e lead is cast to determine the depth of water under the
ship.

"How much water have you?"

The leadsman made a cast.

"By the mark, ten," he called in a sing-song voice.

"Keep it going."

The ship was slowly drawing near a high, sandy bluff.

"By the mark, seven."

"Slow down both engines," commanded the captain. "Give us another
sounding."

"By the deep, six.... And a quarter, five."

"Seaman Davis signaling, sir," called Sam Hickey.

"What does he say?"

"Begging the captain's pardon, when he went out on the range he crossed
your present course. He says there is shoal water less than a fathom
deep three ship's lengths ahead of you, sir."

"How's your lead?" thundered the captain, turning to the men in the
chains below him.

"Quarter less ten," was the answer.

"That is plenty of water. No cause for alarm there. Tell the engineer
to go ahead."

The "Long Island" took a bone in her teeth at once, and began forging
ahead.

"Signals again, sir."

"What is it?"

"Signalman wig-wags that there is a deep hole about where you are now.
On the other side of it is shoal water."

"Back both engines, full speed!" commanded the captain with almost
explosive force. "Keep casting your lead! Tell me when she begins to
go astern."

"Aye, aye, sir."

"Do you know of any shoal in here, Lieutenant Douglas?" questioned the
captain of the navigator.

"No, sir; there is nothing on the chart to show it. I guess the boy is
in error."

"If so, it is the first time I ever knew him to be. Ah! What's that?"

There came a slight jolt, then a steadying of the ship.

"She's stopped, sir," called the man with the lead. "And a half, two."

"Is she backing?" The captain's voice showed deep concern.

"No, sir. She's aground, sir."

CHAPTER XIX

A TRYING MOMENT

"Keep those engines going full speed astern!"

There was an anxious look on the face of the commanding officer of the
battleship "Long Island," for it is a serious matter to run a ship of
the Navy aground.

Fortunately, however, owing to Dan Davis' timely warning, the ship had
drifted very slowly on the sand bar. Had it not been for that warning
the battleship would have dashed full speed into the shoal water, where
she would have stuck fast for many a day, even if she did not in the
end prove a total loss.

"We seem to be fast and hard, sir," announced the executive officer.

"I am afraid we are, Coates. It's too bad. How's