“I was told that I would find a very young submarine commander here, but—”
“You didn't expect to find one quite as young,” Jack finished, smiling.
“No; I didn't. Mr. Trahern, I want you to know Captain Jack Benson, of the Pollard submarines.”
Ensign Trahern also shook hands with young Benson.
[pg 037] “And now,” went on the commander of the “Hudson,” “I think you may as well show us the way into the harbor.”
“You'll want to go at little more than headway, sir,” Jack replied. “The harbor is small, though there's enough deep water for you. In parts there are some sand ledges that the tide washes up.”
“I can't allow you to pilot us, exactly, but you'll indicate the course to me, won't you, Mr. Benson?”
The “mister” was noticeable, now. Naval officers are chary of their bestowal of the title “captain” upon one who does not hold it in the Army or Navy service.
At Mr. Mayhew's order the “Hudson” was started slowly forward, the searchlight playing about the entrance to the harbor.
“For your best anchorage, sir,” declared Captain Jack, after he had brought the gunboat slowly into the harbor, “you will do well to anchor with that main arc-light dead ahead, that shed over there on your starboard beam, and the front end of the submarine shed about four points off your port bow.”