Pagina 266 van 416

Of all this Code had been ignorant, for the conversation had

taken place too far aft for him to hear. His first warning was

when the sailors marched past the window and Nat reluctantly

opened the door of the old storeroom.

"Officers are here to get you, Schofield," said the skipper of

the Nettie B. "Come out."

Wonderingly, Code stepped into the sunlight and open air and saw

the officer with his escort. With the resignation that he had

summoned during his five days of imprisonment he accepted his

fate.

"I am ready," he said. "Let's go as soon as possible."

"Captain Schofield," said the subaltern, "you are to be

transferred, and I trust you will deem it advisable to go

peaceably."

Catching sight of the six armed sailors, Code could not help

grinning.

"There's no question about it," he said; "I will."

"Form cordon!" ordered the officer, and the sailors surrounded

him--two before, two beside, and two behind. In this order they

marched to the cutter.