Gales.

Dave Darrin felt the hot blood mounting to his face. He tried
to control his wrath, but could not refrain from asking a question.
"Sir, do you wish me to hand my sword to you?" he said gravely,
with a quick movement of his right hand toward his sword hilt.

"Not yet, at any rate," answered Captain Gales, calmly. "I wish
to hear your story."

"Very good, sir," Dave returned, then plunged at once into a narrative
that was stripped to the bare facts. He told everything from
the landing of his men to the final escape from the lagoon under
Mexican fire.

"Of course, sir, Coxswain Riley and Corporal Ross will be able
to bear me out as to the facts of which they have knowledge.
And I would suggest, sir," Darrin added, "that Mr. Carmody, who
knows more of Cosetta than any of us, will be able to give you
an excellent opinion of whether I was obliged to throw my command
into the fight."

"How much of your ammunition did you bring back?" asked Captain
Gales, his face betraying nothing of his inward opinion.

"All the Colt ammunition was used, sir."

"And the rifle ammunition?"

"I do not believe, sir, that any man brought back more than three
or four of his cartridges. Some of the men, undoubtedly, have
no ammunition left."

"It is evident, sir," hinted Lieutenant Cantor, "that Ensign Darrin
did his best to bring on an engagement. And his thirty per cent
casualty list-----"

"Thank you, Lieutenant," broke in Captain Gales. "The number
of casualties, while unfortunate, is to be justified only by a
decision as to whether it was expedient and right to engage the
brigand, Cosetta."

Lieutenant Cantor's only comment was an eloquent shrug of his
shoulders.

"Ensign Darrin," continued Captain Gales, "if your story is true
in every detail, then it would appear to me that your action,
while I regret the necessity for it, could hardly be avoided.
In that case, your conduct does not appear to render you liable
to censure. Until further notice you will continue in your duties.
Lieutenant Cantor will, as early as possible, turn in a written
report of the work of the expedition, and you, Ensign Darrin,
will make a written report on your own part in the affair. You
will make your report through Lieutenant Cantor, who will hand
it to me with his own report. Lieutenant Cantor, in his report,
will make such comment on Ensign Darrin's statements as he sees
fit. You may go to your quarters, Darrin, and begin your