"

"Who goes there?"

"A friend," he answered instinctively.

"Advance, friend, and give the countersign."

Something of the truth began to dawn upon the quick mind of the
commanding officer.

"I do not know the countersign, my man. But I am the commander of this
ship."

"Officer of the deck, sir," called the sentry.

The officer of the deck hastened to the spot.

"Sir, stranger without the countersign."

"Man, what do you mean? This is the captain of this ship whom you have
halted. What do you mean?"

"Orders, sir, to let no one pass unless he has the countersign."

"Who is responsible for this?" demanded the captain in a half amused
tone.

"I let young Davis take charge of the extra-duty squad, and he formed
the men into a guard. They had been patroling the deck for the last
hour. I did not interfere, not having any idea the affair would be
carried this far, sir. I'm sorry, sir. Man, lower your gun."

"Wait, wait!" exclaimed the captain, raising a restraining hand. "This
man has his orders. He is quite right. It is a most excellent idea.
Fine training for these young men. What is the countersign, Carter?"

"I--I don't know, sir."

"What, you the officer of the deck and not know the countersign? I am
surprised, sir. Where is Seaman Davis?"

"He was here a moment ago."

Dan at that moment was peering from behind the twelve-inch-gun turret,
fairly aghast at the situation in which his efforts to do something
original had involved them.

"Davis!" called the officer of the deck, in a sharp voice.

"This is where I get it!" muttered the boy. "Aye, aye, sir," he
answered promptly, stepping from behind the turret and hastening toward
the group.

"What does this farce mean, sir?" demanded the midshipman.

"I will attend to this, Mr. Carter. Davis, these are your men, are
they not?"

"Ye--yes, sir."

"You ordered them to let no one pass unless he had the countersign?"

"Yes, sir."

"My man, you did quite right," announced the captain, addressing the
sentry. "Davis, will you be good enough to give me the countersign?"

"'Never again,'" whispered Dan in the ear of his commanding officer.

"What's that? I asked you for the countersign."

"The countersign is 'never again.'"

For a moment the captain stared, then he roared with laughter.

"'Never again,' my man," he said, whereat the sentry instantly lowered
his rifle.

"Well, if that doesn't beat anything I ever heard!" chuc