"Be good enough to inspect the cargo that this craft may carry, as speedily as you can. But we will begin here, and see what these piles are that have been covered with canvas at the forward end of the cabin." "Rifle cases, beyond any doubt," nodded Noll, as he and Hal switched away the canvas covers. "Cases that appear built to hold rifles and ammunition, up forward, Overton," called Prescott, coming to the cabin door. "Yes; this boat is a gun-smuggler beyond a doubt," nodded Lieutenant Hal. "Even if we found no guns aboard we could hold the craft for a pirate, for the conduct of her commander in having his fellows fire on us." "A pirate? Father, is that true?" called the young woman, in a startling voice. "Hush, child. You don't understand such things," replied the man. "But, if this be true? Oh, I must get out of here and get air. I am stifling." "I shall be glad to assist you to the deck, madam, if you will permit me," offered Prescott, gravely, removing his cap. At an almost imperceptible sign from her father the girl quickly moved forward and vanished with Lieutenant Prescott. "I take it you're in command here," muttered the father. "I am," Hal nodded. "Then I want to talk with you," continued the stranger. "Lieutenant, of course I know that you've got me in a nasty position. I want to see how you can help me to get out of it." "If you really are in a bad position," Hal responded, gazing into the other's eyes, "I do not see how I can help you, for I am only the officer concerned with seizing this craft. I am not going to be your judge." "Oh, yes, you can," continued the other, sinking his voice still lower. "We can fix it all, I know, with money!" CHAPTER XX AN OFFICER AND HIS HONOR "I'm afraid you're as badly off as the hunter's dog," observed Lieutenant Hal coldly. "How is that?" "You're barking up the wrong tree." The purple-faced man looked searchingly into the clear, steady eyes of the young Army officer. Then he answered laughingly: "Oh, come, now. Don't try to keep me guessing too long, or I may lose my patience, and you may lose some money that you'd rather have. Up forward there's a stateroom, and the light is turned on in there. Just step into the stateroom, by yourself, and count--this." From a trousers pocket the purple-faced one had drawn a huge roll of bank-notes. Before Hal Overton could understand what was happening the stranger had pushed this roll of money into the young officer's hand. "That's only a starter--something down to prove good faith, you understand," whispered the stranger. "You--you _dog_!" cried Lieutenant Hal angrily. Swat! The compact roll of bank-notes struck the stranger in the face, then bounded to the floor at Hal's feet. The latter kicked the money away from him. "You needn't be so huffy about it," grumbled the other. "As I told you, that money is only a deposit paid down." "You'll go down, if you try anything more like that," uttered Lieutenant Hal wrathfully.