"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."