"State the exception, Ensign Darrin," ordered the captain, coldly.

"The exception, sir, is that Cosetta's fellows opened fire on us
first."

Dave Darrin stood looking straight into Captain Gales's eyes.

"Ensign Darrin, did you do anything to provoke that fire?" asked
the commanding officer.

"Yes, sir," Dave admitted.

"Ah!" breathed Captain Gales, while Cantor gave an almost inaudible
ejaculation of triumph.

"What was it, sir, that you did to provoke Cosetta into ordering his
fellows to fire?" questioned Captain Gales.

"Why, sir, I found and rescued the Americans after whom you sent
me," Dave explained. "They were Cosetta's prisoners. There was
not a shot fired on either side until after I had placed the released
prisoners under the protection of my own men, and had started away
with them. Then the Mexican bandits opened fire on us."

"Couldn't you have escaped without returning the fire?"

"We might have been able to do so, sir."

"Then why didn't you?" pressed the captain.