“Here you are,” he cried, “don’t listen to Mr. Perry. He seems to want to be convicted. I’ll go with you if you need me.” “No, sir,” O’Neil replied decidedly. “You are better here cheering up Mr. Perry, but before that court meets you’ll see me bringing Craig back, ready to give his evidence.” “What’s your plan?” Sydney asked, following the sailor from the room. “It’s this, sir,” he answered. “I am going to watch every vessel that leaves port, and if I find Craig, I’ll get him to come back with me, whether he wants to or not. Trust me, sir, if I clap eyes on him back he’ll come.” “That’s a good idea,” Sydney agreed; “our last hope is in you, O’Neil,” he added, as he returned to join Phil. “O’Neil seems confident that he can locate him, Phil,” Sydney said in a cheering voice as he reëntered their stateroom. “He only told me half of his plan,” he said to himself. “I believe he knows what he is doing.” Phil was reading over the fatal paper given him by the captain. The wording of the charges against him seemed written in fire on his brain. A moment later the captain’s orderly came for the midshipman’s sword. Phil gave it to him with a heart full of anguish. “Lieutenant Barnes is on deck, sir, and would like to see Mr. Perry,” the orderly said, a look of sympathy in his face. “I hope you ain’t guilty, sir,” he added hastily. Phil almost smiled at the earnestness of the kind-hearted marine. “Thank you, orderly,” he answered gratefully. Lieutenant Barnes entered the boys’ stateroom shortly afterward. The lads stood quickly to attention. “Mr. Perry, I am the judge advocate of your court,” the officer announced in official tones, holding himself very straight and regarding Phil coldly. “I see you have received a copy of the charges against you,” noticing the paper Phil held in his nervous hand. “Do you desire any one to act as your counsel?” Phil’s throat was parched; he swallowed several times before he could find voice to speak. “Midshipman Monroe, sir, has offered,” he replied. “Very good,” the officer consented; “you will be ready at 8 A. M. to-morrow. Your counsel will inform me at that time the witnesses you wish to call in your defense.” He bowed ceremoniously and withdrew. “There’s not much kindness in him, is there, Syd?” Phil observed sadly. “He believes I am guilty, by the way he looked at me.” “What are we to do?” Sydney exclaimed. “If O’Neil fails you must take the stand and tell all.” “No, I shan’t do that,” Phil declared; “the court would not believe our estimate of Lazar. It would be easy for him to convince the court that he had acted honestly and that our charges were malicious. If Craig is not found I must take my punishment in silence.” “But if O’Neil and I both testify to the truth of your story, Phil,” Sydney urged.