"It was, sir," Darrin admitted.
"And yet, by the report which Lieutenant Cantor has turned in, you opened fire on Cosetta and his band and have returned to ship with two men killed and four men wounded. Is that report correct?"
"It is, sir," admitted the young ensign, "with one exception."
"State the exception, Ensign Darrin," ordered the captain, coldly.
"The exception, sir, is that Cosetta's fellows opened fire on us first."
Dave Darrin stood looking straight into Captain Gales's eyes.
"Ensign Darrin, did you do anything to provoke that fire?" asked the commanding officer.
"Yes, sir," Dave admitted.
"Ah!" breathed Captain Gales, while Cantor gave an almost inaudible ejaculation of triumph.
"What was it, sir, that you did to provoke Cosetta into ordering his fellows to fire?" questioned Captain Gales.