"If you feel sure you can do it," replied the naval officer. "For that
matter, if you fail, there'll be one loaded torpedo left, and I can
take the second shot."

At a sign from the young skipper Eph hurried below, to relieve Hal
Hastings, who wished to see some of the fun. Hal came up into the
conning tower to take the wheel while Jack Benson slipped below to
direct the loading of the torpedo into the tube. Then Biffens, the
sailor, took his post by the firing lever, while Ewald stood back to
pass the word from the conning tower.

This loaded torpedo, like the dummies, had been set to run four hundred
yards. Captain Jack, therefore, determined to release the torpedo at
a range of three hundred yards.

The "Hastings" had drifted somewhat away from the scow, but Jack, one
hand on steering wheel and the other at the signals, ran the submarine
over so that he could head the craft around to deliver a broadside fire
at the scow, at right angles. When he had the "Hastings" in this
position he shouted down:

"Be ready, Ewald!"

"Aye, aye, sir!"

A breathless instant followed, during which the young submarine commander
took his last sight from the conning tower.

"Fire!"