"One of your men, or at least, one in a midshipman's uniform, went in there at eleven o'clock this forenoon, and he hasn't been out since.

It is now nearly two o'clock and, I've been looking for some midshipmen to inform." Such had been the storekeeper's careful statement.

The merchants of Annapolis always have a kindly feeling toward these fine young midshipmen.

The storekeeper's purpose was to enable them to help their comrade out.
So the five had entered the laundry.

The proprietor, Chow Hop, had attempted to bar their way to the rear room.
But Dave had seized the yellow man and had flung him aside.
The reader already knows what they discovered, and how it affected these young men.
"Bring that copper-colored chink in here, if you'll be so good," directed Dave.
Dan and Hallam departed on the quest.
"You're wanted in there," proclaimed Dalzell, jerking a thumb over his shoulder.
"Me no sabby," replied Chow Hop, looking up briefly from his ironing board.
"Get in there--do you hear ?" commanded Hallam, gripping the other's arm with all his force.
"You lemme go chop-chop (quickly), or you get alle samee hurt--you sabby ?" scowled Chow Hop, using his free hand to raise a heavy flat-iron menacingly.
But Dan Dalzell jumped in, giving the Chinaman's wrist a wrench that caused him to drop the iron.
Then, without a bit of ceremony, Dan grasped the Oriental by the shoulders, wheeled him about, while he protested in guttural tones, and bluntly kicked the yellow-faced one through the door into the inner room.
At this summary proceeding both the Chinese helpers gripped their flat-irons firmly; and leaped forward to fight.
In an ugly temper the Chinaman is a bad man to oppose.