"This is the information I have from the naval officer. You can see how urgent the job is. That sunken U-boat is guarded night and day by American war vessels ever on the alert. The exact spot where she lies on the bottom is known and guarded like the gold in the United States Treasury vaults. "And now I wish you 'bon voyage,'" concluded the superintendent as he shook hands with the two lads. "You will go out this afternoon with Captain Austin on the _Nemo_; and, don't forget, when you come back the _Jules Verne_ will be waiting for you." Elated with the prospects of a new venture of such an important character, Jay and Dick arose to go, telling Captain Austin they would report immediately aboard the _Nemo_ and make ready to depart for the trip down the coast to Cape May. "Better luck to you this time, Mr. Thacker," called out the yard superintendent. "Thanks, Mr. Brown. I sincerely hope so," the youth replied. Jay turned and opened the door of the superintendent's office. As he stepped into the hallway he came face to face with Carl Weddigen. For an instant the latter seemed embarrassed, but quickly regained his composure. "How are you, fellows! Is Captain Austin in there with the superintendent?" he asked imperiously. Dick replied that he was, whereupon Weddigen coolly declared he would wait where he was until the captain came out. The boys hurried along leaving the diver still standing outside the superintendent's office. "Funny thing how he happened to be standing around like that," remarked Dick as they let themselves out of the administration building. "Funny is right," countered Jay. "Looks as though he might have been spying around or trying to horn in where he hadn't been invited. I've seen enough to know what kind of a chap he is and I'm here to say I don't think he wanted to see Captain Austin at all. That was only a bluff. I'll bet he was listening in on us while 'Montey' Brown was giving us the dope on that U-boat." "So!" whistled Dick. "All right, we have his number right now. If he is going along to Cape May--look out!" CHAPTER IX FOUND--ONE U-BOAT! Cape May Light loomed in the distance like a lone sentinel of the night. At intervals of ten seconds its long penciled rays shot out over the ocean as the giant electric beacon oscillated in its rhythmic swing around the horizon. Dimly in the distance were reflected the lights along the boardwalk of the seashore resort, and far off toward the north the faint blur against the night skyline marked the spot where Wildwood nestled on the sands. The _Nemo_ rode at anchor on the smooth summer sea. To starboard lay a trim little United States destroyer that had stood guard for days over the submerged U-boat. Here and there on the surface of the sea could be seen the outlines of a submarine chaser, a fleet of them having come out to welcome the newly arrived salvage ship.