nd help us out. We've thrown our propeller."

"Full speed ahead. May I take the tiller?"

The acting coxswain good-naturedly stepped aside, Dan taking the
steering wheel of the motor boat from his hands.

The lad's eyes traveled rapidly from the advancing torpedo to the
steamer that was rolling on a heavy swell, her crew of more than a
dozen men leaning over the side, straining their eyes to make out the
torpedo.

"She's going to strike us, sir," shouted the coxswain.

"Can't help it," answered the ensign. "All hands be ready to go
overboard when I give the command. Some of us will be caught. We
don't know where she is going to hit us."

The officer knew that only a miracle could save some of his crew from
being crushed to death when the heavy torpedo struck the little
steamer. To move the men to safe parts of the boat was not possible,
for it was impossible to say where the projectile would strike.
Perhaps she might change her course and not hit them at all. That
seemed to be the only hope now.

Turning their eyes, they saw the motor boat smashing through the sea,
throwing the water high from her bows. Dan Davis was leaning well
forward, one hand on the steering wheel, the other on the engine
control, his eyes watching the torpedo and the steamer.

Now he would slow down ever so little, then drive ahead at full speed,
as if jockeying to cross the line in an international race.

The ensign was watching him with fascinated interest. He knew that the
boy had some daring plan in mind, but what that plan was he could not
understand. The officer was on the point of shouting to the Battleship
Boy to turn in and push them out of the way, but he refrained.

Dan had thought of this very thing, but he knew the chances were
against his being able to do so. He chose a bolder and more brilliant
way of saving the boat's crew, or of trying to save them.

The engineer of the motor boat was under the hood watching the engines.

"Get out of there quick!" commanded Dan.

The engineer came tumbling out from his cramped quarters.

"What--what----" he exclaimed.

"Keep still! Don't talk to me. All hands hold fast, for something is
going to happen in a minute."

At that instant the lad swung the bow of his boat about, heading it
directly toward the course of the advancing torpedo.

"Look out! You'll run into her!" yelled the engineer. "Don't you see
she's just under the surface. She'll be on top--there she