"What do you suppose is in the air, Jack?" called Mr. Farnum.

"I don't know, sir. But whatever it is, we're ready. We can start, on
anything, at the drop of a handkerchief. Gasoline tanks full,
compressed air by the cubic yard, storage batteries charged."

"It would be hard to catch you youngsters unprepared," laughed the
shipbuilder, appreciatively.

They were still on deck, waiting and wondering, when they saw the
president and secretary of the Rhinds company put off from shore in
haste.

"They don't mean to be left," sneered Eph.

"They're pretty badly left already," muttered Captain Jack, bitterly.
"They haven't beaten us, so far, by a single point."

"I suppose they're hoping they will to-day, whatever the test is to
be," muttered Hal Hastings.

Fifteen minutes more passed. Then a little flock of six-oared cutters
left the side of the gunboat "Oakland." In the stern-sheets of each
cutter sat a naval officer in uniform.

"There's Lieutenant Danvers," cried Jack, eagerly. "He brings us our
instructions, whatever they are."

In a few moments more Danvers was along side, making his way up to the
platform deck. In his right hand Danvers carried an official looking