“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.