While Nat sat in the office of the harbor master, he listened to several cases that were being disposed of. Captains of tugs and other boats were arraigned on charges of violating rules of the harbor; such as displaying wrong lights, crossing the course of other boats at the improper time, failing to give warning signals, colliding with other craft, or not filing the proper reports.
Some of the men were fined, others were suspended for a certain length of time, and one or two had their licenses revoked.
"I wonder what he'll do to me?" thought Nat. "There doesn't seem to be any case just like mine."
He was interrupted in his musing by the entrance of Captain Turton.
"What's this I hear?" asked the commander wonderingly, after he had greeted his young pilot. "Are you in trouble, Nat?"
"It seems so," and the boy told the circumstances.
"Don't worry," advised Captain Turton cheerfully. "I'll stand by you, and we'll have that mate arrested as soon as he leaves the place."
"Is the Morton case ready?" asked the harbor master, looking about him, after he had disposed of all the other matters before him.
"The mate Bumstead isn't here yet," replied an officer who was in charge of the court. "Young Morton is here, and Captain Turtle----"
"I beg your pardon, my name is Turton," interrupted the commander of the _Mermaid_.
"Turton, I should say," corrected the court officer.
"Where is the person who made the charge--Bumstead the mate?" asked the harbor master.
"I have sent Officer Jenkins for him, sir. He'll be here directly. Ah, here is Jenkins now."
"Well, Jenkins," said the harbor master, "did you bring the mate back with you? This case has been delayed long enough."
"Because, sir, his ship has just sailed, and he's gone with her."
"I'll commit him for contempt of court!" exclaimed the harbor master. "Make out the papers at once," he added, turning to his clerk. "I will now take up this case, however, and proceed as far as possible. Give me the written accusation."
He looked over some papers, and, at a nod from him, Nat walked forward and stood in front of the big table. Then the harbor master read the complaint as made by Bumstead. It set out in a number of legal terms and phrases, that Nat Morton had, in violation of the regulations, piloted a vessel without having a license. The mate, it appeared, had heard of Nat's feat early that morning while the two vessels were docked, and had lost no time making his accusation, for mere spite.