al, with an inward quiver.

"Tug ahoy, there!" hailed Captain Foster in a displeased voice.

"Ahoy, sir!" Hal shouted back.

"Haven't you been away out in the stream, sir?"

"Yes, sir."

Captain Foster asked no more for the moment, so Hal offered no further
information.

On the instant, however, when the deckhands leaped ashore with the
hawse-lines Captain Foster called quietly, even if coldly:

"Come ashore, Mr. Overton, as soon as you can."

"Now I rather reckon I'm in for it," thought the young lieutenant,
ruefully, though he was really torn with the fear that he had exceeded
his own authority to a dangerous point.

CHAPTER XVII

THE THIRTY-FOURTH JOINS HANDS

Captain Foster, too just a man to condemn without a hearing, let his
young officer explain at length. All through this the older man
preserved an unchanged countenance.

"Mr. Overton," spoke the captain, at last, "had I thought it likely that
you would have such an experience, I would have given you leave to
pursue in such a case. As I did not give such permission your conduct
amounted to a breach of orders. At the same time, it was a breach very
likely to be committed by a younger officer, and the intentions back of
your conduct were unquestionably good and for the best interests of our
mission here. I shall, therefore, neither approve nor disapprove of your
conduct. I will add only the hint that, at another time, you will do
well to stick literally to the orders you receive. To that advice there
is only one exception. In spite of the orders you would have been fully
at liberty to have moved your position had the lives of your men been
needlessly and senselessly exposed by remaining. Such, however, was not
the case."

"May I speak, sir?" inquired Hal.

"Certainly, Mr. Overton."

"If my conduct amounted to a fault, sir, it was not a deliberate one. I
debated with myself as fully as I could in the few moments that were
left to me in which to come to any decision. It seemed to me, sir, that
my duty lay in chasing that motor boat. I feel, Captain, that my
greatest fault was in judgment, and I had no experience to guide me in
the matter."

"Your defense is a very manly one, Mr. Overton. I like you better for
the way you have stated it."

"I trust, sir, that the mistake I have made to-night will not lessen
your confidence in me, hereafter."

"It will not," replied Captain Foster heartily, holding out his hand.
"And now, let us say no