the watch trick alone
as officer of the deck until six bells, or eleven o'clock that
night.

There was not much to do. Now and then a shore leave man, sailor
or marine, reported coming on board. Darrin made a note of the
man's return and entered the time. Twice, a messenger brought
some small order from the executive officer. Yet it was a dull
watch, with the ship docked and nothing of importance happening.

"Cantor will soon be back," thought Dave, at last, slipping out
his watch and glancing at it under the light that came from the
cabin. His timepiece showed the time to be five minutes to eleven.

But a quarter of an hour passed, and no Lieutenant Cantor appeared.
More time slipped by without the lieutenant's return.

"That doesn't sound much like the punctuality that is required
of a naval officer," Dave told himself, in some disquiet.

Then finally a step was heard on the gangplank. Lieutenant Cantor
came briskly up over the side, halting on the deck and saluting
toward the stern, where the colors flew until sundown.

"Mr. Darrin, I've come on board," reported the lieutenant, turning
in time to catch Dave's salute.

He stepped closer, to add:

"You will enter a note that I came on board at 10.58."

"The time is eleven-forty, sir," Dave reminded his superior, at
the same time displaying his watch.

"Note that I came on board at 10.58," insisted Cantor, frowning.

"Sentry!" called Dave, briskly.

"Aye, aye, sir!"

"Note the time on the chronometer inside," Darrin ordered.

"Aye, aye, sir." Then, returning the marine sentry answered:

"It's eleven-forty, sir."

Dave made the entry of the lieutenant's return.

"You infernal trouble-maker," hissed Cantor, as the sentry paced
on. "You dragged that sentry into it, just so you would have
supporting testimony of the time I came aboard! I'll pay you
back for that! Look out for trouble, Mr. Darrin!"

CHAPTER IV

THE WARD-ROOM HEARS REAL NEWS

Hurrying to the now empty office of the executive officer, Cantor
made correct entry of his return to ship on the record, then hurried
to his own quarters, and with almost the speed of magic, slipped
into his undress uniform, belted on his sword, and appeared smartly
on the quarter-deck.

For two minutes he paid no heed to Darrin, save to return the
salute with which the young ensign greeted his superior's return
to command of the deck.

Presently, however, Lieutenant Cantor stepped over to