"Who is it?" he demanded, in a tone which implied his intention to have a satisfactory answer. "Advance and give the word."
"Give the word!" exclaimed Christy. "I have no word to give."
"Then you can't come on board," replied Sampson dogmatically.
"I am Christy Passford, and I have not heard about any word," protested the midshipman.
"You can't pour molasses down my back again," replied Sampson, with a self-satisfied air.
"Don't be a fool, Sampson," added Christy, as he climbed upon the steps, the lower part of which had been hoisted up.
"I have been a fool once, and I don't mean to be again," replied the sentinel. "On deck, there! Bring a lantern out of the engine-room!"
"Don't bring a lantern in sight!" protested Christy impatiently.
"What's the row there, Sampson?" called Paul Vapoor, mounting the rail, and looking through the darkness at the steps, down which the vigilant sentinel had descended more than half way to the water.
"This fellow says he is Christy Passford; and I don't know whether it is Christy or not," replied Sampson.