"No. Only a suggestion," answered the ensign, with an indulgent smile, as he noted the boy's confusion.
"Battleship signaling for motor boat and steamer to return, sir."
"Tell them we both will have to come in in tow, then."
"Orders for second steamer to tow us in, sir."
The ensign gave the order to the other steamer.
While all this was going on a whaleboat had run alongside the motor boat and had taken off the two men who had been left on her. They were more or less dazed, but not seriously hurt. A brief examination of the motor boat's engine developed the fact that the engine had been wrenched loose from its foundation. The nose of the boat had been badly smashed.
Dan was of the opinion, however, that the damage to the boat could be repaired in a day. Things were not nearly so bad as they looked to be at first glance.
The two disabled boats, towed by the steamer, made their way slowly back to the ship.
"This torpedo practice has been a fine piece of business," Dan confided to a shipmate. "It strikes me that this will be a good time to quit, or somebody will get hurt."
"I guess you are IT, then. You'll catch it when the captain sees his motor boat," answered the other, with a laugh.