"I apologized to you, but I guess what you need is a lesson in politeness," was his cool retort as he stepped up close and surveyed the bully in the eye. For answer the obstreperous rowdy made a pass for the Brighton boy's face with clenched fist. Quick as a flash Jay parried the thrust with his left and shot over a powerful right hand swing--the kind he had planted on the rioters. It caught the bully flush on the point of the jaw--a clean smash that sent him sprawling on the floor. His honor requited, Jay stepped back to survey the damage he had done. Half dazed from the punch and muttering to himself, the bully struggled to his feet and picked up his hat. "All right, smarty; I'll get you sometime alone when your crowd ain't with you," he stuttered and edged away sheepishly. It had happened so quickly Dick and Larry hardly knew what it was all about. Jay explained the circumstances. "Serves him right," said Dick. "The world is full of fellows nowadays who think they can ride roughshod over everybody. They need to be put in their places and realize that human rights belong to all the people instead of a few." The incident was soon forgotten in the planning for the morrow. CHAPTER IV ON THE GOLDEN TRAIL Imagine the surprise of the boys the next morning when they appeared at the Emerson wharf to report to Captain Austin to find a trim little submarine craft hugging the quay, her hatches open forward and aft to admit her crew, the exhaust of her gasoline engines fluttering from the rear. "Must be some mistake here; I never knew they explored the bottom of the sea from a submarine," exclaimed Dick in some surprise. The boys had expected to find some craft of an altogether different nature. The submarine was a new one on them. "It's the _Nemo_, all right," said Jay, pointing out the name of the vessel on the prow. Captain Austin was standing near the conning tower directing various members of the crew as they prepared to cast off and head out of the harbor. "Good morning, boys, come right aboard," he called out, noting the arrival of the new members of his crew. Jay and Dick were soon on deck chatting with their captain, noting that Larry Seymour had already arrived. The three boys were assigned to the diving work exclusively and so had nothing to do with the navigation of the craft. In turn Captain Austin introduced the new arrivals to other divers aboard. "This is Mr. Weddigen--Carl Weddigen--also a new man," said the captain as a huge hulk of a fellow lurched forward when his turn came. Jay was almost too dumbfounded to speak. The fellow facing him was none other than the big bully he had knocked down the previous afternoon in the corridor of Superintendent Brown's office. Weddigen backed away, refusing to extend his hand. Jay smiled. "I guess we have met before," he remarked dryly. Dick and Larry were on the point of bursting into a hearty guffaw, but restrained themselves.