"But where are you bound for?"

"That is none of your business, as you are no longer in command here.
One bell ahead, sir."

Boggs looked as though he were going to balk flat, until he saw Hal turn
as though to summon a soldier. Then the tug's master reached for the
bell-pull. Clang! The tug's propeller began to churn slowly.

"Throw the wheel over two points to port," Hal continued. "Now, hold her
steady ahead."

Still at half speed the craft moved out into the river some four hundred
feet.

"Stop your speed, Captain."

Boggs obeyed, demanding next, "What now?"

"Nothing until I tell you," Lieutenant Hal responded.

"But the drift will carry us downstream."

"If we get too far down we'll steam back. Mate!"

"Aye, aye, sir," answered the man standing beside the tug's master.

"Get your masthead light out. Then display your starboard and port
sidelights. Men," called Hal to his soldiers, "I call upon you to note
and remember that this craft had no lights out until I ordered them
out."

"We don't need lights out at the pier," growled Boggs, comprehending the
meaning of Lieutenant Overton's remark.

"I believe you do," Hal rejoined, "when you are about to leave the pier
for the stream. However, that's a point for higher authority than yours
or mine to determine."

The mate soon had the running lights properly displayed and returned to
the wheel-house.

Very slowly the boat drifted downstream. After fifteen minutes Hal
directed that the skipper take his boat far enough upstream to make up
for the drift.

From time to time the Army boy turned his gaze toward the pier. Hal had
no need to bother himself with discipline aboard. All the crew and the
Mexicans were confined where they could be watched, for the two
deckhands were Mexicans, and had been driven in with the others. Five of
Uncle Sam's soldiers were enough to keep the prize safe.

Lieutenant Overton was beginning to grow impatient when he saw a squad
of troops, as he judged them to be in the darkness, march out on to the
pier. Then the voice of Captain Foster hailed:

"Lieutenant Overton!"

"Here, sir."

"Bring that tug in."

"Very good, sir."

Hal gave the order to Captain Boggs, who sulkily obeyed. The mate was
permitted to go aft and to bring two swarthy deckhands out where he
could use them.

The boat was soon berthed, and hawsers made fast. Without waiting for
the gang-plank to be placed Captain Foster sprang aboard, grasping his
"