"I haven't anything against you and
you may be telling the truth, but I can't take any chances."

Fifteen minutes later they drew up beside the flagship.

"Up you go," said the ensign, motioning Donald up the ladder.
"I'll present you to the officer of the deck," which he quickly
did.

"Here's a man I picked up in the water, sir, who says he has a
message for Gen. Funston, but I had no time to put him ashore."

"Looks more like a boy than a man," replied the officer. Then to
Donald: "What's this about you having a message for Gen.
Funston?"

Donald repeated what he had told the ensign.

"What's that?" asked another officer, coming forward out of the
shadow of the after turret.

The first officer saluted.

"Tell the Admiral your story, my lad," he said.

Again Donald repeated his story, this time going more into
detail.

"Come with me," ordered the Admiral, and he led the way to the
wireless operator.

"Get into communication with Gen. Funston at once," was the
admiral's order.

"Here he is, sir," was the report a couple of minutes later.

"Ask him if he has three American boys on a special mission."

The answer came back promptly that he had.

"Ask him if Lieut. Grimes is missing."

Again came back the answer that he was.

"Tell the general that we have one of the lads on the _Arkansas_,
and that he has had a strange adventure. Tell him I will send the
lad ashore immediately."

"Thank you, sir," said Donald. "I knew some one would know what
to do."

"You're a brave lad," was the Admiral's comment, "and I shall be
glad to hear the end of the adventure. You and your companions
must come out and dine with us as soon as your mission is ended."

Donald thanked him for his kindness and hastened to the launch
which was to take him back.

Twenty minutes later he stood before Gen. Funston.

"You seem to have been in the water," was the general's first
words.

"Yes, sir," laughed Donald. "I jumped from a wall north of town,
leaving Lieut. Grimes on top of it."

"What! Lieut. Grimes on top of a wall? How did he get there?"

"He was kidnapped, sir! It was a case of mistaken identity!"

"Mistaken identity! I don't understand!"

"They took him for you, sir, because his beard is trimmed like
yours."

The general smiled grimly.

"Think I shall have all my staff officers do the same," he
commented. Then more seriously: "Can you lead us to the house?"

"I'm not sure about the house; but I can t