"And he said—" began Jack, eagerly.
"Said he hadn't the least notion what I was driving at," returned Mr.
Mayhew, compressing his jaws. "And that was about every blessed word
I could get out of him."
Jack looked, thoughtfully, in the direction of Doctor McCrea for a few moments, before he broke forth:
"Doctor, if I had anything like your chance, I'll wager I'd have Sam
Truax talking in short order."
"How?" inquired Doctor McCrea, looking up with interest.
"Why, I'd—" Jack hesitated, glancing in the direction of the gunboat's commanding officer.
"I—I guess I had better go and see how the midshipmen are coming on," muttered Mr. Mayhew, rising.
Yet there was a twinkle in his eye as he turned away.
For some minutes Jack Benson talked with Doctor McCrea. That naval medical officer listened at least with interest. Finally, he began to grin. Then he roared, slapping his knees.
"Mr. Benson, there's one thing about you. You certainly are ingenious!"