after, but there
were yet some minutes to spare before the call would come to the
ward-room mess.

"My compliments to the captain, and I will report immediately,"
Ensign Dave replied.

Turning, he put on his sword and drew on his white gloves. Then,
with a glance over himself, he left his quarters, walking briskly
toward the commanding officer's quarters.

Captain Gales, at his desk, received the young ensign's salute.
On the desk lay the papers in the matter of the night before.

"Ensign, I have gone over the papers in last night's affair,"
began the "Old Man," as a naval vessel's commander is called,
when not present.

"Yes, sir?"

The captain's face was inexpressive; it was impossible to tell
what was going on in his mind.

"I have given careful attention to your report, and also to that
of Lieutenant Cantor. I have talked with Mr. Carmody, and have
asked Coxswain Riley and Corporal Ross some questions. And so
I have come to the decision-----"

Here the captain paused for an instant.

How Dave Darrin's heart thumped under his ribs. The next few
words would convey either censure, criticism or exoneration!

"-----that Lieutenant Cantor's charges are not well sustained,"
continued, Captain Gales.

Dave Darrin could not repress the gleam of joy that flashed into
his eyes. The memory of the men killed under his command and the
present sufferings of the wounded had preyed upon him through a
long, wakeful night.

But here was a veteran in the service, prepared, after hearing
all possible testimony, to declare that he, Darrin, was not blamable!

"I had hoped," resumed Captain Gales, "that the affair on shore
could he conducted without firing a single shot, However, Ensign
Darrin, the fact has been established to my satisfaction that
you did your work well; that you did not allow your men to fire
a shot until you had been attacked in force. Nor did you fire
upon Mexican troups or reputable natives, but upon a body of
bandits---outlaws---who are enemies of all mankind. Not to have
returned the fire, under such circumstances, would have been
censurable conduct. That several times through the night you held
your party's fire, and at no time fired oftener than appeared to be
absolutely necessary, is established by the eye-witnesses with whom
I have talked. Nor were the losses to your command higher than
might have been looked for in a fight against superior numbers, such
as you encountered. I have en