Part 24 (1/2)
”Nor have you beaten the Pollard crowd at any point along the road, that I can remember”
”Wait!” retorted Radwin,fro roounfire from the bay
”What's that?” demanded Radwin ”I want to hear the rest of that!”
He hurried through the dining roooes,” he cried, as Rhinds, puffing so whistles, followed by--wait!”
As the whistling ceased another gun boonal, to call all hands back who belong on subet our hats and coats, and hustle down to the water front”
Radwin, had in truth, read the signal aright It was the signal that the naval board had announced in case, at any time, there should be sudden, official news for the officers and crews of the rival submarines
”What can it be, I wonder?” pondered John Rhinds, as they hurried through a street that led to the pier
”Probably some test in which the board wants us to start without any preparation,” replied Radwin
”I wish I knehat it was,” muttered Rhinds
”That's just the way everyabout it,” jeered Radwin ”Jove, I hope the test, to-day, is one in which we stand a chance to beat the Pollard crowd!”
Jacob Farnus,” in a shore boat, when the first gun boomed forth The shi+pbuilder had been on his way to see his friend, at the hospital, when he heard the first gun Stopping the rowers, he quickly coly directed that he be put back alongside the ”Hastings”
Jack, Hal and Eph had conal Grant Andrews and his ht, to their boarding house on shore
”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, coed”
”It would be hard to catch you youngsters unprepared,” laughed the shi+pbuilder, 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,” s
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 uniforerly ”He brings us our instructions, whatever they are”
In a fewhis way up to the platfor sealed envelope