"What this mean, honorable Captain?" demanded Kamanako, a look of
offense beginning to creep into his little, brown face.

"Well, if you must have it," returned Benson, coldly, "it means that
I've found you spying into our mechanisms here. Now, a spy is a
creature no one cares to have about--least of all on a warship."

"You call me spy--call me ugly name like that?" cried Kamanako, showing
his teeth.

"Get your hat and go up on deck. Do you hear me?" insisted Captain Jack.

"I hear you, but I please myself about when I do it," retorted the
Japanese, drawing himself up to his full though not very imposing height.

"Then you'll go without waiting for your hat," retorted Benson, his
patience rapidly oozing now. He started toward the Japanese, just
as Eph, hearing the sound of talking, looked in and down the staircase.

"Gunpowder and smoke!" ejaculated the carroty-topped boy. "It's little
chocolate drop!"

"Are you going up on deck quietly and in an orderly way?" demanded
Benson, a resolute glitter in his clear, blue eyes.

"I please myself," retorted Kamanako, defiantly.

At that Jack Benson promptly forgot the warning he had given Eph, and
sprang at the inquisitive steward.