“Who has command of the boat?” persisted Dan.
“Mr. Melville, under my general command.”
“And in case of a separation of the boats?” questioned the navigator. “Suppose we lose you?”
“In that case,” said the captain, “Mr. Melville has my written orders to command that boat and what to do with her.”
“Am I under his orders?”
“Yes, so far as it may be necessary for you to receive orders from him.”
“But that puts me under the orders of a staff officer!” objected Dan strenuously.
“Well, you’re unfit to take command of the boat yourself,” pointed out the skipper. “You can’t see, Mr. Danenhower. I can’t put you on duty now. So long as you remain on the sicklist, you will be assigned to no military control whatever.”
“Why can’t I be put in a boat with a line officer, then?” asked Dan, the idea of having to report to a staff officer rankling badly.
“Because I have no line officer left to put in that boat with you, and because I have seen fit so to distribute our party. I want one line officer in each boat. In an emergency, Mr. Melville may wish to have your advice on matters of seamanship.”