the map was spread.

"Here, as you will see," he continued, "is a sugar mill belonging
to the Alvarez plantations. Ten miles to the eastward of the
Alvarez mill is the Perdita mill; ten miles to the westward of
the Alvarez mill is the Acunda mill. To-night there will be no
moon. At nine o'clock we shall lie to off the Alvarez mill, and
three sixty-foot launches will be lowered to the water. Lieutenant
Cantor will command one of these launches, Ensign Darrin another
and Ensign Dalzell the third. Each launch will carry one automatic
gun, and a landing party of a corporal, six marines, a petty officer
and twelve seamen. Each party will be armed, but, gentlemen,
I must caution you as to the extreme seriousness of any conflict
on shore, or of firing, even though your fire is not directed
at human beings. These are days when our relations with Mexico
are of an extremely delicate nature. If we send an armed party
on shore, and its members fight, it will be difficult, indeed,
for our government to make the claim that an act of war was not
committed on the soil of a nation that is, at present, at peace
with us. The consequences of a fight are likely to be grave indeed.
Therefore, the officer in command of each landing party is especially
warned that the rescue of the American prisoners must be accomplished
by strategy, not by fighting."

Captain Gales looked keenly at each of the three young officers
concerned, to make sure that they understood the full gravity of
the situation.

"Strategy, remember---not fighting," Captain Gales repeated.
"Now, the '_Long Island_' will not go within four miles of the
coast. Yet, despite the darkness to-night, it is likely that
a craft as large as this ship would be noted from the shore, and
her errand suspected. That might result in the execution of the
American captives before aid could reach them. So, when we reach
a point opposite the Alvarez mill, Lieutenant Cantor's launch
will be put over the side first, while the ship continues under
slow headway."

Lieutenant Cantor will lie to, while the other two launches are
being lowered. Ensigns Darrin and Dalzell will then steam back
and report to Lieutenant Cantor. Under slow speed it will take
the launches, commanded by the two ensigns, each about an hour
and ten minutes to reach their respective lagoon destinations.
It will take the lieutenant just under thirty minutes to reach
the Alvarez lagoon. Ensign Dalzell will go t