“It depends upon the boy, as it would upon the man,” Jack answered.
“Do you consider, Mr. Benson, that you know all about submarine boats, sir?”
“Oh, no.”
“Who does, sir?”
“No one that I ever heard of,” Jack answered. “Few men interested in submarine boats know much beyond the peculiarities of their own boats.”
“And that applies equally to boys, sir?”
“Yes,” Jack smiled.
“Do you consider yourself, sir, fully competent to handle this craft?”
“I'd rather someone else would say it,” Jack replied. “My employers, though, seem to consider me competent.”
“What is this material, sir?” continued the cadet, resting a hand on a piston rod.