use when I need any towing here.
Of course, I have the two torpedo boats, though their engines were not
constructed for towing work."

"May I offer a suggestion?" asked Jack, when the talk lagged.

"I'll be glad to have you, Mr. Benson," replied Mr. Mayhew, turning
toward the submarine boy.

"Flood tide will be in in about two hours and a half, sir," Benson
followed up. "That ought to raise this vessel a good deal. Then, with
the tow boat Mr. Farnum has mentioned, and with such help as the engines
of the submarines may give, together with your own engines, Mr. Mayhew,
I think there ought to be a good chance of getting the 'Hudson' afloat
with plenty of water under her whole keel. We can even start some of
the engines on shore, and rig winches to haul on extra cables.
Altogether, we can give you a strong pull, sir."

"That sounds like the best plan to me," nodded Jacob Farnum. "I'll
have a message sent at once for that towboat."

A white-coated steward now appeared on deck, moving near the lieutenant
commander.

"Is dinner ready, Greers?" called Mr. Mayhew.

"Yes, sir."

"Lay two more plates, then. Mr. Farnum, I trust you and your young
submarine commander will sit as my guests to-night."

This invitation the yard's owner accepted, asking only time enough to
arrange for keeping some of his workmen over-time, awaiting the coming
of flood-tide.

So, presently, Jack and his employer found themselves seated at table in
the gunboat's handsome wardroom. Besides the lieutenant commander there
were Lieutenant Halpin, two ensigns, two engineer officers and a young
medical officer. In the "Hudson's" complement of officers there were
also four midshipmen, but these latter ate in their own mess.

The time passed most pleasantly, Mr. Mayhew plainly doing all in his
power to atone for his late censure of the submarine boy.

Before dinner was over the small towboat was in the harbor. At the
coming of flood tide this towing craft had a hawser made fast to the
gunboat. With the help of some of the naval machinists aboard the
"Hudson," both submarine craft were also manned and hawsers made fast.
Two cables were passed ashore to winches to which power was supplied
by the shipyard's engines. When all was ready a mighty pull was,
given, the gunboat's own propellers taking part in the struggle. For
two or three minutes the efforts continued. Then, at last, the
"Hudson," uninjured, ran off into deep water and shortly