In the instant that the man in charge of the motor boat discovered the search-light, he crowded on more speed.
"My plain orders are to remain here," quivered Lieutenant Hal to himself. "If I obey, even during a five minutes' delay, that craft will outfoot us to Mexico, and a cargo of arms will be on the other shore. There's no time to communicate with Captain Foster. What on earth shall I do—disobey and face the chance of trial for disobedience of orders?"
CHAPTER XVI
AFTER SWIFT GAME
IT was a ticklish position, and one that called for quick decision.
If Lieutenant Overton ordered the tug back to the pier and remained where he was, he would be but obeying explicit orders. No blame could afterward attach to him, no matter how many boats got across.
At the same time the young Army officer knew that he was stationed here for the express purpose of preventing any arms being smuggled over to Mexico.
"Even though I capture a boat with ten thousand stands of arms aboard," flashed swiftly through the Army boy's mind, "Captain Foster can still say that I disobeyed orders. Yet if I obey orders there's no telling what mischief may be done."
"Yet it seems to me that, when I am set to watch a violation of the national law, my first duty is to try to catch any one who attempts to violate the law," quivered the lieutenant.
Suddenly Hal turned to the mate.