"Thank you, my lad. A board of inquiry will sit and pass upon the
accident. That will, no doubt, be done within the next twenty-four
hours. Other ships of the fleet will be in this afternoon, and the
court will probably sit early to-morrow morning."

"And now, my lad," continued the captain, "I wish to express my deep
appreciation for what you have done."

"I have done nothing, sir, except my duty, and I am not sure but that I
have exceeded the limits of good discipline in that."

"By no means. Had you not done as you did the 'Long Island' would have
driven full speed on the sand bar. She would be there still; she might
have been there for many days to come; in fact, it might have meant the
loss of the battleship. The Navy Department and the commanding officer
of this ship owe you a heavy debt of gratitude, Seaman Davis. I can
show my appreciation only by recommending you to the Department at the
present moment. They possibly may show theirs in another way, and then
I shall be able to do more for you."

"Thank you, sir. I am not looking for rewards. I am trying to do my
duty, to serve my country and my Flag to the best of my ability."

"Davis, you are a splendid fellow," said the captain, rising and
grasping the Battleship Boy by the hand impulsively. "Go on as you
have been going, and there is little doubt as to what the outcome will
be. Rest assured that I shall leave nothing undone that I can do,
consistently with good discipline, to further your interests. I hear
you have been chosen for the racing crew," added the commanding officer
with a twinkle in his eyes.

"Yes, sir; that is, I am to be tried out, myself, and also my chum, Sam
Hickey."

"I have no doubt that you will do well. It will be a splendid thing
for you, giving you a new viewpoint from which to look upon the life of
the sailor in Uncle Sam's Navy. I may have something further to say to
you later on. That will be all for the present."

Dan saluted and left the captain's quarters.

The boy said nothing of what had been discussed in the captain's cabin.
Not even to his own chum did he repeat a word of it.

On the following morning a board of inquiry which had been ordered at
once by the Navy Department convened on board the "Long Island" in full
dress. The court consisted of the captains and commanders of other
ships of the fleet.

The ship's company were in their best clothes for the occasion. As the
officers came over t