itions at the
end of the course. They, being of lesser draught, could get in closer
to shore and could get the torpedo out in case it drove into shallow
water as before.

Near by lay steamer number two with twelve men and an ensign on board.
Both the motor boat and the steamer cruised slowly about while waiting
for the red flag to go up on the signal halyard, warning them that
another shot was about to be fired.

"Lay back farther," came the signal from the battleship.

"Motor boat or steamer?" wig-wagged Dan.

"Both."

"Steamer there!" called Dan.

"Aye, aye."

"Battleship orders you to lay back farther, and to keep off the course."

The steamer shifted its position, and Dan's boat pulled farther away,
at the same time moving off a little more toward the shore. The two
boats were now on opposite sides of the course that the torpedo was
expected to travel, though one can never be sure just where these
instruments of war are likely to go.

"Battleship under way," signaled Dan to the other small boats out on
the field.

For a time he watched the warship that was heading for the other side
of the bay. Finally the ship turned and started back, with a big,
white "bone between her teeth," as the saying goes when a ship is
plowing up the sea.

"Red flag going up," called the signal boy. "Wherry, there, ordered to
lay to starboard of the target," he signaled to the little boat dancing
on the waves half a mile away.

The small boat quickly took its position as ordered from the ship.

The siren blew a long blast, and with eyes turned toward the ship, all
the boat crews pulled back to a safe distance.

"Torpedo on the way," signaled Sam Hickey from his position on the ship.

"Torpedo under way," wig-wagged Dan Davis to the other boats. "Get
under way, the battleship signals," he told the little fleet.

At the same time the motor boat started along the course that the
torpedo was expected to follow, the small steamer a little in the lead.

"She's running close to the surface," muttered the Battleship Boy,
watching the projectile. "I can see the water spurting from her bows.
She'll never complete the run."

He turned to look at the steamer. He observed that she was at right
angles to the course.

"Sheer off! Sheer off!" shouted Dan. "You're right on the course.
You'll be hit!"

"We're disabled. Motor boat, there!" shouted the ensign in the small
steamer.

"Aye, aye, answered Dan.

"Lay over a