Great Caesar!" exploded Jack, realizing, now, what a narrow escape he
had had from another disaster to their common interests.

"So you be on your guard," Hal went on with his wise counsel. "No
one--at least, no one in your own crowd--doubts your grit, or your
willingness to clinch with Radwin and fight it out to a copper-riveted
finish. I don't blame you for wanting to thrash Radwin every time you
think of poor Dave Pollard up at the hospital. I want to do it myself.
Radwin didn't think fast enough, or he'd have sneered at you, and
provoked you into hitting him. That was why I grabbed your right
arm--to stop you. It'll come to Radwin before long, what a fine
chance he missed. Then he'll put himself in your way--when there
are witnesses around."

"Thank you, Hal," nodded Jack Benson, his voice unusually quiet. "You've
given me a good, big hint. I won't forget it. Until the tests are all
over Radwin may parade before me, and mock at me, if he wants. But
afterward--!"

CHAPTER XV

THE GOAL OF THE LIGHTNING CRUISE

On three different days, thereafter, there were various tests in which
the submarine craft entered, each striving for points and leadership.

On one of these days the event was firing with "dummy" torpedoes. This
work was carried on out in the bay. Then there were two other days of
firing, with actual, loaded torpedoes, the work, one day, being with
stationery naval targets. On the other day the work with loaded
torpedoes was directed against moving targets--perpendicular floats
towed by a tug with a very long hawser.

While some of the firing was done by the crews of the respective
submarines, a good deal more was performed by members of the naval board,
in order that the boats, rather than the crews, might be tested.

In each of these events the Pollard boats were the winners. At the
moving targets the Day Submarine took second place away from the Rhinds
boats; in the other events the Rhinds craft came in second, though
rather close to the records achieved by the Pollard submarines.

Farnum was elated, of course. So were his young officers. Lieutenant
Danvers, who was on board at each test, was also much pleased, though he
did not express it. The cheering news was taken to David Pollard, in
hospital, and greatly lightened his days of suffering and waiting.

And now, for two days, the grim-looking little submarine fleet had lain
at moorings. Not one was there among their cre