"Why did you tell me beforehand, if you intended to catch me with the treasonable offer?" asked Somers, rather mortified to learn that he had been duped from the beginning. "I knew you would pretend to accept it. All I wanted was to get you to take the commission, orders, and oath. As you agreed to sign the latter, Langdon did it for you, for I could not wait." "The Ben Nevis is no humbug?" "No; I bought her and two other steamers on the Clyde, in Scotland. The Ben Nevis was captured, but my friends bought her after she was condemned. As there had been a great deal said about her in the newspapers, I used her because it was probable you had heard of her." "I had." "Everything works as I intended." "Not exactly," thought Somers. "The captain of the coaster that pounded you that night was Langdon," laughed Pillgrim. "Why was that done?" "That I might take you back to the hotel, and be your friend. We did not intend to hurt you much. It was important that you should think well of me. You do--don't you?" "Of course." "All right now; remember you are mine, Somers," said Pillgrim, as he left the room. CHAPTER XII. THE BEN NEVIS. The Chatauqua rolled along easily on her course during the rest of the day, until the dog watch, when Mr. Pillgrim had the deck again. Somers, having discharged his whole duty in reference to the conspiracy, was content to leave the matter in the hands of Mr. Hackleford, to whom he had committed it. At eight bells, as soon as Somers had been relieved from the afternoon watch, he was not a little surprised to receive a message from the captain, inviting him to his cabin. He readily came to the conclusion that the summons related to the conspiracy. When he entered the cabin, he saw Captain Cascabel and Mr. Hackleford seated at the table, on which was spread a general chart of the coast of the United States. "Say what you wish to Mr. Somers," said the captain to the first lieutenant. "Mr. Somers, Captain Cascabel has sent for you in relation to the affair of which we talked in your state-room last night," Mr. Hackleford began. "All that you have written out in your statement, and all that you told me, have been fully confirmed." "I intended to confine myself strictly to the facts," replied Somers, modestly. "You have been very discreet and very prudent," added Mr. Hackleford. "I fully concur," said Captain Cascabel. "You have exposed yourself to no little peril, in your zeal to serve your country." Somers bowed and blushed. "I confess that I had some doubts in regard to the result of your operations, Mr. Somers," continued the first lieutenant; "but I am entirely satisfied now that Mr. Pillgrim is just what you represent him to be." "All that you affirmed has been fully verified," added the captain.