"I'll speak to Mr. Farnum about this business," muttered Foreman Owen, turning on his heel. Three other workmen had arrived during this talk. Now, at the order from Owen all climbed the ladder to the platform deck, thence disappearing through the manhole. Electric light was turned on inside the hull by the time that Jack and Hal appeared at the manhole opening.
Owen looked upward, from the floor of the boat, to scowl at them, but, as Mr. Pollard was right behind them, the foreman said nothing at that moment.
Last of all came Dan Jaggers. As he caught sight of the two newcomers he shot at them a look full of hate.
"I thought ye said those fellers couldn't work here," he muttered to his uncle.
"Keep quiet and watch out," whispered Joshua Owen. "They're not going to work here. I'll fix that!"
CHAPTER III
JOSH OWEN STARTS TROUBLE
"Knock off!"
As the deafening din of hammers lessened David Pollard shouted that order through a megaphone.
Confined in a limited space, inside that bull of steel, the clatter, which outdoors would have been barely noticed, was something infernal in volume and sharpness. Human ear-drums could not stand it for any very great length of time.