Within a very few minutes more the "Pollard" was a mile off shore, heading almost due east and traveling at nearly her full speed.
"We'll see how fast you can log the knots off for an hour," proposed
Commander Ennerling, picking up a satchel that he had brought with him.
With McCrea's help he adjusted a patent log that he had brought along
with him, casting the line over the rail into the water.
"Now, let me know how soon you are ready to have the record of your speed begin," he suggested.
"Take the log from this minute," requested Captain Jack, for, as soon as he saw the Naval officers adjusting the log, he had quietly passed word by Eph to Hal Hastings, who was in the engine room, to crowd on every revolution of the twin shafts that the gasoline motor would stand.
For an hour there was nothing to do but to steer straight ahead. Part of the time some of the officers spent below smoking, though always at least one of them remained on deck, to make sure that the log record was not tampered with.
At exactly the end of the hour the indicator of the log was read off.
"Twenty-one and four tenths knots!" cried commander Ennerling, with an expression of amazement. "Whew! I knew we were traveling fast, but I didn't imagine we were doing quite as well as this."
"You're satisfied with your test, aren't you?" inquired Mr. Farnum.
"Yes, for the log was carefully standardized for us before we came."
Hal Hastings was called on deck to be complimented for this performance.