"Yes; and the submarine needs to be as fast. With the improvement of submarine boats the old style of torpedo boat will pass out altogether. Then, if the destroyer is retained the submarine must be capable of attacking the destroyer on equal terms. Undoubtedly, after a few years more the river gunboat and the submarine torpedo boat will be the only small fighting craft left in the navies of the leading powers of the world." Even while this brief conversation was going on the speed of the "Dodger" had begun to increase again. Ensign Hasting's head showed through the opening in the conning tower. "We're going now at a twenty-knot clip, sir," Hal reported. "Do you wish any more speed?" "Not in Chesapeake Bay; navigating conditions are not favorable." "Very good, sir." Hal vanished below. Never very talkative, Hal was content to stand by his engines in silence when there was no need of talking. From time to time, as the craft sped on down the bay, Lieutenant Benson glanced at the chronometer beside the deck wheel. "You don't have the ship's bell struck on this craft, sir?" inquired Midshipman Darrin. "Only when at anchor or in dock," replied Lieutenant Jack Benson. "A submarine's natural mission is one of stealth, and it wouldn't do to go about with a clanging of gongs. Now, let me have the wheel, Mr. Darrin. You gentlemen go to the conning tower and stand so that you can hear what goes on below." While the three midshipmen stood as directed the speed of the "Dodger" slackened. Then, after a space of a full minute, the submarine returned to her former twenty-knot speed. "Did you hear any clanging or jangling of a signal bell or gong when the speeds were changed?" questioned Lieutenant Benson. "No, sir," Darrin answered. "That was because no bells were sounded," explained Benson. "From deck or conning tower signals can be sent that make no noise. On a dark night, or in a fog, we could manoeuvre, perhaps, within a stone's throw of an enemy's battleship, and the only sound that might betray our presence would be our wash as we moved along. Take the wheel, Mr. Farley." Then, after giving Farley a few directions as to the course to follow, Lieutenant Benson added: "Take command of the deck, Mr. Farley." "Humph!" muttered Dan. "The lieutenant doesn't seem to be afraid that we'll run his craft into any danger." "He knows as well as we do what would happen to me, if there were any disaster, and I had to explain it before a court of inquiry," laughed Midshipman Farley. "Hello! Who slowed the boat down?" Dan had done it, unobserved by his comrades, in an irrepressible spirit of mischief. He had reached over, touching the indicator, and thus directing the engine-room man to proceed at less speed. Dalzell, however, did not answer. "I'd like to know if the speed were slackened intentionally," fussed Farley. "Darry, do you mind going below and inquiring?"