"For a good reason, my papers are not regular," answered the captain of the Ionian, with an attempt to be more affable, though it did not seem to be in his nature to be anything but a brute in his manners. "Regular or not, you will oblige me by exhibiting them," the officer insisted. "It is not my fault that a change was made in my orders after I got under way," pleaded Captain Sawlock. "Will you produce your clearance and other papers?" demanded the lieutenant very decidedly. "This is an American vessel, and you have no right to overhaul me in this manner," growled the captain of the steamer. "You are in command of a steamer, and you cannot be so ignorant as to believe that an officer of a man-of-war has not the right to require you to show your papers," added Mr. Birdwing with a palpable sneer. "This is an American vessel," repeated Captain Sawlock. "Then why did you hoist the British flag?" "That's my business!" "But it is mine also. Do you decline to show your papers? You are trifling with me," said Mr. Birdwing impatiently. At this moment there was a scuffle in the waist of the steamer, which attracted the attention of all on the deck. Mr. Gilfleur had suddenly thrown himself on the first officer of the Ionian; and when his second officer and several sailors had gone to his assistance, the third lieutenant of the Chateaugay had rushed in to the support of the Frenchman. The man-of-war's men were all armed with cutlasses and revolvers; but they did not use their weapons, and it looked like a rough-and-tumble fight on the deck. Mr. Birdwing and Christy rushed over to the starboard side of the steamer; but Mr. Carlin and his men had so effectively sustained the detective that the affray had reached a conclusion before they could interfere. Mr. Gilfleur was crawling out from under two or three men who had thrown themselves upon him when he brought the first officer to the deck by jumping suddenly upon him. The Frenchman had in his hand a tin case about a foot in length, and three inches in diameter, such as are sometimes used to contain charters, or similar valuable papers. The contest had plainly been for the possession of this case, which the quick eye of the detective had discovered as the mate was carrying it forward; for Mr. Carlin had sent two of his men to the stern at the request of the Frenchman, charged to allow no one to throw anything overboard. The first officer of the Ionian had listened to the conversation between Captain Sawlock and the first lieutenant, and had gone below into the cabin when it began to be a little stormy. "What does all this mean, Mr. Carlin?" inquired Mr. Birdwing. "I simply obeyed my orders to support Mr. Gilfleur; and he can explain his action better than I can," replied the third lieutenant. "I have requested the officers, through Captain Chantor, to see that nothing was thrown overboard, either before or after we boarded the steamer," interposed Christy.