“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 to their cabins.  Then I will send for the one other young man left of the gunboat’s old equipment of officers, and present him to you.  After that I would suggest, sir, that I have the crew piped to quarters for brief inspection by the new commanding officer.”

Hal and Eph were quickly made acquainted with their own cabins, which were 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 a midshipman’s uniform—­Mr. Drake, just out of the Naval Academy.

“Our engineers are all warrant machinists or petty officers; no commissioned officers among them,” stated Fullerton.  “Our highest marine officer is Sergeant Oswald.  Besides the sergeant we have eighteen other enlisted men among the marines.  Here is the ship’s complete roster,” continued the Ensign, taking a document out of a pigeon-hole over the young commander’s desk.  “And now, sir, shall I pass 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 your swords on,” suggested Fullerton, “Inspection of crew at quarters is about to come off.”

Hal and Eph vanished, but soon reappeared, wearing their new swords and trying hard not to look conscious of the fact.  Jack was engaged in adjusting his own side-arm to his belt.

“I neglected to state, sir,” continued Ensign Fullerton, “that we have no medical officer at present.  A hospital steward down in sick bay is our 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, the shrill sound of the boatswain’s whistle seemed to fill the air.

Though all the crew, including the marines, had been summoned and formed at the mast, the inspection was but a matter of a moment.  Its purpose 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 passed the envelope to Jack Benson, who opened it.

“Our sailing orders, Mr. Fullerton,” announced Jack, as soon as the former had dismissed the formation at the mast.  “This telegram gives, as you see, the latest reported position of the schooner believed to be the ‘Juanita,’ and her course.  You will get under way at once, Mr. Fullerton.  Then you and I will work out the course.”