"What on earth are you up to here?" blustered Boggs.
"I'll tell you about that, sir, when I have time," Lieutenant Hal answered.
The two deckhands having come aboard sulkily, the soldiers stood by the hawsers.
"Cast off!" directed Hal. "Come on board, Captain Boggs, I'll trouble you to step into your own wheel-house."
Pedro Guarez stood by the low rail, in the way of the party's progress forward.
"Guarez, I'll trouble you to step aside."
The Mexican snarled, made a move as though to reach for his knife, then sullenly obeyed and stood aside.
At the door of his wheel-house Captain Boggs hesitated.
"I don't believe I'll go into the wheel-house," he growled.
"Guess again," rejoined Lieutenant Overton grimly. "Would you rather go in of your own accord, or be jabbed in there by a soldier's bayonet?"