CHAPTER III: “YOU MAY AS WELL LEAVE THE BRIDGE!”
There was so much of overwhelming censure in the naval officer's tone that Jack's spirit was stung to the quick.
“It's your mistake, sir,” he retorted. “You didn't follow the course I advised. You swung the ship around to port, and—”
“Silence, now, if you please, while men are [pg 039] trying to get this vessel out of a scrape a boy got her into,” commanded Mr. Mayhem, sternly.
Jack flushed, then bit his tongue. In another moment a pallor had succeeded the red in his face.
He was blamed for the disaster, and he was not really at fault.
Yet, under the rebuke he had just received, he did not feel it his place to retort further for the present.
Mr. Mayhew and Mr. Trahern conferred in low tones for a moment or two.
“You may as well leave the bridge, young man,” resumed Mr. Mayhew, turning upon the submarine boy. “You are not likely to be of any use here.”
As Jack, burning inwardly with indignation, though managing to keep outwardly calm, descended to the deck below, he caught sight of Hal Hastings, hovering near in the rowboat. Hal signaled to learn whether he should put in alongside to take off his chum, but Benson shook his head.