bout, and how much depends upon our success
to-day."

Indeed, Jack Benson knew! As he silently took his place at the wheel
again deep lines appeared in his youthful face. He knew, this forenoon,
what it meant to suffer.

At the end of the second hour, Jack again called Eph to take a short
relief trick at the wheel. But Jack, instead of resting, promptly
placed the range-finder. As he tried to adjust the telescope the
submarine boy's hands shook. Jack glanced over at Lieutenant Danvers,
cool and impassive. Danvers knew all about working that range-finder.
But the naval officer was aboard as an official spectator. If the
lieutenant aided in any way, then the Pollard submarine would be
disqualified.

Jack's work was more slow, this time. It was some moments before he had
the new range figured out.

"How far astern of the 'Zelda' are we now?" called Jacob Farnum.

"A shade over a half a mile."

"Whew! And the race only a third run."

"In other words," went on the young captain, "the Rhinds boat is gaining
steadily on us at the rate of a quarter of a mile an hour. Not much,
yet enough to win the race beyond any dispute."

"Can't we catch up over that distance?" asked Jacob Farnum.

"Not now, anyway, sir."

Jack went back beside the wheel. Somehow, he did not feel like taking
the spokes into his own hands. Instead, he wheeled, silently, going
back, through the conning tower, and down to the engine room.

"How do we stand with the Rhinds craft?" asked David Pollard, who sat
on one of the cushioned seats in the engine room.

"Half a mile behind, sir."

Pollard got up slowly, then went through and up the stairs to the deck.

For some moments Hal and Jack talked together, in low tones. Both
looked rather glum, until Hal suggested something that sent a little
ray of hope into Benson's eyes.

"We'll see," muttered the young captain. "It looks like a forlorn hope,
though, Hal."

At the end of the third hour the "Zelda" had added another quarter mile
to the lead, while the "Oakland" showing the way, was a good mile ahead
of the foremost racer.

When four hours had gone by the Rhinds boat was discovered to be just
about a mile ahead of her nearest competitor. The Seawold boat, third
in line, was half a mile behind the "Benson," and the Blackson boat, last
of all, was two miles behind the Pollard boat's stern. But Jack and
his friends had long ago ceased to feel any interest in the tail-enders.