t itself. At its rear end
might be seen, in that brief glance, a propeller whirling so rapidly as
to cause the water to boil, the propeller being operated by a
compressed-air engine within the shell of the torpedo itself.

After righting itself the torpedo dived under the water several feet,
but its course could be followed by the foam it left in its path.

One of the dinghies, far out, lay too close to the course, the captain
thought.

"Signalman--where's that signalman?" he shouted.

"He's coming, sir."

Hickey's red head appeared through the open hatchway, followed by the
body of the limping Sam.

"Get on your station!" commanded the captain. "What's the matter with
you?"

"I got shot off the signal box, sir."

"Shot off the signal box!" grumbled the commanding officer, in a tone
of disgust. "Are you able to use the flag?"

"Yes, sir."

"Then signal that dinghy that they are in the path of the torpedo."

By the time Hickey had clambered clumsily to the signal box again, he
was too late to be of service. Fortunately the men in the dinghy had
seen the torpedo just in time. A quick pull at the oars had turned the
boat in such a way that the projectile shot past with only a few feet
to spare.

"She's heading very straight, sir," the executive officer informed his
superior.

"Yes; that's a fine run. But it isn't the fault of our signalman that
the torpedo didn't run down the dinghy. Hickey, that was about the
worst performance of its kind that I ever saw. See that you do not let
it happen again. If you do, I shall take you off signal work entirely."

"Aye, aye, sir," answered the Battleship Boy, whose face was now redder
than the shock of fiery hair that was standing straight up on his head.

"I'll show him," muttered Sam. "I'm a clumsy lummox, but I know my
business just as well as he does his. Wait till I get a chance to
wiggle this flag! I'll make those fellows out in the small boats think
they're getting struck by lightning. I'll----"

"Ask them if they can see the torpedo," broke in the voice of the
captain.

Sam set his flag dancing. The moment he began to work with it all his
nervousness left him. The red-headed boy was himself again.

"Steamer number one says they are after it, sir."

"Do they know where it is?"

"Yes, sir; they have it located."

"Did you see the way that man Hickey, handled the signal flag, Coates?"

"Yes, sir; I observed him."

"The boy is all right