"I didn't take a dislike to him," Jack replied, opening his eyes wide.
"You choked him of mighty short, then."
"If it looked that way, then I'm sorry," Benson protested, in a tone of genuine regret. "All I wanted to make plain was that I couldn't pass him on to our precious old boat without Mr. Farnum's order."
Truax plodded slowly along behind the submarine boys, a cunning look in the man's eyes as he stared after Jack Benson.
"You're a slick young man, or else a wise one," muttered Truax. "But
I think I'm smart enough to take it out of you!"
Nor did Sam Truax go to the hotel. He had his own plans for this evening—plans that boded the submarine boys no good.
The three boys strolled easily about town, getting a hot soda or two, and, finally, drifting into a moving picture show that had opened recently in Dunhaven. This place they did not leave until the show was over. They were halfway home when Captain Jack remembered that he had left behind him a book that he had bought earlier in the evening.
"You fellows keep right on down to the yard. I'll hurry back, get the book and overtake you," he proposed.
Jack ran back, but already the little theatre was closed.
"I'm out that book, then, if we sail in the morning," he muttered, as he trudged along after his friends.