"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!"