But the gunboat could not be budged. She was stuck, stern on, fast in the
sand-ledge.
"Benson!" uttered the lieutenant commander, bitterly, "I congratulate you.
You've succeeded in grounding a United States Naval vessel!"
CHAPTER III: "YOU MAY AS WELL LEAVE THE BRIDGE!"
There was so much of overwhelming censure in the naval officer's tone that
Jack's spirit was stung to the quick.
"It's your mistake, sir," he retorted. "You didn't follow the course I
advised. You swung the ship around to port, and--"
"Silence, now, if you please, while men are trying to get this vessel out
of a scrape a boy got her into," commanded Mr. Mayhem, sternly.
Jack flushed, then bit his tongue. In another moment a pallor had
succeeded the red in his face.
He was blamed for the disaster, and he was not really at fault.
Yet, under the rebuke he had just received, he did not feel it his place
to retort further for the present.
Mr. Mayhew and Mr. Trahern conferred in low tones for a moment or two.
"You may as well leave the bridge, young man," resumed Mr. Mayhew, turning
upon the submarine boy. "You are not likely to be of any use here.
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