"An officer in the United States army," was the unexpected reply.
"Then what are you doing all this shooting for?" demanded Frank. "Why did you molest the Manhattan, here on government service?"
"We'll see about the service she is on later," replied the officer. "Beat it for the harbor, all of you."
When the party reached the Tusks the crew of the schooner was busy unloading long pine boxes which looked as if they contained shovels and hoes, and seemed to be very heavy. The second vessel, the one which had been observed in the north, lay close in.
"Where's the officer in charge?" asked Ned, as they approached a group standing at the head of the harbor.
The officer who had captured the boys pointed out a tall, rather fine-looking man who was standing, pencil and paper in hand, checking off the boxes as they crashed down on the beach.
"There he is," was the information given. "Lieutenant Carstens, and a mighty good man at that!"
The Filipino boy stepped forward, as if anticipating a friendly greeting and then drew back in confusion. Lieutenant Carstens had looked him fairly in the face and had not recognized him.
Ned did not step forward to present his side of the case to the man pointed out to him, for there was no need to do so. The man was the one he had met in the tea house in Yokohama, in the Street of a Thousand Steps.
"Go on and give him a talk," Frank said, as Ned drew back.