Part 12 (1/2)

It was the following ht, clear day, with a clean swept sky overhead, and seaward, the waves whipping up into smart little whitecaps under a brisk breeze Breakfast was over, the Boy Scouts'

bugle had sounded an asseerlyMr Barr's arrival and pero on board the _Peacemaker_

True to his promise, the inventor had decided to make the boys participants in the trial trip of the slate-colored diving boat

Presently he appeared, acco, laughing party was on board the _Peacemaker_, and half an hour after that she was pronounced ready for the start Mr Barr took his place in the conning toith Ensign Hargreaves beside hiine room, sullen and uncommunicative as usual Rob and Merritt were on deck with one of the sailors, delegated to the duty of casting off the diving boat's lines

At last ca tower:

”Cast off”

Rob seized a rope and cast off from the stern bitts, while the sailor performed the same operation at the bow

”Must we coh the open hatch of the conning tower

”Not yet; unless you wish to I will notify you before we dive,” was Mr

Barr's reply

”Goodness, I hope he doesn't forget,” said Rob laughingly, as the inventor turned on a switch and started the engines The cigar-shaped form of the craft trembled as the powerful twin propellers beat the water Then, handling as perfectly as a catboat, she backed slowly out of the shed and on to the open sea

Once outside the shed, her helmsman headed the craft about andon the deck, the sensation was a thrilling one Faster and faster the craft was driven till great clouds of spray co tower

Inside the boat the huines could be plainly distinguished Rob glanced at the speed indicator on the steel wall of the ”pilot house”

”Twenty-five knots! Phew! that's going soasped

”She can make thirty-two on the surface and twenty-one under water,”

said the inventor calmly

As he spoke, he drew a lever toward him and the _Peacemaker_ appeared to leap forward like a horse under the lash

Rob watched the handle of the indicator as it sped slowly around the dial Up and up it crept till it stopped at thirty-two knots and a half

”Jove! Barr,” exclain, ”this is the wonder craft of the century”

”I think I could get even ines,” was the confident reply

”This is fast enough for me, thank you,” said Rob to Merritt in an undertone