"You only called us pirates," smiled Eph. "That wasn't much."
"Perhaps I said more than I should have said, young man," admitted Mrs.
Barnard.
"Mamma, wouldn't it be better to address this officer by his title?"
asked the elder of the girls. Then, turning to Eph, the same speaker
inquired:
"May I ask your title? Are you a captain?"
"Only an ensign, miss," Eph replied, "and only an acting ensign at that."
While this brief conversation had been going on, the cook, stewards and
watch below were being routed out. Now Captain Walford came aft to
report:
"All hands on board, sir, have been turned out for your inspection."
"All?" insisted Eph.
"All, sir."
"Then, Captain Walford, I am going to do something that may appear very
extreme, but I regret to say that I can't help it. I must search this
craft. If I allowed one for whom we are seeking to slip through our
fingers it would bring a lot of blame down about my head."
Eph now stepped back to the rail, ordering six of the sailors on board.
To them he gave his orders. The party spread, going below. Eph,
excusing himself to the ladies, went with the sailors.
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