incurred the penalty that he himself suggested the other morning."

Barnes snorted, but was quick to recover sufficiently to bow in the
direction of the executive officer.

"Then I accept the decision, sir," announced the lieutenant huskily.
"At the close of the meal I will pay thirty-three dollars into the
mess treasury."

Barnes tried to look comfortable, but he refused to glance in the
direction of Danny Grin.

"Did I catch him?" whispered Dalzell to his chum.

"You did," Dave agreed quickly. "Barnes must feel pretty sore over
the way his plan turned out."

There was much laughter during the rest of the meal, and Barnes had to
stand for much chaffing, which he bore with a somewhat sullen look. As
the officers rose none offered to leave the ward-room. All stood by
waiting to see Barnes hand thirty-three dollars to the paymaster.

"Here is the money," announced Barnes, handing a little wad of bills
to the paymaster.

"Count it, Pay!" piped a voice from the rear of the crowd, but it was
not Dan who spoke.

Lieutenant Barnes had the grace to leave the ward-room without
stamping, but in the nearest passageway he encountered Ensigns Darrin
and Dalzell.

"I suppose you are chuckling over the way I dropped right into your
trap," snapped Barnes to Dan. "But do you call it a fair kind of
trap?"

"What was the committee's decision on the subject?" inquired Dan,
softly.

"Oh, I'll admit that the decision went against me," answered the
lieutenant, scowling. "How will you like it if I promise to pay you
back fully for that trick? Are you willing that I should?"

"If your mind is set on paying me back," Danny Grin responded, "then
my willingness would have very little to do with your conduct. But I
am willing to make you a promise, sir."

"What is that?" asked the lieutenant, quite testily.

"If you attempt to pay me back, sir, and succeed, I'll agree to take
my medicine with an appearance of greater good humor than you
displayed a few minutes ago."

"Huh!" sniffed Mr. Barnes.

"Danny boy," broke in Dave, "I don't want to spoil a pleasant
conversation, but I would like to remind you that, if we are to make
much of our evening ashore, we shall do well to change to 'cits' at
once. The launch leaves the side in fifteen minutes."

"You'll excuse me, won't you, sir?" begged Dalzell, favoring the
lieutenant with an extremely pleasant smile.

The chums went to their respective cabins, where they quickly made th