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