“Gladly, sir,” Benson replied, gripping the proffered hand. Jacob Farnum
stood back, wagging his head in a satisfied way. It had been difficult for
him to believe that his young captain had been at fault in so simple a
matter, or in a harbor with which he was so intimately acquainted.

As for the young man himself, the thing that touched him most deeply was
the quick, complete and manly acknowledgment of this lieutenant commander.

“Mr. Farnum,” inquired the gunboat’s commander, “have you any towboats
about here that can be used in helping me to get the ’Hudson’ off this
sand ledge?”

“The only one in near waters, sir,” replied the yard’s owner, “is a craft,
not so very much larger than a launch, that ties up some three miles down
the coast. She’s the boat I use when I need any towing here. Of course, I
have the two torpedo boats, though their engines were not constructed for
towing work.”

“May I offer a suggestion?” asked Jack, when the talk lagged.

“I’ll be glad to have you, Mr. Benson,” replied Mr. Mayhew, turning toward
the submarine boy.

“Flood tide will be in in about two hours and a half, sir,” Benson
followed up. “That ought to raise this vessel a good deal. Then, with the
towboat Mr. Farnum has mentioned, and with such help as the engines of the
submarines may give, together with your own engines, Mr. Mayhew, I think
there ought to be a good chance of getting the ’Hudson’ afloat with plenty
of water under her whole keel. We can even start some of the engines on