"At the command, the submarines will dash ahead at full speed, each making its best time. During this trial, which will end at the firing of a gun from the parent vessel, all cadets will be on deck."
Word was immediately passed below, and all the cadets of the engineer division came tumbling up.
To these, who had been in the engine room constantly for hours, the cool wind blowing across the deck was highly agreeable.
For the speed dash Captain Jack Benson had again taken command. He passed word below to Eph Somers to take the wheel in the conning tower.
Eph, therefore, came up with the last of the cadets from below. In the excitement of the pending race it had not been noticed by any of the submarine boys that Williamson was already on deck, aft. That left Sam Truax below in sole possession of the boat's engine quarters.
The gunboat now fell a little behind, leaving the two submarines some four hundred yards apart, but as nearly as possible on a line.
"Look at the crowd over on the 'Pollard's' decks," muttered Hal.
"They're all Navy folks over there."
"And they mean to beat such plain 'dubs' as they must consider us," laughed Captain Jack, in an undertone.
"Will they beat us, though?" grinned Hal Hastings "You and I, Jack, happen to know that the 'Farnum' is a bit the faster boat by rights."
Suddenly the signal broke out from the gunboat.