"There you are; I never had the slightest intention of keeping them," blustered Weddigen. "This fresh guy Seymour thinks he gets me in wrong, and I'll attend to him later. I was waiting until I got rested up a bit before coming to you with them." Upon Larry he cast a murderous scowl of hatred as Captain Austin hurried the diamonds below, apparently satisfied with Weddigen's story. But Larry, hearing the true story later from the lips of Jay Thacker, knew Weddigen's quick-witted defense was but skilled camouflage to cover his attempted theft of the pocketed diamonds. With the two Brighton youths, he formed a pact to keep a watchful eye on the surly diver in the future. CHAPTER VIII UNCLE SAM CALLS Some fellows are pursued by luck no matter where they turn in life. Others of evil design seem to be able to get away with anything they attempt solely on their nerve. Carl Weddigen was one of this class. Not one chap in a thousand, caught as he had been with stolen diamonds, would have breasted it out and escaped so cleverly by use of his nimble wits. Criminologists' records show that the average thief trapped as Weddigen was either surrenders abjectly or makes a break for it in an effort to escape. The crafty minority stand their ground and worm their way out by subterfuge. "I'll say he's got the nerve, all right," remarked Dick Monaghan. The _Nemo_ had returned to Bridgeford and the members of the crew were enjoying a few days' rest after their arduous and successful trip in exploration of the sunken _Dominion_. "Nerve!" retorted Larry Seymour. "Why, if that guy had been sent into Germany by General Pershing he could have dragged the Kaiser out of Berlin and made those dazed Fritzies think he was only kidding them." Jay Thacker smiled at that. He was feeling much better after his experiences; in fact, a couple of good nights' sleep and recreation had put him back in good trim again. Two years at sea in the U. S. Navy will toughen the bone and muscle of any lad. Dick and Larry had been wanting Jay to go to Captain Austin to relate the whole story of what had happened on the bottom of the sea in the cabin of the _Dominion_. Magnanimously, Jay had spurned the proposition. "They might think I was jealous because Weddigen fished up the diamonds while all I got was a handful of deck railing that well-nigh finished me," was his answer. "Yes, but you owe it to yourself and to the company," argued Dick. "Think how that bird may clean out the bunch again." Larry was shaking his head. "Never on your life. Remember, I'm always on deck when he's working below, and you can bet your bottom dollar I'll put him under my nice little X-ray every time he comes up again. No, sir-ee, fellows, I'm wise to that gink for all time. He may think he's slippery, but he'll find I'm the original slippery elm."