"Who are you? Give an account of yourself," he said gruffly.
"It's all right. I'm on business connected with the aero camp up above," said Ned glibly, making use of information he had gained through the crack in the bulkhead.
"Humph! In the service?"
"Certainly. Aero squad."
"How am I to know you are not one of those newspaper fellows. We've been pestered to death with them for the last week. Fine thing it would be if they got hold of the Blue fleet's secrets and printed them."
"Oh, you needn't have any fear of me. I'm not connected with any paper."
"No, now I come to look at you, you appear like one of Uncle Sam's boys. But where have you come from?"
"From that schooner out there."
"Oh, the one we unloaded this evening?"
"That's the idea. My business is urgent."