Mr. Mayhew slowly manœuvred his craft, while men stood on the deck below, forward, prepared to heave the bow anchors.
“Go four points over to port, Mr. Trahern,” [pg 038] instructed Mr. Mayhew. “Now, back the engines—steady!”
Jack Benson opened his mouth wide. Then, as he saw the way the “Hudson” was backing, he suddenly called:
“Slow speed ahead, quick, sir!”
“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!”