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Submarine Boys for the Flag

<h2 id="id00010" style="margin-top: 4em">THE SUBMARINE BOYS FOR THE FLAG</h2> Deeding Their Lives to Uncle Sam by <h5 id="id00013">VICTOR G. DURHAM</h5> 1910 <h2 id="id00017" style="margin-top: 4em">CHAPTER I</h2> <h5 id="id00018">"DO YOU SPEAK GERMAN?"</h5> "Hey, there, Mister!" called out Jabez Holt, from one of the two office windows in the little hotel at Dunhaven. As there was only one other man in the office, that other man guessed that he might be the one addressed. With a slight German accent the stranger, who was well-dressed, and looked like a prosperous as well as an educated man, turned and demanded: "You are calling me?" "I reckon," nodded Jabez. "Then my name is Herr Professor—" "Hair professor?" repeated Jabez Holt, a bit of astonishment showing in his wrinkled old face. "Hair professor? Barber, eh? Why, I thought you was a traveler. But hurry up over here—do you hear me?" "My good man," began the German, stiffly, drawing himself up to his full six-foot-one, "it is not often I am affronted by being addressed so—" "There! He'll be outer sight in another minute, while you are arguin' about your dignity!" muttered Holt. "And that's the feller you said you wanted to see—Jack Benson." "Benson?" cried the German, forgetting his outraged dignity and springing forward. "Benson?" "That's him—almost up to the corner," nodded Landlord Jabez Holt. "Run out and bring him back with you," directed Herr Professor Radberg. "Be quick!" "Waal, I guess you're spryer'n I be," returned old Jabez, with a shrewd look at his guest. "Besides, it's you that wants the boy." Running back and snatching up his hat, Professor Radberg made for the street without further argument. Moving along hastily, the German soon came in sight of young Captain Jack Benson, of the Pollard Submarine Torpedo Boat Company. "Ach, there! Herr Benson!" shouted the Professor. Hearing the hail, Jack Benson turned, then halted. "You are Herr Benson, are you not?" demanded Professor Radberg, as soon as he got close enough. "Benson is my name," nodded Jack, pleasantly. "Then come back to the hotel with me." "You are a foreigner, aren't you?" asked Jack, surveying the stranger coolly. "I am German," replied Radberg, in a tone of surprise. "I thought so," nodded the boy. "That is, I didn't know from what country you came. But, in this country, when we ask a favor of a stranger, we usually say 'please.'" "I am Herr Professor—" "Oh, barbers are just as polite as other folks," Jack assured him, his laughing eyes resting on the somewhat bewildered-looking face of the German. "Then please, Herr Benson, come back to the hotel with me." "Yes; if it's really necessary. But why do you want to go to the hotel?" "Because, Herr Benson, when we are there, I shall have much of importance to say to you." "Important to me, or to you?" asked Jack, thoughtfully. He had no intention of answering a much older man disrespectfully. But there was about Herr Radberg the air of a man who expects his greatness to be recognized at a glance, and who demands obedience from common people as a right. This sort of thing didn't fit well with the American boy. "Oh, it is important to you, and very much so," urged the Professor, somewhat more anxiously. "Besides," added the German, with a now really engaging smile, "I have met your demand, Herr Benson, and have said 'please.'" "Then I suppose I'll have to meet your demand," nodded Jack, good-humoredly. "Lead the way, sir." "Ach! You may walk at my side," permitted the German. It all seemed a bit strange, but Captain Jack Benson had been through more strange experiences than had most Americans of twice or thrice his age. Besides, as he walked beside Herr Professor Radberg Jack imagined that he had guessed at least an inkling of the other's business. The German had announced himself as a professor; probably, therefore, he was a scientist. Being a scientist, the Professor had very likely invented, or nearly invented something intended for use in connection with submarine torpedo boats, and wanted to interest the concern by which the young submarine skipper was employed. Though this guess was a reasonable one, it soon turned out to be the wrong one. The Professor's real reason for seeking this interview was one that was bound to take the submarine boy almost off his feet. Readers of the preceding volumes in this series need no introduction to Captain Jack Benson, nor to his chums, Hal Hastings and Eph Somers. Such readers recall, as told in "The Submarine Boys on Duty," how Jack and Hal drifted into Dunhaven just at the right moment to fight for an opportunity to work themselves into the submarine boat building business. How