"Not much, sir. We mixed it up a little. I got Black, but I had a hard time with White. He almost got the better of me. I am not quite sure that he did not do so wholly."
Dan had related his story in a simple, straight-forward manner, without the slightest trace of bravado. He really had done a plucky thing in attempting to capture the two men in a frail boat out on the rolling waters, but he did not seem to think he had accomplished anything very remarkable.
"Did either man attempt to do more than defend himself?"
"Well, it seemed so to me, sir," answered the Battleship Boy, with a faint smile.
"Use a knife or anything of that sort?"
"Black appeared to be seeking to get at his knife. Of course I could not say for sure, sir."
"Did either man say anything?"
"Not that I can recall now, sir, except that they refused to surrender to me."
"You did not hear them say anything that would lead you to believe that they were deserting?"
"Oh, no, sir."