ine looked like a pigmy, indeed.

It was toward evening, and the day was Tuesday. Darrin and Dalzell,
both off duty for the time being, strolled along the battleship's
quarter-deck, gazing shoreward.

"It's almost too bad that the times are so civilized," murmured Danny
Grin. "That little toy principality would make an ideal pirates'
nest."

"I fancy Monaco has done duty enough in that line in the past
centuries," smiled Darrin. "I have been reading up a bit on the
history of Monaco. Piracy flourished here as late as the fourteenth
century. Even rather late in the eighteenth century every ship passing
close to this port had to pay toll. And to-day, through its vast
gambling establishments, visited by thousands every week, Monaco
reaches out and still takes its toll from all the world."

"It won't take any from me," smiled Dalzell.

"That is because you're a disciplined human being, and you've too much
character and honesty to gamble," Darrin went on. "But think, with a
pitying sigh, of the thousands of poor wretches who journey to Monaco,
enter the Casino at Monte Carlo, part with their money and their
honor, and then pass into one of the gardens, there to blow their
brains out.

"We shall get a glimpse of the place to-night," Dave continued. "I
will admit that I have a good deal of curiosity to see it. So I am
glad that we have shore leave effective after dinner. Still, we shan't
see anything like the crowd or the picture that we might see if Europe
were at peace."

"This is Tuesday night," Dan warned his chum.

"Yes; the night to avoid dangerous questions at mess," Dave smiled.
"Dan, are you still going to try to catch Barnes?"

"Watch me," winked Dalzell.

"Look out, Dan! Such a trap may be set at both ends."

But Dalzell winked once more, then allowed his mouth to expand in that
contortion which had won him the nick name of "Danny Grin."

Dave soon forgot Dalzell's threat of trouble for the evening. It had
passed out of his mind by the time that Ensign Darrin entered the
ward-room. Yet soon after the officers had seated themselves the
executive officer announced:

"In the interest of fair play to all I deem it best to warn you,
gentlemen, that to-night is the night when the first gentleman who
asks a question that he cannot himself answer is liable to a penalty
of thirty-three dollars to make up the deficit in the mess treasury."

There were nods and grins, and shakings of heads. Not an officer
pr