il 26, 1607.

Captain Moore was tremendously interested in the girls and their
adventures and experiences. When the ramparts of Fortress Monroe lay
off the quarter he reluctantly said good-bye. But he beckoned Madge
away from the other chums and walked with her slowly to the prow of his
great ship.

"Miss Morton," he said kindly, "I want to talk to you alone. Your
chaperon has told me something of your history. Your father was a
classmate of mine at Annapolis, and one of the best friends I ever
had."

Madge choked and was silent. She did not know what to say, what
questions to ask.

"I know that in after years your father got into serious trouble. He
was court-martialed because of cruelty to a subordinate," Captain Moore
went on. He shook his head gravely. "I never understood it. Robert
Morton was one of the kindest and tenderest of men. He was rash and
quick-tempered, but he never did a cruel trick as a boy, and a lad
shows the stuff the man is made of."

"Captain Moore!" Madge's voice shook, she was obliged to keep a tight
hold on the railing of the ship to steady herself, but she looked her
new friend squarely in the face, her own white with pain, "do you know
if my father is alive?"

Captain Moore was startled. "It can't be that you don't know that,
child?" he protested.

"But I don't," she said bravely. "I have always just taken it for
granted that he died when I was a baby, because I never saw him nor
heard from him. Lately I have had reason to think that he may just have
disappeared after his trouble. It has been so long that perhaps he may
have died since."

Captain Moore took her hand in his. He looked at her earnestly. She was
like the boy he remembered in the olden days, the same deep-toned
auburn hair, the same clear blue eyes and skin that flushed and paled
so readily, the same proud spirit.

"I do not know whether your father is dead or alive, child. I, too,
took it for granted that he was out of the world, as we saw him no
more. But I want to promise you one thing. From now on I will look for
him whether I am on land or on sea. Some day, somewhere, I shall hear
news of him. I wish you to remember that if ever you need a friend, you
have only to let me know. I am ashamed to think that I have let this
strange freak of circumstance find Robert Morton's daughter for me. I
should have looked you up years ago. Do you know what a fellow's chum
means to him when he is a boy at school?" Captain Moore