the boys helped build the first of the now famous Pollard submarines, and afterwards learned how to man her, was all told, together with all their strange adventures in their new life. In the "The Submarine Boys' Trial Trip" was related how Jack Benson solved the problem of leaving a submarine boat when it lay on the ocean's bottom, and also the trick of entering that submerged boat again, after diving from the surface of the water. The attempt of shrewd business men to secure control of the new submarine boat company was also described, together with the manner in which the submarine boys outwitted them. Through a successful trial trip, and Captain Jack's ingenious ways of arousing public interest, the government was forced to buy the "Pollard," as the first of the submarines was named. In "The Submarine Boys and the Middies" was narrated how the submarine boys secured the prize detail of going to the Naval Academy at Annapolis as temporary instructors in submarine boating. Many startling adventures, and some humorous ones, were related in that volume. Then in "The Submarine Boys and the Spies" was shown how the young men successfully foiled the efforts of spies of foreign governments to learn the secrets of the Pollard craft. In "The Submarine Boys' Lightning Cruise" the adventures of these clever, enterprising boys were carried further. In this book, was told how the boys were trained in the handling of the actual torpedo of, warfare. The Pollard boats, "Benson" and "Hastings" were entered in official government tests in which the submarine craft of several other makes competed. The desperate lengths to which the nearest rival of the Pollards went in order to win were told with startling accuracy. The result of all these tests was that the Pollard company received from the Navy Department an order for eighteen submarine torpedo boats, the "Benson" and the "Hastings" being accepted as the first two boats on that order. By the time the present narrative opens it was near the first of May. Over at the shipyard, where facilities had been greatly increased, two of the submarines had lately been finished, and four more were under way in long construction sheds. Work on the government's order was being rushed as fast as could be done while keeping up the Pollard standards, of high-class work. Of late Jack and his young friends, though their pay went on, had little work to do. Whenever a new boat was completed it was the task of the submarine boys to take her out to sea and put her through all manner of tests in order to determine her fitness. But there were days and days when the submarine boys had naught to do but enjoy themselves as their fancy dictated. "Shall we sit down here?" asked Jack, as he and the tall German entered the hotel office. Jabez Holt stood behind the desk, bent over the register, on which the Professor's name had been the only new one in a week. The old landlord pretended to be busy, but he was covertly watching and listening. "Sit here?" repeated Professor Radberg. "Ach, no! Come along with me." There was something rather disagreeably commanding in the German's invitation, but Jack merely smiled quietly as he followed in the stranger's wake. Up the stairs they went. The Professor unlocked a door, admitting himself and his guest to the outer of a suite of two rooms. Once they were inside Radberg locked the door behind them. "Come to the other room, Herr Benson," directed the Professor. The door of this inner room the German also locked, remarking: "Now, if the man, Holt, chooses to follow and listen, he can hear nothing." "All this sounds mighty mysterious," laughed Jack Benson, good-humoredly. However, the submarine boy went and stood by a chair near the window and then waited until he saw that the stranger was about to seat himself. "Now," asked Jack, stretching his legs, "what's the business about? I haven't a whole lot of time to-day." "Listen, and you shall hear, as soon as I am ready," came, stiffly, from the stranger. "You are a boy, and I am Herr Professor—" "Oh, you told me all about being a hair professor before," smiled Jack. "Now, see here. Whether you're really a barber, or whether you're just amusing yourself with me, we want to have one thing understood. I came here, sir, as a matter of courtesy to you, and you will have to treat me with just as much courtesy. Otherwise, I shall wish you good-morning." This was said with a flash of the eye which warned Radberg that, in his rather overbearing way, he was going too for. "Oh, my dear young friend," he replied, persuasively, "you don't understand. In Germany I am—well, perhaps what you would call a rather distinguished man. At least, my neighbors are good enough to say so. And, in Germany, when