"Pardon me," says he, touchin' his cap, "but who is in charge of this yacht?"
"I suppose I am," says Old Hickory.
"Not a bit more than I," puts in Auntie. "And I want to tell you right now, young man, that I consider your action in shooting off those guns at us was—"
"I presume you recognize the United States Navy, madam?" breaks in the officer.
"Not necessarily," snaps Auntie. "I don't in the least see why we should, I'm sure."
"Certainly we do," corrects Old Hickory. "But, as Mrs. Hemmingway observes, we dislike to be shot at."
"Even though you couldn't hit us," adds Auntie.
The officer grins.
"Oh, our gunners aren't as bad as that," says he. "We were merely shooting across your bows, you know. I am Lieutenant Commander Faulhaber, and it is part of my duty to overhaul and inspect any suspicious acting craft."
"Why didn't you do it last night, then?" demands Auntie.