Lieutenant Commander Kimball, hurrying from his cabin, had joined
Lieutenant Featherstone at the rail, the pretty girl slipping away to
join a group of civilians.
"What do you think of us?" called Jacob Farnum, a broad grin of delight
on his face.
"You'll do," admitted Kimball.
"Do you consider yourself sunk?" demanded David Pollard, laughingly.
"Theoretically, yes," assented Lieutenant Commander Kimball. "I wonder
if you could do it as well in war time?"
"Couldn't possibly do anything like it in war time," called back Captain
Jack Benson. "For, sir, you fly the Stars and, Stripes!"
That was a happy speech, delivered at just the right second. It set all
within hearing to cheering again. And then the thousands beyond caught
it up.
"I'll say this much," shouted back Lieutenant Commander Kimball, as soon
as he could make himself heard: "We'd rather have you with us, Mr.
Benson, than against us."
"You'll have your wish, sir, as long as I'm alive," Jack answered,
turning and lifting his hat in simple yet eloquent salute to the Flag
waving at the gunboat's stern.
All this time Hal Hastings stood by the deck wheel, one hand occasionally
straying to the engine room signal buttons, as he kept the "Benson" just
about a hundred feet from the gunboat and nearly abeam.
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