a herr professor talks, others listen respectfully." "Just the same way with the hair professors in this country," chuckled Jack. "When an American barber gets wound up and started, all a fellow can do is to listen. It's no use trying to run away from a barber anywhere, I guess. He has you strapped down to the chair." "Barber?" repeated Professor Radberg, in disgust. "I don't understand you." "Oh, it isn't necessary," laughed Jack. "It's a sort of Yankee joke. And I beg your pardon, Professor, if I am wasting your time. Now, go ahead, please, and tell me why you invited me here." There was something of salt water breeziness and crispness about Jack's speech that caused the German's brow to cloud for an instant. Then, after a visible effort to compose himself, Radberg leaned forward to ask: "Do you speak German?" "No, sir." Jack shook his head. "Ach, that is too bad!" muttered the German, in a voice suggesting severe disapproval of one who hadn't mastered his own native tongue. "However, you will soon learn." "Yes; if there's a big enough prize goes with it," agreed Jack. "Prize?" repeated Professor Radberg. "You will say so!" Then, leaning forward once more, and speaking in his most impressive voice, Herr Professor Radberg continued: "Herr Benson, we are going to take you into the German Navy!" The Professor now leaned back to watch the effect of his words. "Are you going to do it when I'm awake?" asked Jack, curiously. "Nein! I do not understand you." "Are you going to take me in by force, or wait until you catch me asleep?" questioned Captain Jack Benson. "Ach! Do not be silly, boy!" "I might say the same to you, Professor," replied Jack Benson, composedly, "but we'll let it pass. How are you going to get me into the German Navy, and what are you going to do with me after you get me there?" "How?" cried Professor Radberg. "Why we are going to pay you a very handsome sum of money, and we are going to give you a most honorable position in our imperial service. And—" Here Professor Radberg leaned forward once more, lowering his voice considerably. "There are three of you boys, all experts at the Pollard works. Well, we are going to take all three of you into the German navy, and we will do something very handsome for you all." "The other fellows will be delighted when I tell 'em what's coming their way," smiled Captain Jack. "Ach! So? Of course." "Now, what do you propose to do with us in your navy?" Jack went on. "Are you going to make officers of us?" "Officers?" repeated Herr Professor Radberg, slowly. "Well, no, Herr Benson. We could not exactly do that. Our officers are, as you will understand, very—what is your English word?—aristocratic. They could not be quite persuaded to take American commoners as their brother officers. That you would not expect, of course." "Certainly not," young Benson agreed. If there was a slight tinge of sarcasm in his it was lost on the German, whose brow cleared as he went on, heavily: "No, no, my young friend; not officers. But you shall all three have very honorable positions, and handsome sums of money to pay you for entering our service. We in Germany know the rank which you young men have won as submarine experts, and we shall not be niggardly, for we have determined to have you in our service." "I hope you'll pardon me," proposed young Benson. "There is just one point that has been overlooked. You tell me that you are authorized to come to Dunhaven and kidnap my friends and myself. But, really, how do I know that you have such authority from your own side of the water?" Radberg looked a bit puzzled, for a moment. Then, as he seemed to begin to comprehend, he replied, heavily: "Herr Benson, I have already told you that I am Herr Professor—" "Now, don't hang out the striped pole again, please," urged Jack, his face as sober as that of a judge. "Come right down to the points of the compass. How am I to know that you really do represent the German government?" "Ach! I comprehend," nodded the German. "Of course you will understand that, on an errand of this kind, I do not travel with too many papers. But I shall take you and your two companions on to Washington to-morrow, I think—" "To-morrow ought to do as well as any time," replied Jack, ironically. "Yes; I think it will be to-morrow," continued the German. "I shall take you to our German Embassy, and one of our officials there will prove to you that I have been acting with authority." "That'll be right fine of him," agreed Jack, placidly. "Ach! It is settled, then," replied the German, all but dismissing the matter with a wave of his hand. "Yet you must bring your two comrades here. They must understand just what is wanted of them. And now, Herr Benson, do you wish to understand what