"I'm an officer of the United States Army, and your boat is undoubtedly
to be seized by the government," Hal retorted.

The gang-plank had been drawn in, but Lieutenant Hal, measuring the
distance with the eye of an athlete, leaped on to the deck.

Two of Hal's soldiers followed him aboard, the other two remaining on
the pier.

"What's your name, sir?"

"Boggs," growled the master, a thick-set, powerful-looking, red-faced
man of perhaps fifty. "What's yours?"

"I am Lieutenant Overton, of the United States Army," answered Hal.

Guarez and three other Mexicans ran out from the cabin and tried to leap
ashore.

"Don't let these Mexicans get away if you have to shoot them down," Hal
ordered quickly. "They're United States prisoners."

"This is a high-handed proceeding, Lieutenant," stormed Captain Boggs.

"Isn't it?" jeered Hal. Then, to the soldiers on the pier:

"Drive those two deckhands aboard, and stand ready to cast off, my men,
when I give the order."

"What on earth are you up to here?" blustered Boggs.

"I'll tell you about that, sir, when I have time," Lieutenant Hal
answered.

The two deckhands having come aboard sulkily, the soldiers stood by the
hawsers.

"Cast off!" directed Hal. "Come on board, Captain Boggs, I'll trouble
you to step into your own wheel-house."

Pedro Guarez stood by the low rail, in the way of the party's progress
forward.

"Guarez, I'll trouble you to step aside."

The Mexican snarled, made a move as though to reach for his knife, then
sullenly obeyed and stood aside.

At the door of his wheel-house Captain Boggs hesitated.

"I don't believe I'll go into the wheel-house," he growled.

"Guess again," rejoined Lieutenant Overton grimly. "Would you rather go
in of your own accord, or be jabbed in there by a soldier's bayonet?"

"You've no right to take such high-handed action," snarled the master of
the tug.

"You're in no position to decide that, Captain. You're a United States
prisoner, at least until I have had opportunity to communicate with my
superior officer. Go inside, sir."

Boggs obeyed, and Hal stationed a soldier at the wheel-house door.

"Now you Mexicans get back into the cabin," Hal continued, stepping back
amidships.

"We're going ashore," snarled Pedro Guarez.

"You're going to _obey orders_," Lieutenant Hal retorted, "and I've
ordered you into the cabin."

Instead Guarez turned as though he would leap ashore. The tug had now
drifted some si