How the "Hastings" seemed to crawl over the last of the intervening water space! Yet Hal realized, if Jack did not, how swiftly the submarine was racing.
"Five hundred yards!" clicked Jack, and stepped inside the conning tower, snatching up a megaphone.
Four hundred and fifty—four hundred—three-fifty—three-twenty-five!
"Fire!"
That last word was bellowed below through the megaphone. Jack, his eyes staring forward, saw something leap near the bow, and saw an upward dash of spray. The torpedo had left the tube.
"Hard-aport, Eph! Swing her right over. So!"
From his own post in the conning tower Benson signaled for slow speed, now. It would never do to stop the overheated engines utterly. Besides, seaway was needed, with the rival craft coming up behind.
His work in the conning tower done, Captain Jack sprang out on the platform deck, bounding beside Lieutenant Danvers at the starboard rail. Through the manhole opening of, the tower the shipbuilder soon thrust his uncovered head.
Was the torpedo, so carefully aimed, going to strike and do its work?