is now!"

"Stand fast!" roared the boy.

Torpedo and motor boat were driving toward a point where they must
surely meet. Now Dan threw the speed full on.

Ere any of those wide-eyed observers realized what was occurring, the
crash came.

The prow of the motor boat and the nose of the torpedo met with a crash
that was heard far down the line. For a brief instant, projectile and
boat rose into the air like two locomotives in a head-on collision.

Dan Davis was lifted clear off his feet and hurled through the air,
head first, into the sea. The motor boat settled back and began
filling with water, half drowning the two stunned seamen who lay in the
bottom of the boat. The torpedo, however, like some living monster of
the deep, seemed to shake herself angrily, then she settled down and
shot forward, barely grazing the stern of the steamer.

Dan Davis' heroic effort had deflected the torpedo slightly from its
course, just enough to cause it to clear the little steamer, thus
saving the lives of at least part of the crew aboard her. A life ring
at the end of a rope brought Dan out of the salt water not much the
worse for his thrilling experience.

"How's the motor boat?" was his first question.

"Pretty hard hit, I guess," answered the ensign. "But that doesn't
matter."

The other steamer, having observed that an accident had occurred, put
on all steam and hastened to the scene of the wreck. About that time
some one discovered that the ship was making signals, and the ensign
asked Dan if he felt able to answer them.

For answer the lad asked for a signal flag. One was placed in his
hands, together with a spy glass.

"Battleship asking what the trouble is," he called.

"Tell them."

"Aye, aye, sir."

"And, while you are about it, you might tell them that Seaman Davis, by
his quick wit and pluck, saved the steamer and perhaps all our lives."

"Is that a command, sir?"

"No. Only a suggestion," answered the ensign, with an indulgent smile,
as he noted the boy's confusion.

"Battleship signaling for motor boat and steamer to return, sir."

"Tell them we both will have to come in in tow, then."

"Orders for second steamer to tow us in, sir."

The ensign gave the order to the other steamer.

While all this was going on a whaleboat had run alongside the motor
boat and had taken off the two men who had been left on her. They were
more or less dazed, but not seriously hurt. A brief examination of th