"Well," said Frank, "I am the second officer of this ship, rank of lieutenant. Mr. Templeton is the first officer."
"Is that so?" asked the girl in some surprise. "You are so young for such an important position."
Frank turned red.
"I—I—I'm not so awfully young," he stammered.
"May be not," admitted Miss Wheaton, with a smile, "but I'll wager you are not over twenty."
"I'm nineteen," said Frank.
"Just a year older than I am," mused the girl, "and still, think of what a lot of excitement you have been through."
"Were you frightened during the fight?" asked Frank, changing the subject.
"Not a bit. I knew you would capture the ship. Mother wasn't frightened either, but some of the others were. It must have been terrible."
"It was," said Frank simply.