“Mast?” wondered Sam.
“Yes.”
“What for?”
“A charge has been laid against you.”
“What sort of charge?”
“Assaulting a shipmate and beating him.”
Sam uttered a short, nervous laugh.
“Is that all?”
“You will find it is quite enough. At a quarter to one you will report forward of the after twelve-inch-gun turret and there await me. I shall bring other prisoners there for trial. We will join you there.”
“Very well,” answered Sam. He did not yet realize the seriousness of the courteously executed order. However, he looked up Dan as soon thereafter as possible, relating to him what had occurred.