e port bow gun manned. When the order
is given, be prepared to fire a blank shot toward the schooner. If,
after one minute, the schooner shows no signs of heaving to, then fire
a solid shot across her bows."

"Very good, sir."

Without leaving the bridge Ensign Fullerton passed the word for the
manning of the gun and loading with a blank cartridge.

There was a new, deeper glow in Eph Somers's eyes as he paced the
bridge. He was to have, at last, his wish to see the "Sudbury" fire
a shot.

In a few minutes more the "Sudbury" was ranging tip alongside the
schooner, though a full quarter of a mile away to windward.

"Mr. Fullerton, fire the blank shot at the stranger," ordered Lieutenant
Jack Benson.

"Aye, aye, sir."

The order was carried by a simple wave of the executive officer's hand.
The petty officer in command behind the bow gun, looking for the signal,
saw it and gave a low-toned order.

_Bang!_ Eph was watching for it. His eyes danced as he heard the sharp
explosion and saw the cloud of white smoke, with the tongue of fire
spitting through the center of it. In most of us there is left some of
the spirit of the old Norse pirate; Eph had a lot of it.

"The people on the schooner act as though they were bewildered," smiled
Jack, watching the schooner through his glass. "It doesn't look as
though they expected any such order from us. I wonder if they mean
to obey?"

"Worse for them, if they don't," replied Ensign Fullerton, grimly. "A
solid shot across the bows, and a shot through their rigging after that.
What schooner has any chance to defy a ship of war?"

"There they go around," cried Jack, barely above his breath, "They'll
heave to."

"Of course," smiled Fullerton. "Your orders, sir?"

"Lower the power launch. Send a corporal and four marines, and six
sailors, armed, beside the boat-handlers. Mr. Somers will take command,
as he's the only one of us who knows the fellow Gray by sight."

Ensign Fullerton accordingly transmitted the orders, also ordering
Midshipman Drake up to the bridge to serve as watch officer in Eph's
absence. Hal Hastings was asleep in his cabin at the time.

In the meantime the schooner continued "hove to," several men lining
her starboard rail.

"Somehow, Mr. Fullerton," muttered Lieutenant Jack, after Eph had
departed in the power launch with his boarding crew, "I'm not much
inclined to think that's our schooner."

"Somers seemed to think so."

"Mr. Som