By the time that I knew it, he was
acting. So I held my peace, for, if Benson had failed--well, nothing
would have mattered much--then!"
In a few more crisp, swift sentences; Danvers told the rest of it
adding:
"It was Benson's quick coolness that saved us all from going skyward."
"No, it wasn't," broke in the youthful skipper, decisively. "It was Hal,
who was right by his engines, who saved us. Had he acted on the signal
a second and a half later that torpedo would have struck us plumb and
fair."
"But who could have let a torpedo loose in that fashion?" stammered
Farnum. "What accident--"
"Accident!" broke in Jack, sneeringly.
"Accident!" repeated Danvers, scornfully.
"Well, then, how--"
"Mr. Farnum," broke in Jack Benson, sternly, "that torpedo was fired by
design, with intent to sink us!"
"What? Who--"
"I can't make any positive charge," it was Lieutenant Danvers's turn to
say. "But I can offer certain evidence that I'll stick to anywhere.
Just a few seconds before that torpedo got so close to us I was noting
the Rhinds boat, the 'Thor.
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