"I've no quarter to give you, and am surprised at your impertinence in asking for it," the doctor answered, passing on. Tommy was somewhat surprised at this abrupt answer, and stood still, wondering where he could go and what he could do next, when, fortunately, he met Wild Charley. "Say," he exclaimed, "where will I find the quartermaster?" "That's his room," replied Wild Charley, pointing to the right. "What do you want with him?" "I'm sent for signals." "Do you know what they are?" "Of course I do. Don't take me for a fool," answered Tommy, looking up with considerable pride. "All right, my son. When you want to turn in, come down to the bunk I showed you. Yours is the same as mine." "I'll be there," replied Tommy. He knocked at the quartermaster's door, and was told to enter. "What is it, boy," asked the officer, without looking up from some accounts which he was attentively studying. "Captain's sent for usual signals, sir." "Take them out of that locker." There were two lockers, and, unfortunately, Tommy mistook the direction in which the quartermaster waved his hand. The consequence was that he took up two signals which he should have left alone. "Got 'em?" queried the quartermaster. "Yes, sir," answered Tommy, hauling off the two lights. "Get along, then." CHAPTER VIII. THE WRONG SIGNALS. Tommy lost no time in getting on deck, and reaching the bridge, found that the third officer was in charge, the captain and the second officer having retired to the cabin of the former to consult the chart as to some questions in dispute between them. "Give me those lights," exclaimed the third officer, who had been instructed to burn them. They were handed over, and at once sent up. Bright and brilliant they shot up, and flashed in the clear, dark blue sky. Scarcely had they died away when the captain returned and took his place on the bridge. "Signaled her, Mr. Simmons?" he said. "Yes, sir," replied the third officer. Scarcely had he spoken when an answering signal appeared shooting up from the deck of the passing steamer. "By jingo! that's queer," said the captain. "Very strange, indeed, sir," replied the third officer. "What do you understand by that?" "It's heave to, or I'm mistaken; but, really, I don't understand the whole code as well as I ought. I must take the book in hand." "See, she's altering her course. We'll show our ensign, and alter the ship's course a few points to the northwest." "Ay, ay, sir." The necessary change was made, and the two steamers approached each other. When they got within hailing distance a voice shouted: "Ship ahoy!" "_Umbria_," was the reply. "Where from, and how long out?" "New York, six hours." "What in thunder," was the next question, "do you want to fool us by signaling that you were in distress and out of provisions?" "We sent up the ordinary signals, to make out who you were." "Some mistake. Do you want anything?" "No."