Part 14 (1/2)

”What's going on here?” he asked sternly.

”My hammock gave way with me, sir,” reported Ned, saluting.

”Did some one pull it down?”

”I don't think so, sir.”

Frank, who had been bending over the end of the hammock, gave a startled cry.

”The ropes have been cut!” he exclaimed.

CHAPTER XIII-TARGET PRACTICE

For a moment silence followed Frank's startling announcement. Then the officer asked:

”What do you mean?”

”I mean, sir,” replied Frank, ”that the ropes of my brother's hammock were partly cut through, so that when his weight came on them they gave way. That is how it happened.”

”Are you sure?”

”You may look for yourself, sir.”

In the gleam of the incandescent deck lights Frank held out the end of the hammock where the ropes were joined to the canvas. Ned had limped to one side and sat down, for his leg pained him.

”You are right,” said the officer, after a quick inspection. ”Who cut those ropes?” he asked, sternly.

Of course no one answered. Probably the officer did not expect that any one would. He looked about at the circle of jackies, some of whom were grinning broadly. Frank looked angry-Ned had a pained look on his face.

”If I find out who did this,” went on the officer, ”I'll make him smart for it. Turn in, all of you! I'll have another hammock a.s.signed to you,”

he remarked to Ned. ”Do you need medical a.s.sistance?”

”No, sir. Thank you. I think I'll be all right.”

The officer wheeled about and marched off, and a little later one of the sailors, who had charge of the store room, came and told Ned where he could get a hammock.

”I'll get it,” offered Frank. ”You take it easy.”

”Oh, I'm not so badly off as all that.”

”Well, save yourself all you can. I'll get the hammock.” And Frank did.

As he came back with it he heard Hank saying to some one:

”Well it happened all right, didn't it?”

”What happened?” asked Frank, quickly, a suspicion growing rapidly in his mind.