he side, sailors manned the gangway, two on each
side, as befitted the rank of the officers visiting the ship.

With this inquiry no one except the captain and his executive officer
had anything to do. The board of inquiry assembled in the reception
room at the stern of the ship below, where they went into executive
session, taking the evidence of the captain, the executive officer, and
later the testimony of the navigator, who, by his charts, proved that
the shoal had been indicated on none of them.

Dan was summoned to the court after the evidence had been taken. He
was a little excited, because he feared that his evidence would count
against the captain; but he entered the room with confident, easy
bearing and stood awaiting the command of the president of the court.

Dan gave his name and rating in the service. The officers were struck
with the clean-cut face, the intelligent eye and the steady nerve of
the young seaman. There was approval of his type in every face there,
but no one was more proud of the Battleship Boy than was the captain.

To all the questions put to him by the board of inquiry the lad gave
quick, comprehensive answers. He volunteered no information of his own
accord, merely answering the questions that were asked of him. He told
of having discovered the shoal water, and of measuring the depth with
his eye.

"How did you happen to discover that the water was shoal!" questioned
one of the officers.

"From the color of it, sir."

"How long have you been in the service, did you say?"

"Nearly a year, sir."

"Did you volunteer to testify before this court?"

"I did not, sir."

"It is at my suggestion to you that the lad has been called here,"
spoke up the captain. "He was unaware that he was to testify, until
you sent for him."

"You saw that the ship was headed directly for the shoal?" asked one of
the officers, addressing Davis.

"Yes, sir."

"And you signaled them of their danger?"

"Yes, sir."

"Could the shoal water not be seen from the bridge of the ship, do you
think?"

"I was not on the bridge, sir. I could not say. From the direction of
the sun I should say the whole bay looked alike, judging from my
observation when I have been up there, sir."

"Very good."

The officer was seeking to draw out the Battleship Boy to serve some
purpose of his own.

"Why did you not notify the ship at once of your discovery?"

"I did not feel at liberty to do so, sir. I co