"It's the ammunition hoist," answered Dan, as he began to pull down on a rope.
The ammunition hoist for the twelve-inch guns is a sort of dumb waiter that is raised and lowered by pulling on a rope attached to its top and bottom.
A few minutes later the guard on duty in the magazine corridor was startled by a creaking and groaning sound. After listening a moment, he traced the sound to the ammunition hoist.
All at once the hoist came down with a bang, spilling Hickey full length on the floor of the corridor. The guard made a grab for the newcomer, and, at the same instant, Sam Hickey wrapped both arms about the legs of the marine who was on guard duty.
That worthy went down on top of Sam. For a minute there was a lively tussle, but ere it had come to an end, the ammunition hoist shot down again and Dan Davis leaped out into the passageway. He gazed in astonishment at the two men on the floor.
"Get up, Sam! What in the world are you trying to do?"
Sam threw the guard off.
"This chocolate candy soldier jumped on me when I came down. Let me at him——"
Davis pulled his companion away.
"You'll have to come with me," announced the guard. "I shall be obliged to arrest you. Your conduct is suspicious."