was noticeable, now. Naval officers are chary of their
bestowal of the title "captain" upon one who does not hold it in the Army
or Navy service.

At Mr. Mayhew's order the "Hudson" was started slowly forward, the
searchlight playing about the entrance to the harbor.

"For your best anchorage, sir," declared Captain Jack, after he had
brought the gunboat slowly into the harbor, "you will do well to anchor
with that main arc-light dead ahead, that shed over there on your
starboard beam, and the front end of the submarine shed about four points
off your port bow."

Mr. Mayhew slowly manoeuvred his craft, while men stood on the deck below,
forward, prepared to heave the bow anchors.

"Go four points over to port, Mr. Trahern," instructed Mr. Mayhew. "Now,
back the engines--steady!"

Jack Benson opened his mouth wide. Then, as he saw the way the "Hudson"
was backing, he suddenly called:

"Slow speed ahead, quick, sir!"

"You said--" began Mr. Mayhew.

Gr-r-r-r! The stern of the gunboat dug its way into a sand ledge, lifting
the stern considerably.

"Slow speed ahead!" rasped Lieutenant Commander Mayhew, sharply.

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."

As Jack, burning inwardly with indignation, though managing to keep
outwardly calm, descended to the deck below, he caught sight of Hal
Hastings, hov