"I wish I knew what it was," muttered Rhinds.
"That's just the way every man-jack aboard the submarine boats is
feeling about it," jeered Radwin. "Jove, I hope the test, to-day, is
one in which we stand a chance to beat the Pollard crowd!"
Jacob Farnum had just started from the "Hastings," in a shore boat, when
the first gun boomed forth. The shipbuilder had been on his way to see
his friend, at the hospital, when he heard the first gun. Stopping the
rowers, he quickly comprehended when the whistle blasts started. He
accordingly directed that he be put back alongside the "Hastings."
Jack, Hal and Eph had come tumbling up on deck at the first realization
of the signal. Grant Andrews and his men were no longer on board,
having gone, at daylight, 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,
compressed air by the cubic yard, storage batteries charged.
Pages:
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170