"Fellows, listen!" commanded Jack Benson, suddenly looking up.
Then he told them both the thought and the scheme that had been in his mind all that day. While the young captain was talking his two mates were still—Hal, because it was his nature, and Eph Somers because he was actually staggered into silence.
"That's what I've been thinking of," Jack wound up.
"Don't you do it, old fellow—don't you dare!" ordered Hal, sitting up straighter and resting an appealing hand on his chum's shoulder.
"But think of the lives that have been lost on submarine boats during the last few years," pleaded Jack Benson, seriously.
"And you want to add your life to the others," retorted Hal, with mocking irony.
"I want to save, perhaps, hundreds of lives in the future," returned Jack, spiritedly.
"Then, at least, old chum," begged Hal, "tell your scheme to Mr. Farnum, and let him hire a trained diver to make the experiment."
"You think there's a lot of danger in it, do you?" queried Captain Jack, mildly.
"I certainly do," said Hastings, with emphasis.