The Submarine Boys for the Flag by Victor G. Durham
CHAPTER XIII
COMMANDER OF A U.S. GUNBOAT!
"Lieutenant Benson, sir?" inquired a coxswain, saluting.
"Yes," replied Jack, returning the salute.
"The gig is waiting to take you to the 'Sudbury' sir."
This information was punctuated by another salute which Jack, as head ofthe party of three young officers, again returned.
"Lead the way," directed Jack.
For the third time saluting, the coxswain possessed himself of Jack'ssuit case and sword, then crossed the wharf to the landing stairsdown below, the gunboat's cutter waited, a natty little craft, occupiedby a bowman and four oarsmen.
The three young officers seated themselves at the stern of the gig.
"Cast off," directed the coxswain. "Up oars! Let fall! Give way!"
With the long, steady, magnificent sweep of the Navy which the sailorspulled, the little gig seemed to race through the water.
"Is that the 'Sudbury'?" inquired Jack, nodding toward a trim littlegunboat some two hundred feet long.
"Yes, sir."
All three of the submarine boys gazed at the gunboat with secretenthusiasm. Had it not been for the guns fore and aft, and at therail on either side, the "Sudbury" might have been mistaken for somemulti-millionaire's yacht.
In another moment the gig was making fast at the gangway. Then JackBenson stepped out, and, heading his comrades, went up over the side.
At the head of the gangway a corporal and four marines stood drawn up.At a low-voiced command from the corporal the marines presented arms,standing thus until the three new young officers, saluting, passed.
Just beyond the marines, stood an officer of the Navy. He brought hishand to his cap in a smart salute.
"Lieutenant Benson?" inquired this officer.
"Yes."
"I am Ensign Fullerton, executive officer of this vessel."
They shook hands and Jack presented his comrades.
"I think I had better show you to your cabin, sir," suggested EnsignFullerton.
"As you please," nodded Jack.
The way was actually led, however, by three of the marines, who, at aword from the corporal, had possessed themselves of the limited baggageof the new arrivals.
In Jack's cabin was a broad double berth, two deep wardrobe closets, abook-case, desk and several chairs.
"I had no idea junior officers had such roomy quarters," murmured Jack.
"They don't, usually, sir," smiled Fullerton. "But it's different, ofcourse, in the case of the commanding officer."
"But I'm not the commanding officer," gasped Jack.
"For the purposes of this cruise you are," smiled Fullerton. "But Iforget. You haven't received your orders. There they are on your desk.They arrived less than an hour ago by wire."
Like one in a dream young Jack Benson picked up a bulky telegraphenvelope and broke the seal. There, before his eyes, danced the wordsof the latest order from the Secretary of the Navy.
Lieutenant Jack Benson was directed to take command of the UnitedStates gunboat, 'Sudbury,' until further orders. Ensigns Hastings andSomers were directed to assume such duties aboard as were assigned tothem by Lieutenant Benson.
"I didn't expect this," stammered Jack. "I--I--we thought ourtemporary rank in the Navy was given us merely that we might have legalstanding in making one arrest that is wanted."
"No one ever does know just what is wanted of him, until the ordercomes," laughed Ensign Fullerton. "At least, that has been the casesince Mr. Sanders became Secretary of the Navy. He keeps all officerson the jump. But I guess that is what a good many of them need, sir."
As the Ensign appeared to be at least twenty-five years old thatrespectful "sir" struck young Benson's ear queerly.
"Pardon me, gentlemen, but be seated," suggested Lieutenant Jack,suddenly, as he realized that his chums and this one sure-enough navalofficer were all standing.
"You have been aboard naval vessels before, sir, haven't you?" askedEnsign Fullerton.
"Oh, yes; but never in the present way," smiled Benson.
"Then, no doubt, you understand, sir, that the 'Sudbury' is under steam,only awaiting your order to put to sea."
"The last part of these orders," replied Jack, picking up the telegram,"advises me that sailing orders will be wired soon."
"Then may I make a suggestion, sir?"
"Of course," nodded young Benson.
"At your direction I will have Mr. Hastings and Mr. Somers shown totheir cabins. Then I will send for the one other young man left ofthe gunboat's old equipment of officers, and present him to you. Afterthat I would suggest, sir, that I have the crew piped to quarters forbrief inspection by the new commanding officer."
Hal and Eph were quickly made acquainted with their own cabins, whichwere on the port side of the gun-deck, Jack's being on the starboard.
Ensign Fullerton brought in a slim, very erect young man in amidshipman's uniform--Mr. Drake, just out of the Naval Academy.
"Our engineers are all warrant machinists or petty officers; nocommissioned officers among them," stated Fullerton. "Our highestmarine officer is Sergeant Oswald. Besides the sergeant we haveeighteen other enlisted men among the marines. Here is the ship'scomplete roster," continued the Ensign, taking a document out of apigeon-hole over the young commander's desk. "And now, sir, shall Ipass the order for piping the crew to quarters?"
"If you will be so good," Jack nodded, rising.
At this moment Hal and Eph appeared at the doorway.
"Pardon me, gentlemen, for suggesting that you had better put yourswords on," suggested Fullerton, "Inspection of crew at quarters isabout to come off."
