“Williamson might get it into his head that I went below because I thought he was making a muddle of the speed. As a matter of fact, he knows every blessed thing I do about our motors, and Williamson is loyal to the core.”
“I know,” nodded Captain Jack. “I'd hate to hurt a fine fellow's feelings. Yet—confound it, I do want to win this burst of speed. It means, perhaps, the quick sale of this boat to the Navy. If we're beaten it means, to the Secretary of the Navy, that he already has our best boat, and he might not see the need of buying the 'Farnum' at all.”
“Give Williamson two or three minutes more,” begged Hal. “You might tell Eph, though, to repeat, and repeat, the signal for top speed. That'll show Williamson we're losing.”
Jack Benson walked to the conning tower, instructing Eph Somers in a low tone.
“I've signaled twice, since the first time,” Eph replied. “But here goes some more.”
“I wonder what's going wrong with our engines, then,” muttered Captain Jack, uneasily.
“It ain't in careless steering, anyway,” grumbled Eph. “I'm going as straight as a chalk line.”
[pg 158] “I noticed that,” Captain Jack admitted.
He continued to look worried, for, by this time, the “Pollard” was at least a good two hundred and fifty yards to the good in the lead.
“I'm afraid,” muttered Hal, rejoining Benson, “that I'll simply have to go below.”