Orders were then given to place the other dummy torpedo in the tube, and
this done, Jack took his place at the wheel, while Eph Somers and the
lieutenant stood outside. At the naval officer's direction Jack Benson
came up on the other side of the scow, about three hundred yards away,
with the nose of the "Hastings" so pointed that the torpedo dummy could
be delivered straight amidships.

At just the right moment Captain Jack passed the order to fire. Then he
watched the scow with a strange fascination. Danvers stood, watch in
hand.

"Now!" he shouted.

Barely two seconds later the second dummy torpedo rose, a few yards back
from the side of the scow.

"That torpedo struck, full and fair," nodded Lieutenant Danvers, turning
toward the conning tower. "Mr. Benson, if you always hit as full and
well, you'll be an expert torpedoist."

"Why, it's nothing but holding the nose of your own boat full on the
other craft, amidships, and the torpedo itself does the rest," uttered
the young submarine skipper.

"That's it," nodded Lieutenant Danvers. "But, when you're below the
surface, the problem becomes a harder one."

"But then I'd come up enough to use the periscope, and get the bearings
of the enemy's vessel," declared Benson. "Then I'd drop below, using
the compass for direction, and the number of motor revolutions to give