“I am delighted, Hughes,” the admiral said as Commander Hughes returned with the midshipmen, after having escorted the Chinese soldiers to the gangway, “at the successful end gained by your clear-headed policy. Washington, hearing nothing from you and at the same time receiving news of your doings from a foreign government, was quite justified, in view of your known impetuosity, in being anxious. It was current in Shanghai that you had been relieved of your command, yet I received no word up to the time of sailing, two days ago.” Phil saw his opportunity had come to bare his secret, and drawing the viceroy’s letter, the telegram and the correspondence of Ignacio all from his pocket, he laid them in silence on the table between the two officers. The lads waited in a fever of dread while the officers glanced in surprise at the papers before them. Phil saw that the admiral held the cipher telegram, with the translation underneath the cipher words. “What does this mean?” the admiral cried sternly, reading aloud the translation of the cablegram. Phil boldly told where and when he had found the telegram, and his reasons for not delivering it until now. The admiral regarded the lad severely. “Knowing this was from the department in Washington, you concealed it,” he exclaimed. “Explain yourself, sir.” Phil swallowed hard and then pointed a trembling finger to the other papers. “After you have read those, sir,” he said huskily, “I shall be ready to stand guilty or not guilty in your eyes.” Both officers eagerly read the letters from Ignacio to the viceroy’s secretary. After the admiral had finished reading, he regarded Phil in silence, his expression fathomless to the anxious midshipman. Commander Hughes’ eyes gave him no encouragement; they were directed to his brightly polished shoes. It was a question between the senior midshipman and his commander-in-chief. Technically a great breach of naval discipline had been committed. The minutes ticked away slowly by the cabin clock while the lad waited for the wording of his doom. “Mr. Perry,” the admiral at length began in his usual calm voice, “this is the second time that you have placed me in a most embarrassing position, but I want to say right here,” and his eyes snapped, “if I had a son, and he had committed this breach of naval discipline in order to save the situation, I would be mighty proud of him.” As he finished he put out his hand to the surprised but happy midshipman, who grasped it joyfully. Phil was so surprised that he could not find voice to utter a single word. He stared dumbly at the admiral, his tear-dimmed eyes eloquently speaking the words he could not utter. Commander Hughes jumped up and grasped the midshipman by the hand, showing in his face the keen pleasure the admiral’s decision had given him.