"Then you are particular. Perhaps you wish the command of a ship." And the senator smiled pleasantly. "I do wish the command of a ship--but the ship must be of my own designing." Senator Forbish could readily see that Oscar was not joking, and he asked the young man to explain himself, which Oscar did readily, for he knew the senator was a power, both in military and in naval circles. "And you say this boat will really work?" he questioned. "Yes. The model worked perfectly when we tried her in Long Island Sound." "Such a submarine boat would be far in advance of the others which we have lost." "She would be, and that would mean that she would also be superior to the submarine boats owned by our foreign foes." "Then you must press this matter upon Secretary Short by all means." "I shall do my best. But he may not be willing to listen to me. I understand he is very busy." "He is busy, but I will give you a letter to him which will insure you an audience." The senator was as good as his word. There was a stenographer and typewriter on the train and he dictated a letter and signed it without delay. When Oscar reached Washington he found the entire city in a state of suppressed excitement. The destruction of the American warships off New York Harbor was on everybody's lips, and many predicted that the United States would soon be at the mercy of her foreign foes. "And they will show us no mercy," they declared. "They are too anxious to see us broken to pieces. England will retake Canada, Mexico will go to Spain, Russia will cry for Alaska, with its gold, while France and Germany will want a slice of the Eastern coast and China and Japan a slice of the Western." When Oscar arrived at the office of the Secretary of the Navy he found the cabinet officials busy in the extreme. Naval officers, politicians and citizens looking after contracts filled the rooms and corridors, and clerks and messengers were coming and going constantly. "What is it you want?" demanded a clerk, as he met the young inventor at the inquiry desk. "I wish to see Secretary Short," was the answer. "On what business?" "That is a private matter." "The secretary is very busy to-day; better call to-morrow." "I think he will see me." And Oscar handed out his card. "Hum! Does he know you?" "No." "Then I think you are mistaken. Nearly all strangers must first go and see one or the other of his assistants." "Here is a letter of introduction from Senator Forbish," continued Oscar, with a quiet smile. The face of the clerk immediately changed color. "Oh--er--of course that makes a difference, Mr. Pelham. I will take your card and the letter to the secretary at once." The clerk dove through a swinging door and was gone the best part of ten minutes. "Secretary Short will see you at half-past three," he announced. "Be on time if you want to make sure of your interview, and boil your business down." "I'll be on time, never fear."