ers said it looked like the 'Juanita.' He's too careful to
commit himself to more than that."

"We shall soon know, sir, anyway."

It is probable that Eph was disappointed that the schooner had been
stopped by anything less than a round shot through her rigging. Yet,
as he stood up in the stern of the launch, as it bounded over the waves,
he felt a heap of satisfaction in the thought that he commanded the
searching party, and that he did so by virtue of being an officer in
the United States Navy. And this, too, was a form of duty in which
Ensign Somers wore his sword at his side.

"I hope they're preparing a surprise for us," chuckled Eph, as he
looked about him at his armed crew. "I hope the schooner's people
will try some mean trick for us, or attempt to put up a fight. Whee!"

Yet none of these aggressive thoughts showed in the young Ensign's face.
Eph knew his place, usually, and the amount of dignity that went with
any place.

"Make fast alongside!" Eph sang out, as the launch rounded in alongside
the schooner.

"What's wrong with the United States Navy, Midshipman?" came the jovial
question from a bronzed, broad-shouldered, bearded man of fifty who
appeared at the quarter rail, offering Eph a hand to aid him on board.

But Eph, disdaining the proffered hand, seized the rail, vaulting neatly
on board. Then he straightened up.

"I am Ensign Somers, from the gunboat 'Sudbury.'"

"Ensign, eh?" muttered the schooner's master, looking in some
bewilderment at Eph's boyish face. "I beg your pardon, Mr. Somers."

"What craft is this, sir?" Eph continued.

"Schooner 'Varia,' from New York, bound for Jamaica."

"We saw 'Varia' painted on your stern, of course," smiled Eph. "But was
that name painted there during the night?"

"Sir?" demanded the skipper, in some astonishment. "Oh, I see, Ensign.
Your commander thinks we may be sailing under false colors. Will you
be kind enough to step down into my cabin?"

Here an elderly man, in yachting dress, stepped forward out of a group
of sailors at the waist of the craft.

"This schooner is chartered to convey--" he began, but Eph interposed,
politely:

"Pardon me, sir, but I am talking with the captain only."

Then, turning toward the launch, Ensign Somers called:

"Corporal, board with your marines, and wait further orders."

Then Eph followed the captain below.

"The gentleman who spoke to you," explained Varia's master, "is Dr.
Herman Barnard. H