“You are hereby detached from the U. S. S. ‘Phœnix’ and will proceed to Palilo, Island of Kapay, Philippine Islands, and upon your arrival assume command of the U. S. S. ‘Mindinao’ as the relief of Ensign Charles Marshall, U. S. Navy.” For a moment there was complete silence, broken in an instant by a hoarse voice. “Three cheers for Captain Marshall.” From twenty-five strong chests the cheers were given, while the happy man honored blushed with pleasurable pride and manly tears welled to his eyes. And then Phil’s turn came to blush and look confused, and as he said afterward, foolish, when the same loud voice proposed, “Three cheers for Captain Perry.” Immediately the cheering was over the boatswain’s mate’s pipe sounded shrilly and the men, touching their caps respectfully, returned to their quarters forward. The lads saw Marshall sail away on a small island steamer similar to the one on which they had commenced their journey four days before and then returned to sit upon the quarter-deck of their gunboat and enjoy the intense gratification of being their own masters on their own ship. “Think of it, Syd. If I want to get under way all I have to do is to tell the machinist to get up steam and off we go. It’s like having your own yacht,” Phil exclaimed contentedly, leaning back luxuriantly in his chair and cocking his feet up comfortably on the rail. “Let me see,” he added banteringly, “I am the captain; you are the executive officer, navigator, ordnance officer, all the watch officers and the chief engineer. Don’t you feel heavy with all those titles?” Sydney smiled happily. “Well, if the ‘old man’ doesn’t expect too much of a poor midshipman, I’ll do my best to uphold the dignity of them all,” he replied. After they had settled themselves in their new homes and had inspected every foot of the clean, trim little craft, admired the powerful battery of six long three-pounder guns, with auxiliaries of two one-pounders and a much sinned-against Colt gun, they started over the gangway bent upon paying their respects to the general commanding the troops in the military district of Kapay. It was with a decided feeling of uneasiness that Phil sent his card by the orderly to the general. He knew that Captain Blynn had before this given his superior officer a full account of his expedition and he felt sure that the escape of Martinez with his consequent blame had not been forgotten in the telling. However, his high spirits could not be easily dampened by even these sinister thoughts. His greatest ambition had been achieved. Was he not the commander of an American man-of-war? He was not even under the command of that awe-inspiring figure he could see dimly at the desk, on whose shoulders the direction of an army rested. In spite of this feeling of independence the lad’s pulse beat faster as the orderly beckoned him to enter the general’s office.