"What does it mean?" insisted Captain Jack.
"That's the news," replied the naval officer.
Jack waited, somewhat open-mouthed.
"The fact is," continued Lieutenant Danvers, "such tests as we have already had have been sufficient to eliminate four of the six contestants for the favor of the Navy Department. This morning Captain Magowan, as president of the board, received a telegram from the Navy Department to the effect that four of the submarine types had been outclassed. The contest now lies between the Rhinds and the Pollard boats."
"We've beaten the Rhinds boats, too," muttered Jack.
"Yes; though not by such large margins as to rule the Rhinds boats out of all consideration," replied Lieutenant Danvers.
"So the Rhinds boat is to be our rival in future tests—our only rival?" cried Jack, eagerly.
"Yes, and—not speaking as an official, Mr. Benson—I very much incline to the belief that you can go on beating any one of the three Rhinds submarines with either of the pair that you have here. But the point is that the national government may prefer to have two types of boats. It begins to look, as far as indications can point, as though the Secretary of the Navy has some idea of ordering some Pollard boats for the Navy, and also some Rhinds boats."
"I wonder if the Secretary of the Navy has heard anything about the nasty way in which the Rhinds outfit tried to sink us at sea day before yesterday?" muttered Captain Jack, half savagely.
"I imagine some word of the kind has gone on to the Navy Department," replied Danvers, "I really don't know though."