t waited alongside.

"I'm not going to stay. Just dropped alongside for a moment," explained
Danvers.

"I thought maybe you were coming on board so that we could go out on
some test," suggested Captain Jack.

"There are to be no tests to-day," replied Danvers.

"Then what's that craft of the Seawold Company doing down the bay by
herself?" Benson inquired.

"By Jove, she's going to have company, too," declared Eph. "There
goes the Blackson boat out."

"And, probably, you'll soon see the Griffith and Day craft get under
way," smiled Lieutenant Danvers.

"What does it mean?" insisted Captain Jack.

"That's the news," replied the naval officer.

Jack waited, somewhat open-mouthed.

"The fact is," continued Lieutenant Danvers, "such tests as we have
already had have been sufficient to eliminate four of the six contestants
for the favor of the Navy Department. This morning Captain Magowan, as
president of the board, received a telegram from the Navy Department to
the effect that four of the submarine types had been outclassed. The
contest now lies between the Rhinds and the Pollard boats."

"We've beaten the Rhinds boats, too," muttered Jack.

"Yes; though not by such large margins as to rule the Rhinds boats out
of all consideration," replied Lieutenant Danvers.

"So the Rhinds boat is to be our rival in future tests--our only rival?"
cried Jack, eagerly.

"Yes, and--not speaking as an official, Mr. Benson--I very much
incline to the belief that you can go on beating any one of the three
Rhinds submarines with either of the pair that you have here. But the
point is that the national government may prefer to have two types of
boats. It begins to look, as far as indications can point, as though
the Secretary of the Navy has some idea of ordering some Pollard boats
for the Navy, and also some Rhinds boats."

"I wonder if the Secretary of the Navy has heard anything about the
nasty way in which the Rhinds outfit tried to sink us at sea day before
yesterday?" muttered Captain Jack, half savagely.

"I imagine some word of the kind has gone on to the Navy Department,"
replied Danvers, "I really don't know though."

"That nasty trick ought to be enough to bar the Rhinds boats," grumbled
Captain Benson.

"But, you see, my dear fellow, there's just one trouble," answered the
naval officer. "Think whatever you may please about the guilt of Rhinds,
or of Radwin, or some one under them, but where's the proof