"I wish I knew."
Jack called up Mr. Farnum's house and got his wife on the telephone. To his question she replied:
"I got a note last night not to worry if he was late getting home. But he has not come in yet," and her voice had a catch in it.
Jack and his chums were greatly worried. Had Melville played some trick on the boatbuilder?
"I'm going ashore," said Eph the next morning, as soon as he had eaten his breakfast in the submarine cabin.
"For anything especial?" asked Jack.
"First, I want to know if anything's yet known of Mr. Farnum. Then, you know that Don Melville's in town. Why? His father's left and all the pounding workmen at his fake yard are gone, too. Something needs explaining."
"He's trying to find out whom he can bribe into saying we set fire to the yard," said Hal bitterly.
"Oh, on second thought Melville would conclude that would be too risky to do," observed Jack.
"Maybe—maybe not. I'm going over to look about and listen."