The superintendent paused for a moment while he lighted a cigar. "What I have in mind for you fellows is this," he added. "How would you like to ship aboard this first treasure ship of ours? I understood that you, Thacker, and you, too, Monaghan, had considerable experience diving over there in the North Sea." The boys nodded their assent. "Good enough," replied the official. "You are just the kind of men we are looking for. Good experienced divers. We know how well Uncle Sam trains them. As for you, Seymour, you proved your courage the other day, and while you may have had no diving experience we have a place for you. What do you say, boys? The pay will be many times anything you have ever earned in one summer. Go out there into that anteroom and talk it over for a few minutes." The boys jumped to their feet with alacrity and followed the shipping official into the adjoining room. There, left to themselves, they plunged into the subject with vim. "What do you think of that? Just what I was talking about the other day!" chirruped Jay as he whacked his chum over the shoulder. Dick was all smiles. "Looks like a good thing to me--a peach of a chance, I should say." For once, at least, Dick had readily thrown all his conservatism to the wind. "What about you, Larry?" asked Jay, turning to the third member of the trio. "Lead me to it, gentlemen, lead me to it; but pinch me quick, for I sure think I'm dreaming," piped Larry in his inimitable style. The three youths were in high glee. The chance for adventure, to say nothing of the wonderful remuneration that the job would hold. In less time than it takes to tell they had filed back into the superintendent's office and reported their decision. "Fine business," said the delighted superintendent. "And now let me introduce again Captain Dwight Austin, skipper of the good ship _Nemo_, the first salvage ship turned out at the Bridgeford Yard. If you boys are in earnest, report to Captain Austin to-morrow morning at 7.30 at the Emerson wharf. I need not add that I am very well pleased with your decision and wish you all kinds of luck in your work for the summer. I don't think you will regret what you have done." In high glee the three youths piled out of the office after affixing their names to the roster of the ship's crew. As they bolted down the stairs and turned into the hallway leading to the exit Jay ran full into a strapping big fellow of brawny build, with shaggy eyebrows and scowling face, who was shuffling along in an unsteady gait. "I beg your pardon, sir, I didn't see you coming," said Jay apologetically, as he stepped aside. "What's the matter with you, stupid? Can't you watch where you're goin'?" was the gruff answer. Jay insisted it had all been an accident. "Keep out of my way hereafter," bellowed the other. "If you don't--this for you." And he pushed Jay full in the face with his flat dirty hand. In an instant Jay's blood was boiling.