Hal and Eph vanished, but soon reappeared, wearing their new swordsand trying hard not to look conscious of the fact. Jack was engagedin adjusting his own side-arm to his belt.
"I neglected to state, sir," continued Ensign Fullerton, "that we haveno medical officer at present. A hospital steward down in sick bay isour nearest approach, at present, to a medical officer."
"Forewarned is forearmed," laughed Jack. "We'll try not to be ill."
It was time, now, to proceed to the quarterdeck; for, forward, theshrill sound of the boatswain's whistle seemed to fill the air.
Though all the crew, including the marines, had been summoned andformed at the mast, the inspection was but a matter of a moment. Itspurpose was more to give the crew a glimpse of their new officers.
Just as the inspection was ending, a marine of the guard approached,announcing in a low tone:
"Telegram for the commanding officer, sir."
Ensign Fullerton received it, returning the marine's salute, and passedthe envelope to Jack Benson, who opened it.
"Our sailing orders, Mr. Fullerton," announced Jack, as soon as theformer had dismissed the formation at the mast. "This telegram gives,as you see, the latest reported position of the schooner believed to bethe 'Juanita,' and her course. You will get under way at once, Mr.Fullerton. Then you and I will work out the course."
"This is the starboard watch, sir," continued the executive officer."Which officer is to command it?"
"Mr. Hastings. Mr. Somers will take the port watch."
"Very good, sir. And I would suggest, sir, that Mr. Drake is anexcellent pilot between here and the sea."
"Then direct Mr. Drake to take the bridge with the watch officer."
"Very good, sir."
"And, as soon as we are under way, Mr. Fullerton, come to my cabin andwe will figure out our course more in detail."
"Very good, sir."
It was Ensign Fullerton, who, acting as executive officer, transmittedthe needed orders to Hal, Eph and Midshipman Drake.
The three young officers now removed their swords, sending them by amarine orderly to their respective cabins. Hal took command from thebridge, subject to Fullerton's directions, while Jack, as commandingofficer, also took his station there briefly. Eph, being free to do ashe pleased for the tim
Quickly the "Sudbury" left her anchorage, proceeding downstream. As soonas the start had been fairly made Ensign Fullerton reported at thecabin of the young commanding officer. They worked out on the chart theprobable positions that the suspected schooner would take that afternoon.
"We should sight her at about five o'clock, sir, if she doesn't changeher course, and if the wind holds the same," said Ensign Fullerton.
"If we get the right craft, first off, it will be a short cruise, won'tit?" smiled Jack, rather wistfully.
"I--I--" began Ensign Fullerton, slowly, then paused.
"Well?" smiled Jack Benson.
"On second thought, I believe I had better not say what I started tosay," replied the ensign.
"Oh, go ahead, Fullerton," urged Jack. "It isn't easy to wound mysensibilities."
"I was going to say, sir," replied the Ensign, flushing a bit, "that Iquite understand how you feel about a short cruise. The sensation ofholding a command in the United States Navy is one that you would notcare to give up too soon."
"I was thinking of something of the sort," Benson admitted. "But--seehere! On one point my orders don't quite enlighten me. If the suspectedschooner proves not to be the right are we to come back to report thefact?"
"If you were so to order," replied Fullerton. "Yet you do not need to.This vessel is equipped with wireless, and you are in instantcommunication, at every moment of the day and night, with the NavyDepartment at Washington."
"I'm glad of that," admitted Lieutenant Benson, frankly. "It willlessen the danger of my making a fool of myself during my first and lastnaval command."
"Not your last command, I hope," remarked the ensign.
"The only way I could get a permanent command," retorted Jack, "wouldbe to get appointed to Annapolis, if I could, and then work through thelong, long years for command rank."
"There are other ways," replied Ensign Fullerton, quietly. "Andespecially, if a war should break out. Young men trained as finely asyou and your comrades, and showing as great talent, sir, would have nodifficulty in reaching important rank in a war of the future, when somuch must be risked on the submarine craft of which you young men aremasters."
"We have run a few submarine boats, I suppose," nodded Benson. "But noneof us has ever had the Annapolis training."
"Not all of the best American sea-fighters have come out of Annapolis,sir," replied Fullerton, soberly. "If a boy gets through Annapolisthere's nothing wonderful in his making a fairly good officer. Butmy cap, sir, is off to boys who can come through the ordinary machineshop and qualify themselves to command submarine boats or anything elseafloat!"
Then, dropping back to his ordinary manner, Fullerton saluted, nextleft the cabin to carry to the watch officer the orders for the course.
Lieutenant Jack Benson, briefly of the U.S. Navy, strolled out to theafter deck for a short promenade. Here he was joined by Eph Somers, who,in his naval uniform, did not forget to salute before accosting thecommanding officer of the U.S.S. "Sudbury."
"I'm really beginning to feel that I'm not dreaming," confided Eph,almost in a whisper. "Whee! but it's fine to be out on a craft so bigthat you don't get a cramp in your leg from walking! Say, do you know,Jack," he whispered, "I am almost crazy to see one of this ship's bigguns fired!"
"You may have your wish," laughed Jack. "Who knows?"
Who knew, indeed?
How was it possible, for that matter, for any of these three youngofficers to guess what lay ahead of them?