e chartered the 'Varia' at New York for a West Indian
cruise for himself and his family. Here are my papers, as master. Here
is the 'Varia's' license to carry passengers, and here are our clearance
papers, from New York to Jamaica."

The papers were all in regular order. Eph looked them over, noting that
the master's name was Walford.

"I don't see anything wrong here, Captain Walford," Eph continued.
"Where is your list of passengers?"

"Here, sir."

Eph glanced over the list, noting that besides Dr. Barnard, there were
five other men passengers, besides Mrs. Barnard, her two daughters and
one other woman.

"I shall have to ask you, Captain, to line your passengers up on deck,"
Eph continued.

"I had hoped to escape that annoyance, sir," protested the schooner's
master. "The ladies were alarmed, and took to their staterooms."

"I am very sorry, Captain," Eph insisted, "but I must look over the
passengers."

"Very good, then," sighed Captain Walford.

"And muster the crew forward. I must see on deck every person on this
craft."

"Very good, sir."

Eph returned to deck, leaning against the starboard rail of the quarter
deck. Below, he heard some sounds of remonstrance in feminine voices.
Then, as a step sounded on the after companionway, and Eph straightened
up, he heard a woman's voice say:

"United States Navy? I would call this a good deal more like piracy!"

"But, mamma--"

"Hush, child!"

Mrs. Barnard, when she stepped on deck, looked as severe as her husband
appeared mild.

Ensign Eph doffed his cap quickly to the ladies.

"I know this does not please you," he said, courteously, "but I will ask
you to remember that I am acting under orders, and have no choice."

"It is outrageous to stop a pleasure craft in this fashion!" declared
Mrs. Barnard, haughtily.

"Do you know why we are making this search, madam?" asked Eph, sweetly.

"Of course I don't," snapped the good lady.

"Then I marvel," replied Eph, with another bow, "that you can have an
opinion of something that you don't understand."

One of the girls was so undutiful as to snigger. Thereupon, one of the
young men joined in the laugh, which became so general that the severe
expression on Mrs. Barnard's face softened considerably.

"Perhaps I owe you an apology, young man, for having spoken as I did of
you," admitted the good lady.

"You only called us pirates," smiled Eph. "That wasn't much."

"Perhaps I said more tha