Page:Barbour--For the freedom from the seas.djvu/70

 a sneering and haughty smile on his good-looking face. As Nelson observed him he spoke to the ensign.

"What you find there will be of no use to you," he said. "If you seek to prove us guilty of anything unlawful, sir, you are doomed to disappointment." He spoke in very precise English which might well have deceived his hearer until the latter had viewed the typically German countenance with its rather small gray eyes under heavy brows, its somewhat aquiline nose, high cheeks, carefully waxed mustaches and general expression of arrogance.

"We will let others decide that," replied the ensign coldly. He bundled the few papers and a small black leatherette-covered book together and placed them with care in the inner pocket of his jacket. Then: "Place these instruments, as many as you can, back in this box, Troy," he directed. "Hello, what's the matter with your arm?"

"I think a bullet got me, sir."

"Let me see. I should say so! Get his sleeve out of the way, Endicott. Better cut it. That's it." He made a tourniquet above the wound from which the blood was running freely. "You go on up, lad. Call Masters down to help you." 48