"I am, sir."
"Then you'll let me come aboard, just for a look, won't you?" pleaded the stranger.
Such curiosity was natural. The man seemed like a decent fellow.
But Jack shook his head.
"I'm sorry, sir, but I'm positive our owners wouldn't approve of our allowing any strangers to come on board."
"Had any trouble, so far, with strangers?" asked the man.
"I didn't say that," Jack replied, evasively. "But the construction of a submarine torpedo boat is a secret. It is a general rule with our owners that strangers shan't be allowed on board, unless they're very especially vouched for. Now, I hate to appear disobliging; yet, if you've ever been employed by anyone else, you will appreciate the need of obeying an owner's orders."
"You're under the orders of the boss of that gunboat?" asked the stranger, pointing to the "Hudson."
"On this cruise, yes, sir," Jack nodded.
"Maybe, if I saw the fellow in command of the gunboat, then he'd give me an order allowing me to come on board."
"I'm very certain the lieutenant commander wouldn't do anything of the sort," Benson responded.