Whereupon he pressed upon each Jack Tar a couple of twenty-dollar bills.

“We’ve a couple of hours of shore leave left to us,” grinned one of the sailors.  “Is there anyone else you want caught, friend?”

By the time that Farnum, Pollard and Captain Jack had returned to the pier they found a midshipman awaiting them.

“Admiral Bentley’s compliments, gentlemen,” said the midshipman.  “He begs you to go to him aboard the flagship.  He has information of importance to communicate to you concerning the missing steward.”

“By the way,” laughed Mr. Farnum, contentedly, “that steward is no longer missing.  We’ve just had the pleasure of seeing him placed under lock and key, where he’ll keep until he’s wanted.”

“Will you come aboard the flagship in our launch?” asked the midshipman.

“Yes, thank you,” replied Farnum.  Thereupon Jack signaled to Hal Hastings, aboard the “Pollard,” which lay to, not far off, to return to moorings.

“Catch your man?” yelled Hal, through a megaphone.  His chum nodded in the affirmative.

“Toot! toot! toot!” sounded the “Pollard’s” auto-whistle, in three long, triumphant blasts.

Arrived at the flagship, the midshipman conducted the visitors at once to the admiral’s office.

“Did you catch the rascal?” asked that fine old officer.

“Yes, sir,” nodded Farnum, and gave a quick, brief account of the capture.

“Captain Benson appear’s to be your lucky star to-day,” laughed the admiral.  “By the way, captain, I must congratulate you most warmly on that daring, magic dive.  Your boat is surely in a new class.  But now to other interesting business.  After you had gone it occurred to me to make a most thorough investigation into the whole matter of that steward.

“Your man Miller certainly displayed considerable originality in his attempt to hide from the law.  He had been aboard for some time.  He plainly realized that about the last place detectives would ever think to look for criminals would be among the crew of a battleship.  We always require references for any man we enlist, and always look up the references.  I have yet to satisfy myself as to how the fellow Miller managed to get around the matter of references.  However, he got aboard, and was all but safe from pursuit.  Moreover, this flagship is scheduled to sail for the European station as soon as the manoeuvres are over.  Miller, I imagine, intended to desert when in European waters.  By that time, as police pursuit would have cooled, he must have figured that he would be rather safe from the law.

“I have investigated his doings aboard this boat.  Among other things I have learned that he deposited with our paymaster, taking a receipt for the same, an iron box—­a small affair—­which, the fellow said, contained papers regarding the history of his family.  He had been years in getting the papers together, he explained to the paymaster, and wanted them put in a place of safe-keeping.”