I must go at once, though; so, if Mr.Norris will come on deck--" "Oh, but that won't do," interrupted Van Kyp.

"He must get off the ship without any one on deck seeing him." With this he explained the situation to the ensign, who readily grasped it, and said: "All right.

I'll run my boat in under this sideport, and he can drop out of it if the sentry will let him pass." Of course the guard at the wide freight port left open for a better circulation of air between decks would allow Ridge to pass, for he was one of their own troop, and knew that the sergeant had been ordered ashore.

To give him further assurance that everything was all right, Ridge said: "It is my duty, you know, to go in the first boat that offers, since Major Dodley undoubtedly left some time since.

He said he would only wait two minutes, and as that was fully five minutes ago, he ought to be ashore by now." Thus it happened that while the messenger who had been ordered to fetch Sergeant Norris of the Rough Riders was still fuming over the unpardonable delay of the trooper, and threatening all sorts of unpleasant things for him when he did appear, Ridge gained the railroad wharf without being observed from the deck of the transport.