trage, and keep me strictly on the job of
vengeance!"

"I guess you youngsters have the winning fire all right, for to-day,"
smiled Jacob Farnum, grimly.

"Are you going to enter both boats in to-day's race?" asked Jack, more
thoughtfully.

"We can't," replied the shipbuilder. "Captain Magowan told me, last
night, that, since the Rhinds people and ourselves are the only makers
who have more than one boat here, today's race will be confined to one
craft representative of each make. So, which boat do you prefer to take
out to-day, Jack?"

"It doesn't make a bit of difference which one," returned young Captain
Benson. "Between the 'Hastings' and the 'Benson' there isn't a hair's
breadth to choose. But with either boat, sir, I believe that, to-day, we
can run any Rhinds boat off the surface of the ocean!"

It was all very good to have such confidence in their boat. Yet was it
to be justified?

* * * * * * * * * *

Almost immediately came the first blow. A telegram came on board,
addressed to Williamson. The latter's brother was seriously ill at home,
and the machinist had to leave at once, going north by the next train.
As it happened, the brother speedily recovered, but this incident for
the time left the Farnum forces the losers of a highly useful man in the
engine room.

CHAPTER X

JOHN C. RHINDS ADVOCATES FAIR SPORT!

Boom! From over the port rail of the "Oakland" a dense cloud of grayish
white smoke belched out.

Through it flashed a streak of red.

As the "Oakland" was the temporary flagship of this fleet of two
gunboats, this gunfire was the signal for the submarines to move on out
of the bay.

Lieutenant Danvers had already come over to the "Benson" from the
flagship. Danvers bore with him the orders of the naval board.
Moreover, the lieutenant was to remain on the Pollard craft that day.
Each submarine that was entered for the race had a naval officer on
board, who was to give directions, at need, and to act as judge of
conduct.

"Just get under way easily, and move out, Mr. Benson," advised Danvers.
"Eight or nine miles will be fast enough to go."

Jack and the naval officer stood by the platform deck steering wheel as
the "Benson" left her moorings.

Back by the conning tower stood Messrs. Farnum and Pollard. Eph was
below, until otherwise needed, to render Hal any necessary help in the
engine room.

"There goes the Rhinds boats" called Mr Farnum, as on