"Twenty-five knots! Phew! that's going some," he gasped.
"She can make thirty-two on the surface and twenty-one under water," said the inventor calmly.
As he spoke, he drew a lever toward him and the Peacemaker appeared to leap forward like a horse under the lash.
Rob watched the handle of the indicator as it sped slowly around the dial. Up and up it crept till it stopped at thirty-two knots and a half.
"Jove! Barr," exclaimed the ensign, "this is the wonder craft of the century."
"I think I could get even more speed out of her, but I don't wish to strain the engines," was the confident reply.
"This is fast enough for me, thank you," said Rob to Merritt in an undertone.
From the conning tower lens the Peacemaker appeared to be rushing between two solid walls of water, so great was the quantity of spray she threw as she was remorselessly driven through the choppy sea. Yet the vibration was not nearly as bad as might have been expected.
"Let's go below and take a look at the engine room," said Merritt.
"All right; but I'll ask Mr. Barr's permission first," was Rob's rejoinder.