"Then he'd surely gobble you up!" laughed Lieutenant Danvers. "But be careful, lad! Don't let vengeful thoughts get into your head and stick to-day. You've got to keep yourself cool and your nerve steady. Look out, now, for the second gun!"
All five of the submarines were manoeuvering for the starting line.
Boom! The second gun roared out, and the six hours' speed and endurance test was on!
CHAPTER XI
THE STRAIN OF RED-HOT METAL
First over the line passed the "Zelda," but it was a fair get-away. How her propellers churned the foam now!
Just as it happened, and through no fault of handling, Jack Benson got the Pollard craft over the line third. At the outset, therefore, his boat was distanced some twenty-four seconds by the leader.
"Steady, now!" called Jacob Farnum, in low tones. "We've six hours in which to make up a few seconds."
If Captain Jack heard, he gave no sign.
For the next few minutes the youthful commander seemed to forget everything but the wheel under his hand, and the course and speed of the craft he commanded.