Eph remained at the wheel, steering steadily.  He carried the “Benson” past the gunboat’s bow, some seventy yards away.  A cheer went up from the sailors crowding forward on the gunboat’s spar deck.  The cheer would have sounded, no matter which submarine had won.

Then Eph cut a wide circle, coming back close to the gunboat.

“You win!” shouted an officer at the “Oakland’s” rail.

“Of course,” nodded Lieutenant Danvers, “But what distance?”

“The board allows you half a mile and a furlong.”

Captain Jack Benson, now that the strain was over, felt as though the platform deck were sinking under him.

“Let me have that wheel,” commanded Jacob Farnum, stepping forward.  “Jack, you and Eph, below with you!  Coffee, steak—­and anything else—­for all three of you youngsters!”

CHAPTER XII

LET A SAILOR STICK TO HIS DECK

It was after midnight when the “Benson,” first in, went to her moorings.  Grant Andrews and two of his men came on board, to stand guard over the little sea-terror.

It was after one in the morning when the Seawold craft strayed into port.  A little later came the “Chelsea” and the remaining submarine rivals, for the gunboat had stood by the slower ones in case aid of any sort was needed.

As the “Zelda” came to her moorings in the inky blackness John C. Rhinds stepped out upon her platform deck.  Rhinds, after his disappointment, looked like a very old man.  He paced back and forth, moodily, until his captain and crew had gone below.  Then Rhinds turned, with a half snarl, when Fred Radwin, after lighting a cigar, stepped outside.

“Feeling glum?” asked Radwin, stupidly, as he gazed at his chief.

“A fool question that!” snapped the older man.

“It is, rather,” admitted the younger man.

“Radwin, you’re an idiot!”

“Thank you!”

“You told me you had those three Pollard boys taken care of—­’canned’ was the word you used.  Yet, the first thing we saw, when we me out on the harbor, was those same boys, looking their finest.  And they went into today’s affair and beat us.  We’ve lost the speed and endurance test.”

“Those boys were trapped, all right,” protested Radwin, in a low tone.  “I can’t begin to imagine how they ever got loose again.”

“They got loose because you’re a fool!” raged the older man.

“I’m good-natured, Mr. Rhinds” cried Radwin, an ugly gleam coming into his eyes, “but I don’t stand everything.  You’ll need me yet so you’ll do well to keep a civil tongue behind your teeth!”

“Stop that!  Don’t try any mighty airs on me!” quivered Rhinds.

“Oh, blow off your steam, quietly, and then become reasonable,” yawned Fred Radwin.  “First thing you know, you’ll really make an enemy of me, and then the trick will be done, Rhinds.  For you need me.  Just now, you need me worse than you ever did in your life before.”