Jacob Farnum wished to keep on the pleasantest terms with these officers
of the Navy. At the same time he was man enough to feel determined that
Jack, whether right or wrong, should have a full chance to defend
himself.

"I understand, sir," began Mr. Farnum, "that you attach some blame in
this matter to young Benson?"

"Perhaps he is not to be blamed too much, on account of his extreme
youth," responded Mr. Mayhew.

"Forget his youth altogether," urged Mr. Farnum. "Let us treat him as
a man. I've always found him one, in judgment, knowledge and loyalty.
Do you mind telling me, sir, in what way he erred in bringing you in
here?"

"An error in giving his advice," replied Mr. Mayhew. "Or else it was
ignorance of how to handle a craft as large as this gunboat. For my
anchorage he told me--"

Here the lieutenant commander repeated the first part of Jack's directions
correctly, but wound up with:

"He advised me to throw my wheel over four points to port."

"Pardon me, sir," Jack broke in, unable to keep still longer. "What I
said, or intended to say, was to bring your vessel so that the forward
end of the submarine shed over there would be four points off the port
bow."