"Pardon me, sir, but I am talking with the captain only."
Then, turning toward the launch, Ensign Somers called:
"Corporal, board with your marines, and wait further orders."
Then Eph followed the captain below.
"The gentleman who spoke to you," explained Varia's master, "is Dr. Herman Barnard. He chartered the 'Varia' at New York for a West Indian cruise for himself and his family. Here are my papers, as master. Here is the 'Varia's' license to carry passengers, and here are our clearance papers, from New York to Jamaica."
The papers were all in regular order. Eph looked them over, noting that the master's name was Walford.
"I don't see anything wrong here, Captain Walford," Eph continued.
"Where is your list of passengers?"
"Here, sir."
Eph glanced over the list, noting that besides Dr. Barnard, there were five other men passengers, besides Mrs. Barnard, her two daughters and one other woman.
"I shall have to ask you, Captain, to line your passengers up on deck,"
Eph continued.