"They're pretty badly left already," muttered Captain Jack, bitterly.
"They haven't beaten us, so far, by a single point."
"I suppose they're hoping they will to-day, whatever the test is to be," muttered Hal Hastings.
Fifteen minutes more passed. Then a little flock of six-oared cutters left the side of the gunboat "Oakland." In the stern-sheets of each cutter sat a naval officer in uniform.
"There's Lieutenant Danvers," cried Jack, eagerly. "He brings us our instructions, whatever they are."
In a few moments more Danvers was along side, making his way up to the platform deck. In his right hand Danvers carried an official looking sealed envelope.
In his eager curiosity Jacob Farnum extended a hand to take the envelope, but Danvers drew it back.
"Pardon me," murmured the shipbuilder, confusedly. "I should have known better. The communication is, of course, for the captain."
Danvers turned the envelope over to Captain Jack Benson, who broke the seal, drawing out the paper enclosed. This is a part of what the submarine boy read aloud:
"'The Navy Department has just reported, by wireless, that a semi-submerged derelict, evidently that of a three-master schooner, is drifting in the paths of navigation at a point 385 miles southwest by south of this present station. The Department suggests that it would afford an example of practical use for submarines, if those now on this station would accompany a gunboat, at full speed for cruising, and attempt to discover and blow up this derelict.'"
"Great!" glowed Eph. "I vote for it."