“Is there trouble on shore?” the voice called hesitatingly.
Commander Tazewell waited several seconds before replying.
Once more the voice was raised, this time more loudly. He had apparently just discovered a second line of boats on the other side of his ship, ladened deeply in the water with sailormen.
“Has there been a fight on shore? Why are you landing your men?”
“Just a precautionary measure,” Commander Tazewell’s clear-cut voice answered. “Is your captain on board?”
“No, sir,” came back the answer. “He has gone to Vaileli.”
“It’s no matter,” Commander Tazewell replied. “When he returns I will explain everything to him.”
“Thank you, sir,” said the voice, but it was plainly noted that the speaker was greatly perplexed.
“Only a young officer left on board,” Commander Tazewell said quietly to the midshipmen, “and taken off his guard, he doesn’t know what to do.”
“What could he do?” Phil asked excitedly.