On the contrary, they will be punished for whatever breaches of Naval discipline they have committed.

Considering what you gentlemen have admitted, however, I do not believe you would have any standing as witnesses before a court-martial.

I therefore advise you all to drop your complaint.

Yet if you insist on a complaint, then I will see to it that Midshipman Totten is brought to trial." Crane and his associates felt, very quickly and keenly, that they would cut but sorry figures in such a trial.

They therefore begged to withdraw their former complaint.