At the end of an hour there were drops of clammy ooze on Captain Jack's
forehead. He was steering as well as he had ever steered in his life.
Hal had sent up word that the "Benson's" engines were doing all that
could fairly be required of them.

That troublesome hour up, Captain Jack called to Eph to take the helm.

A few moments later the youthful commander appeared again on the platform
deck, carrying a range-finder on a tripod. Through the telescope he took
some rapid sights, then did some quick figuring. When he looked up
Benson saw Jacob Farnum standing within four feet of him. The
shipbuilder's face looked gray and haggard.

"How much?" asked Jacob Farnum.

"Shade more than a quarter of a mile in the lead of us, sir," Jack
replied.

"Have you been down to talk to Hal?"

"What's the use, sir?" demanded Jack. "Hal Hastings knows how much
depends on speed. He's doing everything that his engineer's conscience
will allow. Besides, David Pollard is there with him, sir."

"I've no orders to give," Jacob Farnum sighed, stepping back. "You
youngsters know what you're about, and how much depends upon our success
to-day."

Indeed, Jack Benson knew! As he silently took his place at the wheel