is to be paid to you to transfer your services to our German flag?" "Why, yes; that will be mighty important—if we go under the German flag." "If you go?" repeated the Professor. "Why, that is all settled!" "Then I must have missed something, by not watching you closely enough," murmured Jack. "I shall have to sit up straighter and keep my eyes wider open. When was it all settled, sir?" "Why, did you not tell me—" "Haven't had a blessed chance to tell you anything," replied Jack, looking astonished. "You've been doing all the telling." "But you'll go with me, of course, to Washington?" uttered Radberg, looking much taken aback. "I doubt it," muttered young Benson, shaking his head. "In fact, sir, I may as well tell you that it's waste of our time to carry this line of talk any further." "Ach! You are cunning," smiled Professor Radberg, no longer nonplussed. "That is as it should be, too, for you are a clever young man, Herr Benson." "A thousand thanks," murmured Captain Jack. "But, instead of talk," pursued the German, "you wish to see some money. Quite right! I should, were I in your place, Herr Benson. Well, then—ach! Look at this." Thrusting a fat hand down deep in a trousers pocket, Herr Professor Radberg brought up into view a big roll of money. He held this up so that the submarine boy could feast his eyes on it. Jack looked, composedly. "Did you ever see anything like this—you, who are such a young boy?" smiled the German, teasingly. "I—I don't know, really," responded Jack, thoughtfully, thrusting a hand down into his own trousers pocket. Young Benson brought up into the light a very comfortable looking handful of banknotes, rolled and surrounded by a broad elastic band. "Let's measure the two, Professor, and see how they compare." "Ach!" muttered the German, regarding Jack's money with some displeasure. "Where did you get all that?" "Oh, now, Professor!" cried the young submarine captain, reproachfully. "I didn't ask you where you got yours!" "Ach! This is all so much foolishness!" cried the German Professor, returning his money to his pocket. "That's what I think, too," agreed Jack, following suit. "It's what our English cousins call 'bad form,' to go to comparing piles of money." "Now, sit down, Herr Benson, and I will tell you what a very handsome sum of money, and what excellent wages, the German government will pay you to enter our imperial naval service." "How much money is there in Germany?" interrupted the submarine boy, thoughtfully. "How much, in all Germany?" demanded the Professor. "Nein! How should I know?" "You expect me, of course, to turn my back on this country for good, to tell you Germans whatever I may know about submarine secrets, to drill with your navy, and be prepared to fight in your navy if war comes?" "Ach, yes! of course," replied Radberg. "Now, we are beginning to understand one another." "Professor," interrupted Captain Jack Benson, "we've had enough of joking." "Joking? I assure you—" "Professor," once more broke in the submarine boy, "I wouldn't sell out my country's flag for all the money you ever saw!" For a few moments the Professor's face was a study in consternation. Then he broke forth, angrily: "Ach! You are a fool!" "I guess so," nodded Jack, without resentment. "That's just the kind of fools we Americans are generally." Herr Radberg was a good enough reader of human faces to realize that, at all events, there was no use in continuing the conversation at present. "Very good," he growled. "You can go. I shall see your friends, instead." "When you get through with 'em you'll think they're idiots," grinned Captain Jack Benson. Herr Radberg wasn't a fool. Neither was he a rascal, expert in offering bribes. Brought up within the wall's of a German university, he would have been willing to lay down his life instantly for the good of the Fatherland. Yet he couldn't understand that men of other nations could be just as devoted to their own countries. From Herr Professor Radberg's point of view Germany was the only country in the world that was fitted to inspire a real and deep sense of patriotism. "No harm done, Professor," said Jack, moving toward the door, and turning the key to unlock it. "I'm sorry you had all the trouble and expense of coming to Dunhaven on a useless errand. Good-bye!" "Ach! You may go, but you will come back," scowled the other. "If not, your comrades will, I hope, prove to be young men of better sense and judgment." "Oh, they'll listen to you," smiled Jack. "Good-bye!" "I shall have two of you, anyway," were Radberg's last words before the door of the outer room closed and Jack's footsteps sounded in the corridor. <div style="break-after:column;"></div>

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