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Rh came from the Naval Academy, and he used to be in charge of the Hydrographic Office, and I've heard he made a big thing of that."

"I see in another part of this paper that there were three hundred and fifty men on the pay-roll," said Captain Ponsberry. "If that's so, then only about a hundred of 'em escaped. It's the wust accident I've heard of since the sinking of that British warship the Victoria, which went down by being struck by one of her own fleet while off the coast of Tripoli. She carried about four hundred poor sailors down with her, and Vice-Admiral Tryon in the bargain."

A lively discussion lasting several minutes followed. The news was such that it would furnish talk, especially for sailors, for a long time to come.

But the work aboard the Columbia was not to be forgotten, and soon Larry was back at his post, trying to make up for lost time.