison they had leaped to their feet to answer in the affirmative.
"Bully! You are assigned forthwith, with our hearty good wishes, and here's hoping you succeed in putting over another neat piece of work for Uncle Sam just as you did over there in the North Sea. If you fellows had laid that mine curtain before those U-boats escaped this Cape May job never would have happened. But now we've got to get those plans back. They are of immense value to our government."
"They wouldn't be of much value to Germany now!" interrupted Dick with a grin.
"Right!" laughed the superintendent. "Germany doesn't look very formidable, with her surrendered navy, and her surrendered iron and coal fields, and her surrendered stores of munitions. But you never can tell. Besides, there are scientific secrets in that collection that, even if the defeated Huns couldn't use them, could be sold for sums that would make you gasp if I mentioned them."
The boys whistled.
"This is the information I have from the naval officer. You can see how urgent the job is. That sunken U-boat is guarded night and day by American war vessels ever on the alert. The exact spot where she lies on the bottom is known and guarded like the gold in the United States Treasury vaults.
"And now I wish you 'bon voyage,'" concluded the superintendent as he shook hands with the two lads. "You will go out this afternoon with Captain Austin on the Nemo; and, don't forget, when you come back the Jules Verne will be waiting for you."
Elated with the prospects of a new venture of such an important character, Jay and Dick arose to go, telling Captain Austin they would report immediately aboard the Nemo and make ready to depart for the trip down the coast to Cape May.
"Better luck to you this time, Mr. Thacker," called out the yard superintendent.