"
"We shall soon know, sir, anyway."
It is probable that Eph was disappointed that the schooner had been
stopped by anything less than a round shot through her rigging. Yet,
as he stood up in the stern of the launch, as it bounded over the waves,
he felt a heap of satisfaction in the thought that he commanded the
searching party, and that he did so by virtue of being an officer in
the United States Navy. And this, too, was a form of duty in which
Ensign Somers wore his sword at his side.
"I hope they're preparing a surprise for us," chuckled Eph, as he
looked about him at his armed crew. "I hope the schooner's people
will try some mean trick for us, or attempt to put up a fight. Whee!"
Yet none of these aggressive thoughts showed in the young Ensign's face.
Eph knew his place, usually, and the amount of dignity that went with
any place.
"Make fast alongside!" Eph sang out, as the launch rounded in alongside
the schooner.
"What's wrong with the United States Navy, Midshipman?" came the jovial
question from a bronzed, broad-shouldered, bearded man of fifty who
appeared at the quarter rail, offering Eph a hand to aid him on board.
Pages:
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154