The Dreadnought Boys in Home Waters

flection that in the event of the Seneca being badly damaged the lad he so disliked would lose his ber

on the edge of a sand bank. The tide, it had been ascertained, was rising, in itself a fortunate circumstance

ntly, "although I can't tell you[Pg 85] what an unspeakable

nd rivet from fore-peak to shaft tunnel has

thout summoning assistance, we may get by without

med Herc. "But say, Ned, have you do

inking! I've been doing not

know what

ificantly, with a glance at the steering-wheel

tly. Have you b

t they don't

t the[Pg 86] accident may not have bee

ere is one person on board who was quite willing to take

that

caught him in the wireless room tryi

that momentous encounter, being frequently in

ig, or at least keep him in his cabin for

of against the fellow. Suspicion

o knows th

g

h has powerful influences behind him. We don't

If I had y

't care if his father was Secretary of the Navy-yes, or President. A

ready

n's mate made t

wles. You may

man at the wheel to keep his helm hard over, he sent the si

machinery thrilled the hull of

g

elegraph over till little by little the pointer stopped a

ounce you've g

e escaping steam from the high-pressure boilers. The Seneca shook and trembled like a li

hat he had not been mistak

and liked and admired him on that account. Nobody attempted to check it.

," he muttered. "I didn't pile[Pg 89] her up quick enough. We

of the gunboat began to sl

moment cries announcing deeper and deeper water. Herc silently wru

and the gunboat was freed from her sandy

the waters ahead with keen eyes and directing the helmsman on his course. They reached open water w

g 90] been no serious results. But through the air came an order that caused Ned to thrill

lock Island, well out to sea with the Red Sq

e Red Fleet" to spy out and report the wh