In each of these events the Pollard boats were the winners.  At the moving targets the Day Submarine took second place away from the Rhinds boats; in the other events the Rhinds craft came in second, though rather close to the records achieved by the Pollard submarines.

Farnum was elated, of course.  So were his young officers.  Lieutenant Danvers, who was on board at each test, was also much pleased, though he did not express it.  The cheering news was taken to David Pollard, in hospital, and greatly lightened his days of suffering and waiting.

And now, for two days, the grim-looking little submarine fleet had lain at moorings.  Not one was there among their crews but wondered whether any further competitive tests were to be ordered.

There had been no more meetings, on shore, between the Rhinds party and our friends.  Radwin had hoped for such a meeting, for, as Hal had predicted, the dark-faced rascal had soon reasoned out that it would be an excellent thing to stop a few blows delivered by Captain Jack Benson.

But Farnum had kept his party on the “Benson” and the “Hastings.”

“Fred, I wonder whether we are going to have any more tests,” demanded Mr. Rhinds, as he and his secretary lingered over their breakfast at the Somerset.

“I wish I knew,” sighed Radwin.

“We’ve been beaten, a few points, by that Pollard crowd,” muttered Rhinds, his face lowering.  “But we’re not altogether walloped, Fred. The government is going to buy a good many submarine boats.  Now, it isn’t necessary for the government to have the boats all of one type, is it?”

“Of course not,” Radwin assented.

“Just so,” continued the older man, “now, we’ve made a pretty good showing, after all.  So I have already begun with some telegrams to the Senators and Congressmen of our state—­Oh, you mustn’t feel that you always have advance information on all I’m doing, young man,” chuckled Rhinds, noting the look of surprise in his companion’s face.  “I’ve started with our state’s members in Congress, and soon I shall begin to go at ’em harder.  Now, despite the fact that the Pollard boats have been able to gain a few points over us, I believe I can engineer matters so that the government will order two types of submarine, instead of one.  In fact, Fred, when the government gives out its big orders for submarine boats, I hope to land forty per cent., at least, of the business.”

Fred Radwin glanced cautiously around him, to make sure that no waiters stood within hearing distance.  Then he hissed, sharply: 

“Forty per cent. of the business, you say?  I still intend to land one hundred per cent. of the submarine business for our company?”

“How?” asked the older man, eagerly.

“I’ll think it over a while, before I tell you my definite plans.”

“Be careful, Fred,” warned Rhinds, “not to make any moves that will be our undoing!”