cap, "but who is in charge of this
yacht?"

"I suppose I am," says Old Hickory.

"Not a bit more than I," puts in Auntie. "And I want to tell you right
now, young man, that I consider your action in shooting off those guns
at us was--"

"I presume you recognize the United States Navy, madam?" breaks in the
officer.

"Not necessarily," snaps Auntie. "I don't in the least see why we
should, I'm sure."

"Certainly we do," corrects Old Hickory. "But, as Mrs. Hemmingway
observes, we dislike to be shot at."

"Even though you couldn't hit us," adds Auntie.

The officer grins.

"Oh, our gunners aren't as bad as that," says he. "We were merely
shooting across your bows, you know. I am Lieutenant Commander
Faulhaber, and it is part of my duty to overhaul and inspect any
suspicious acting craft."

"Why didn't you do it last night, then?" demands Auntie.

"Because we blew out a cylinder gasket," says he. "The _Petrel_ isn't
a new boat, by any means, and hardly in first-class shape. But we
managed to patch her up, you see."

"Humph!" says Auntie.

Honest, I was almost sorry for that naval gent before she got through
with him, for she sure did state her opinion, free and forcible, of his
holdin' us up this way. He stands and takes it, too, until she's all
through.

"Sorry you feel that way about it," says he, "but I shall be obliged to
make a thorough search of this boat, nevertheless. Also I shall
require an explanation as to why you disregarded my wireless orders.
Unless you can satisfy me that--"

It's about there this cheery hail comes from J. Dudley Simms, who is
just appearin' from his stateroom, all dolled up complete in white
flannels.

"By Jove!" he sings out. "If it isn't Folly. How are you, old man?"

The lieutenant commander swings around with a pleased look.

"Why--er--that you, Dud, old chap? Say, what are you these days?
Blockade runner, smuggler, or what?"

"You're warm, Folly, you're warm!" says Dudley. "Hunting for buried
treasure, that's our game--pirate gold--all that sort of thing."

And say, in less than two shakes he's given the whole snap away, in
spite of Old Hickory scowlin' and Auntie glarin' like she meant to
murder him with her grapefruit spoon.

But the news don't seem to impress Lieutenant Commander Faulhaber very
serious.

"Not really?" says he, chucklin'. "Oh? Then that's the reason for all
this mystery? Treasure hunting! Well, well!" And he grins more