“Captain Taylor would like to see Mr. Perry,” the orderly announced as he reached Phil’s side.
The lad descended to the cabin with sinking hopes. He found the captain awaiting him, nervously pacing up and down his narrow cabin.
“Mr. Perry,” he said as he caught sight of the attentive midshipman, “I have a very painful duty to perform;” he held a paper in his outstretched hand; Phil took it in silence. “Those are the charges against you,” he continued slowly; “the admiral orders that you be tried by court martial.”
The lad’s eyes were full of tears of anger and mortification. He dared not speak. He feared he might say too much and prejudice himself with his captain.
“You will send me your sword and consider yourself in close arrest.” The captain added, “The trial is set for to-morrow morning at eight o’clock.”
Then the captain dropped from his voice its official coldness and put his hand affectionately on the humiliated lad’s shoulder.
“Mr. Perry, you have been a great disappointment to me,” he said sadly. “Your work here has been all the more admirable because it can never receive official sanction. It must always be kept a secret from our government in Washington. Even our admiral, as powerful as he is, could not save you if your part in this war came to the official ears of the Navy Department. ‘The end justifies the means’ does not fit such a case. By your loyal and plucky work, you and your companions have saved our government from very complicating and perhaps dangerous diplomatic conflicts with foreign powers. You have also saved American merchants from great financial losses. But nevertheless,” he added after a short pause, “Mr. Lazar was well within his authority when he ordered you away from La Mesa; and from my knowledge of that officer I believe he was acting according to his best judgment and for your own good. You should not have taken part in this fight at all, but it was far worse as you did it, openly, wearing the uniform of the United States.”
“Believe me, Captain Taylor,” cried Phil earnestly, “we were not on La Mesa for pure love of fighting; there was a good reason and I hope to be able to show soon that my act of disobedience was not as black as it looks.”
“I sincerely hope, Mr. Perry,” Captain Taylor replied kindly, “that you can explain this seemingly deliberate act of insubordination.”
Phil left the cabin in a happier frame of mind than he had entered. He was assured of Captain Taylor’s sympathy and his and his companion’s work had been appreciated. He saw how these high officers must regard their work on La Mesa, knowing nothing of the story of the Colt guns and Lazar’s part in their betrayal. If Craig could be found now all would be plain sailing. The court on hearing his testimony against Lazar would surely acquit Phil of criminality in his disobedience.