"Mr. Pillgrim?" exclaimed the first lieutenant. "Yes, sir." "Mr. Somers, I have a high regard for you as an officer and a gentleman, and I am not unacquainted with your past history. I hope you have nothing to say which will reflect on a brother officer." "I have, sir." "Then I advise you to think well before you speak." "I am entirely prepared to speak, sir." "Complaints against superior officers, Mr. Somers, are rather dangerous." "It is not personal, sir, though I may be the sufferer for making it." Mr. Hackleford led the way down to the ward-room. The officers had retired to their apartments, and there was no one to see them enter the state-room. As it was now nearly ten o'clock, when all officers' lights must be extinguished, Somers formally asked and obtained permission to burn his lamp till eleven o'clock. The first lieutenant entered the room, and Somers closed the door. "Mr. Hackleford, may I trouble you to read this statement?" said Somers, as he handed out the paper he had so carefully prepared. The first lieutenant adjusted his eye-glass, and read the statement through, asking an explanation of two or three points as he proceeded. He was deeply absorbed in the narrative, which was drawn up with the utmost minuteness. "This is an infernal scheme, Mr. Somers. I hope you did not permit the vessel to sail without giving information of her character." "The Ben Nevis sailed from New York before I could do anything or say a word," said Somers, exhibiting Langdon's letter. "That was bad. You should have spoken before." "My paper explains my reasons for keeping still. Perhaps I was wrong, sir, but I did the best I knew how." "And this vessel is bound to Mobile. We may pick her up." "The note says she is bound to Mobile; but it is not true. That is a blind to deceive me." "Why should they wish to deceive you, after giving you their confidence." "I don't know the reason." "But what has all this to do with Mr. Pillgrim?" asked Mr. Hackleford. "Mr. Pillgrim is the person spoken of in that paper as Coles." "Impossible!" ejaculated Mr. Hackleford, springing to his feet. "I shall be able to prove it by to-morrow, sir." Somers then gave him the substance of the conversation between himself and Mr. Pillgrim. "Why, this Coles wants something of you." "Yes, sir; but I don't know what. He engaged to meet me here at four bells in the forenoon watch to-morrow, when he will tell me what he wants." "Very well, Mr. Somers; meet him as agreed. You have played your part well. When you come together, you must yield the point; lead him along, and you will bag him,--and the vessel, I hope." "The Ben Nevis will sail from St. John July 4, for Wilmington." "Ah, then she is about even with the Chatauqua. I would give a year's pay for the privilege of catching her." Until eleven o'clock the two officers consulted charts, and figured up the time of the Ben Nevis. CHAPTER XI. AFTER GENERAL QUARTERS.