"Yes, yes, Benson. But the Navy Department always sends out a vessel fitted for such work."
"This is a submarine boat. We have one loaded torpedo left on board. Don't you think we answer the description of a vessel fitted for destroying a derelict?" smiled Captain Jack, coolly. "To say nothing of the itch, for revenge that we feel."
"It'll be a ticklish business," muttered Danvers, thoughtfully.
"So is a lot of the Navy's work, isn't it?" persisted Captain Jack.
"See here, lad, do you really mean that you want to make a sure-enough job of blowing up the derelict?"
"That's what I'm staying here for, sir," rejoined Jack, again swinging the searchlight. "And over there, three hundred yards yonder, I can still make out, once in a while, that bit of mast. What do you say, Lieutenant?"
"Why, if you boys have the grit to go ahead and tackle a job like that in the night, the Navy isn't going to feel chilled and run away," laughed Danvers, shortly. "Yet, my boy, do you think you fully understand the dangers of the undertaking?"
"I think I do," nodded Captain Jack.
"It's to be a duel between this submarine and the old derelict. You can't just hang off like this over here, and shoot at that mast. That wouldn't do any good."
"Yes, I know all that," said Jack, eagerly.