The "Thor" had headed off, after watching the explosion of the torpedo,
and was now considerably off the "Hastings's" port beam. The "Oakland,"
on the other hand, was heading up for an official view of what wasn't
there in the shape of a derelict.
As she came in close the gunboat sounded three long, hoarse whistles.
"There are your congratulations from the board, Benson," laughed the
naval lieutenant, then walked over to port. Jacob Farnum slipped out
on the platform deck to hear any hail that might come from Uncle Sam's
gunboat.
Danvers was no longer interested in the scene. Whatever was to come, he
felt, would be tame compared with what he had recently seen.
So he stood, looking out dreamily over the waters at port. He saw the
"Thor" head for the "Hastings," as though intending to come up. Then
she veered off, heading eastward. At this instant the naval officer
happened to have his glass to his eyes. He had just counted the number
of people in sight on the Rhinds craft.
"All but one of the Rhinds crowd on deck," thought Mr.
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