nes?" asked the executive officer.

"It's simple enough," Barnes went on, grinning. "Let us set apart the
dinner hour on Tuesday evening, say. Every time this mess gets
together we hear a lot of foolish questions asked. Now, on Tuesday
evening, if any member of this mess asks a question that he can't
answer himself, let it be agreed that he pay into the mess a fine of
thirty-three dollars to cover the shortage."

"It won't work," objected Totten. "Every officer at this table will be
on his guard not to ask any questions at all."

"In that case," proposed Barnes, "let the rule hold over on each
successive Tuesday evening until the victim is found and has paid his
fine."

"It sounds like sport," agreed Dave Darrin.

"It will be sport to see the victim 'stung' and made to pay up,"
grinned Dan Dalzell.

"And I think I know, already," contended Lieutenant Barnes, "which
officer will pay that shortage."

"Are you looking at me with any particular significance?" demanded
Danny Grin.

"I am," Barnes admitted.

"Oh, well, then, we shall see what we shall see," quoth Dalzell, his
color rising.

The scheme for fixing the thirty-three-dollar penalty was quickly
agreed upon. In fact, the plan had in it many of the exciting elements
of a challenge.

Darrin left the mess to go on duty. Dan found him presently.

"Say," murmured Danny Grin, in an aside, "do you think Barnes will be
very angry when he pays over that thirty-three dollars?"

"I haven't yet heard that he is to pay it," Dave answered quietly.

"But he _is_," Dalzell asserted.

"How's that?"

"I'm going to make it my business," Dan went on, "to see that Barnes
is the victim of the very scheme that he proposed. He will ask a
question that he can't answer, and he'll do it when Tuesday evening
comes around."

"Don't be too sure of that," Dave warned him. "Barnes may not be
exactly the most amiable officer aboard, but at least he's a very keen
chap. If you are forming any plans for making Barnes pay, look out,
Dan, that your scheme doesn't recoil upon yourself!"

"Wait and see," Dalzell insisted. "I tell you, Barnes is going to pay
that thirty-three dollars into the mess treasury!"

CHAPTER III

THE STARTLER AT MONTE CARLO

The frowning crags of Monaco confronted the United States battleship
"Hudson."

Here and there the rocky eminences were broken by tiny strips of white
beach. In comparison with the crags the great, floating fighting
mach