“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.”

“What did you hear Mr. Benson say, Mr. Trahern?” demanded the gunboat’s
commander, turning to the ensign who had stood with him on the bridge.

“Why, sir, I understood the lad to say what he states that he said.”

“You are sure of that, Mr. Trahern?”

“Unless my ears tricked me badly,” replied the ensign, “Mr. Benson said
just what he now states. I wondered, sir, at your calling for slow speed
astern.”

Lieutenant Commander Mayhew gazed for some moments fixedly at the face of
Ensign Trahern. Then, of a sudden, the gunboat’s commander, who was both
an officer and a gentleman, broke forth, contritely:

“As I think it over, I believe, myself, that Benson advised as he now
states he did. It was my own error—I am sure of it now.”

Wheeling about, Mayhew held out his right hand.

“Mr. Benson,” he said, in a deep voice full of regret, “I was the one in
error. I am glad to admit it, even if tardily. Will you pardon my too
hasty censure?”