The mystery of that torpedo has never been officially cleared. In naval circles, however, there is no doubt whatever felt as to the guilt of Rhinds and Radwin; but it is also felt that both have been suitably punished for their dastardly conduct. The three Rhinds torpedo boats were seized, under court orders, and sold to satisfy the claims of creditors of the Rhinds Company.
The chauffeur recovered twenty thousand dollars damages through the attachment of Radwin"s funds and the subsequent civil suit. Besides which, after a few months, the chauffeur had practically recovered from his painful injuries.
David Pollard was out of hospital in three weeks. In twice that length of time he felt as well as ever.
Later on, the Pollard Submarine Boat Company received from the United States Government orders for eighteen torpedo boats in all, the "Benson"
and "Hastings" included. One of the new ones, under this order, was named the "Somers." The Navy has accepted all three names, and the boats are now known in the service by these names. Later on the fortunes of the three submarine boys were materially increased by these sales.
One of the first pleasures experienced by David Pollard, after his discharge from hospital, was that of joining the rest of the Farnum party in dining with the members of the naval board and the gunboat"s officers in the messroom of the "Oakland."
In the course of a little speech after dinner Captain Magowan referred in glowing terms to the splendid work of the submarine boys on that Lightning Cruise, and their success in being first to reach the derelict and torpedo it.
The president of the board was followed by Lieutenant Danvers, who, among other things said:
"The performances of Captain Benson and of his brother officers on the Pollard boats have, indeed, been wonderful. "Wonderful" may not be quite the word, but, at this moment, I am so carried away with enthusiasm that I cannot cruise about for mere words." (Laughter and applause.) "The other day, a naval comrade, in talking with me about the performances of Jack Benson and his friends, told me be considered them to be wizards of the deep." (More applause.)
"But I took exception to my comrade"s well meant remarks. A wizard, as we understand one nowadays, is a mere pretender, a sleight-of-hand man--a jack at cards. I would offer a more fitting t.i.tle--and in all sincerity--when I allude to Jack Benson, Hal Hastings and Eph Somers as the Young Kings of the Deep!" (Tremendous applause.)
Here we will leave the submarine boys briefly, but we shall come upon them again in their next succeeding adventures--adventures that make a fitting climax, in the next volume, which will be ent.i.tled: "_The Submarine Boys for the Flag; Or, Deeding Their Lives to Uncle Sam_."