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.

The race was to be over at five o'clock. At half-past three, or four
hours and a half after the start, Jack found, by the help of the
rangefinder, that the Rhinds boat led by a mile and an eighth.