“Mr. Benson,” he said, in a deep voice full of regret, “I was the one in error. I am glad to admit it, even if tardily. Will you pardon my too hasty censure?”
“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 [pg 044] 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 shore, and rig winches to haul [pg 045] on extra cables. Altogether, we can give you a strong pull, sir.”
“That sounds like the best plan to me,” nodded Jacob Farnum. “I'll have a message sent at once for that towboat.”
A white-coated steward now appeared on deck, moving near the lieutenant commander.