But, gentlemen"-- -here Captain Gales' voice sank low, yet vibrated with intense earnestness---"all of you will realize the extreme importance of your mission, and the awful consequences of failure.
Therefore, I feel certain that none of you will break the Navy's long list of traditions for zealous, careful, successful performance of duty.

Lieutenant Cantor will be in command of the expedition, as a whole." For some minutes the officers remained in the captain's quarters, discussing further the important work of the coming night.
As no instructions for secrecy had been asked or expected, Commander Bainbridge soon told the news to a few of the "_Long Island's_" ranking officers, who, in turn passed it on.
"Of all the luck that some officers have!" groaned Lieutenant Trent, as he passed Dave Darrin.

"How did you work it, Darrin, to secure one of the details for to-night that any subordinate officer on this ship would have been delighted to see come his way ?" "I don't know," Dave laughingly admitted.
"Darrin, are you hard up ?" asked Lieutenant Holton, five minutes later.
"I have a few dollars left," Dave smiled.
"If you can get me shifted to your detail for to-night I'll reward you with a month of my pay," promised the lieutenant.
"Thank you," Dave smiled, gravely.

"Even if the change could be easily arranged, I'm afraid I wouldn't give up my chance for six months' pay." "No chance for me, then," sighed Holton.

"I can't remember that I ever had six months' of my pay together at one time." "Darrin," exclaimed Lieutenant Commander Denton, still a little later, "I never realized that you had so much impudence! The idea of a mere ensign leading such an expedition ashore to-night! I wanted that myself." "I am not at all sure that my performance will be one of glory," smiled Darrin.
"It won't, if Cantor can manage to queer you in any way," murmured Denton to himself, as he moved on.
In the ward-room that evening the "impertinence" of two new ensigns in capturing such prized details was commented upon with a great deal of chaffing.