Part 6 (1/2)

All that would then remain to those aboard would be to take to the ocean

True, they had life-preservers aboard, and with these, officers and men could keep afloat

In the icy waters of a February night, however, with soh an ever-roughening sea, it was al them could hope to reach shore alive

Yet, desperately anxious as he was to know the news, Jack Benson did not desert his post by the steering wheel Soine room

So the naval lieutenant re, in those awful e

It ho presently ca up the stairs to report

”Mr Somers ordersin between two plates about twelve feet abaft of the bow, sir

But Mr So, we could run fortyhis friend's ability and good judgment as he did, Jack Benson stood ready to accept that report, without question But Lieutenant Danvers inquired:

”Did you see the leak, Ewald?”

”Yes, sir”

”What do you think about it?”

”Why, sir, I agree with Mr Soo down and take a look at the leak,” announced Danvers, slowly

”Then, while you're gone,” said Benson, ”I'll keep the searchlight steadily on what I can see of the top of that mast-stump”

”Why not keep on in toward the shore?”

”Because, sir,” and Jack's jaws snapped, ”if we've been insulted in this fashi+on by an old derelict, I don't believe in letting the old derelict get off so easily, sir”

Lieutenant Danvers knitted his brow, thoughtfully, as he hurried down the stairs, then folloald through a steel trapway into the cra

In three or four ht,” he said ”I can't see that the leak threatens to becoain”

”I believed it was all right,” the young captain replied, quietly, ”after having heard Mr Soether and adhed Danvers

”We've every reason to, sir We three have been trained together in this work No one of the three knows anything that the others don't,”

came Benson's matter-of-fact reply

”When I went below youthe derelict off too easily, Benson What did you et square with that old sunken hulk,”

retorted Captain Jack, wheeling around and eyeing the naval officer