Word was immediately passed below, and all the cadets of the engineer
division came tumbling up.

To these, who had been in the engine room constantly for hours, the cool
wind blowing across the deck was highly agreeable.

For the speed dash Captain Jack Benson had again taken command. He passed
word below to Eph Somers to take the wheel in the conning tower.

Eph, therefore, came up with the last of the cadets from below. In the
excitement of the pending race it had not been noticed by any of the
submarine boys that Williamson was already on deck, aft. That left Sam
Truax below in sole possession of the boat’s engine quarters.

The gunboat now fell a little behind, leaving the two submarines some four
hundred yards apart, but as nearly as possible on a line.

“Look at the crowd over on the ’Pollard’s’ decks,” muttered Hal. “They’re
all Navy folks over there.”

“And they mean to beat such plain ’dubs’ as they must consider us,”
laughed Captain Jack, in an undertone.

“Will they beat us, though?” grinned Hal Hastings. “You and I, Jack,
happen to know that the ’Farnum’ is a bit the faster boat by rights.”

Suddenly the signal broke out from the gunboat.

“Race her, Eph!” shouted Captain Jack.