Then around the corner came a boatswain's mate and eight keep even a crowd of rascals in order men from one of the American warships.

It was a shore duty party returning to a ship! "Boatswain's mate!" Dave shouted.

"Here!" "Aye, aye, sir!" On the double quick came the shore duty party.

Dave Darrin found himself surrounded by blue jackets.
"This lady is very nervous, and with good reason," Dave explained to the boatswain's mate.

"She just had a handbag of money snatched from her by a thief.