"Hold him please, until I can have the wretch taken care of," requested
Captain Jack, making for the spiral stairway to the conning tower.
Just as the young skipper stepped out on deck he heard the "Hudson's" bow-gun break out sharply in the halting signal.
Taking a megaphone, Benson stood at the rail until the gunboat ranged up alongside.
"Have you broken down?" came the hail from the gunboat's bridge.
"I thought it best to stop speed, sir. We'll have to look over our engines before it will be safe to attempt any more speed work," Captain Jack answered. "I've caught a fellow tampering with our machinery. We hold him a prisoner, now. Can you take him off our hands, sir?"
"One of your own men?" came back the question.
"Of course, sir."
"We'll send a marine guard to take him, on your complaint, Mr. Benson."
"Thank you, sir."
The gunboat's engines slowed down. Ere long her port side gangway was lowered. Jack saw not only two marines and a corporal come down over the side, but Lieutenant Commander Mayhew appeared in person. That officer came over in the cutter.