windows and shoot any one who attempts to escape by
the rear fence. Now, men, rush that door!"

So hard and sudden was the assault that the door gave way at the
first rush.

Revolver in hand, Dave Darrin was directly behind the two seamen
who had been ordered to rush to the rear windows.

Just as the door yielded to the assault an excited voice in Spanish
exclaimed:

"This way---quick!"

The two sailors, who had been ordered to do nothing else except
guard the rear windows, saw a figure vanish through the cellar
doorway. Leaving that individual to others, Stone and Boot dashed
into a rear room, throwing up the window.

In the darkness a second man also rushed for the cellar doorway.
But Dave Darrin's extended right hand closed on that party's
collar.

"You're my prisoner," Dave hissed, throwing his man backward to
the floor.

As several men rushed past them one sailor halted, throwing on
the rays of a pocket electric light.

"You, Cantor, and here?" exclaimed Lieutenant Trent, aghast, as
he recognized the features of his brother officer. "In mercy's
name-----"

"Let me up," broke in Cantor, angrily, and Dave released him.
"Ensign Darrin, I order you in arrest for attacking your superior
officer."

"You won't observe that arrest, Darrin," spoke Trent, coldly.
"I'll be responsible for my order to that effect. Now, then,
Cantor, what explanation have you to offer for being in the house
of Cosetta, the bandit?"

"I'll give no explanation here," blazed Cantor, angrily, as now
on his feet, he glared at Trent and Darrin---Dalzell was not there,
for just at this instant the bolted cellar door, under his orders,
was battered down, and Dan, with several sailormen at his back,
darted down the stairs, by the light of a pocket lamp.

The cellar was deserted. There was no sign of the means by which
the fugitive had escaped.

"Trent," said Cantor, with an effort at sternness, "you will not
question me, here or now."

"I'll question you as much as I see fit, sir," Lieutenant Trent
retorted, crisply. "Lieutenant Cantor, you are caught here under
strange circumstances. You will explain, and satisfactorily,
or-----"

"Lieutenant Trent," retorted the other, savagely, "while you and
I are officers of the same rating, my commission is older than
yours, and I am ranking officer here. I direct you to withdraw
your men and to leave this house."

"And I tell you," retorted Lieutenant Trent, "that I am on duty