Battleship Boys' First Step Upward; Or, Winning Their Grades as Petty Officers
Page 11
CHAPTER XI
ON THE ANCHOR WATCH
Dan hurried aft, without delay, for a summons from the captain meantthat no unnecessary delay would be tolerated.
Dan reported and the orderly announced him. The lad entered thecaptain's office, which was also used as a dining room and stoodwaiting for his superior to speak.
Dan's ear was done up in adhesive plaster, and a bandage had been woundunder his chin and up over his head, giving him the appearance of beingmuch worse off than he really was.
"Davis, I hear you have had an accident?"
"Yes, sir; a slight one, sir. It is of no great consequence, sir."
"I understand differently. I should say that it is of greaterconsequence than you imagine. The master-at-arms is quite sure that anattempt has been made to do you serious injury, if not worse."
"Perhaps it was not so bad as that, sir. It was a pretty close call,just the same. I am sorry to have been the cause of so muchdisturbance on board, sir."
"I am sorry, too, but not for that reason. I am sorry, deeply grievedthat there is a man on board the 'Long Island' base enough to commit,or attempt to commit, such a crime. It is quite evident that you had avery narrow escape. I trust you are not suffering greatly from thewound?"
"Very little, sir."
"I am glad of that."
"Thank you, sir."
"In view of the fact that you are the person most directly interested,outside of myself, I have sent for you to direct you to devote everyeffort toward learning who your assailant was. It is of vitalimportance that we locate the man and send him up for generalcourt-martial. Of course, he will be severely punished and thendismissed from the service. You have no suspicions?"
"None at all, sir."
"Have you had any difficulty with any of the men?"
"Not that I can recall at the present moment, sir. I would notintentionally give any man cause for such enmity."
"I am sure of that, lad. Have you watched the men who might possiblyhave been implicated in this?"
"I have not had an opportunity, sir. And, besides, I should not knowwhom to watch. I am wholly at a loss to account for the attempt."
"I understand. But keep your eyes open. You will be the best personto find the man. You will feel instinctively that you have the rightman, before any of the rest of us could have a suspicion. Have yourfriend do a little investigating also. I have an idea that he is avery shrewd boy. If either of you need any leisure time in which tomake your investigations, then inform the master-at-arms, and say thatI told you to do so. I trust to your good sense to carry on thisinvestigation in a discreet manner."
"I think you may trust us, sir. I am as anxious as anyone to find theman who did this to me," touching his ear gingerly.
"How are you getting along with your work on the seven-inch?"
"Fairly, sir. I find there is a great deal to learn. May I ask youradvice, sir?"
"Go on, lad. I am listening."
"I have been thinking that I should like to take a course in one of theseaman-gunner classes at the Torpedo Station in Newport. Will you tellme, sir, what to do to enter such a class?"
"Certainly. Your ambition is a laudable one. However, you have notbeen in the service long enough for that as yet. I should advise youto continue your duties on shipboard for a year longer. Then you willbe well fitted for the gunner class. Your marks on shipboard mustaverage seventy-five per cent. That will entitle you to admission.The course is six months. In it you will learn the assembling of gunsand everything to do with the practical part of ordnance. I can giveyou some further books along this line, if you wish."
"I do, indeed, sir. I find I have considerable leisure time in whichto study. I am working for promotion."
"With your ability, my lad, you will get promotion eventually withoutgoing to the school. But it will be an excellent idea for you to go.There you will learn theory as well as practice. After you have serveda year, then, it might not be a bad idea to take the eight months'course at the Torpedo Station, where you will learn all about torpedoesand mines. If you hope to rise in the service you will have to knowall this, and more. Do you know anything of navigation?"
"Yes, sir; I am studying that now."
"Excellent. Who is teaching you?"
"I am teaching myself."
"I would suggest that you have one of the quartermasters help you. Hewill do so gladly, and you will possibly avoid falling into errors thatyou will find troublesome later in your course."
"Yes, sir."
"That will be all. The bugle is piping gun crews up, so you had bettergo to your station. Ord'ly!"
The orderly stepped in and saluted.
"Tell the chief quartermaster that I wish to see him when he is atleisure."
"Yes, sir."
Dan hastened to his station, more proud than ever. He could hardlywait until the crew was piped down again to tell Hickey of theencouragement he had received from the commanding officer. Dandetermined that Sam should go with him when the time came to go to thegunners' class at Newport, and, with that in view, he had a long talkwith his chum that afternoon, urging him to study and work hard that hemight be far enough advanced to take the course.
At quarters that night Dan Davis's name was called among those who wereto go on watch. He was to take the anchor watch, which would place himon the quarter-deck from eight until twelve o'clock. Both lads had hadother watches, but this was the first time either had been on anchorwatch, the watch that is always set when the vessel is in port or atanchor.
The Battleship Boy was pleased. Only those men in whom their superiorshad confidence, were ever chosen for these duties, for no littleresponsibility rests on the watch, especially at night.
The lad's superior on this watch was a midshipman named Carter, aclean-cut, bright young officer who had on several occasions hadopportunity to speak to Dan complimenting him on certain well-performedduties.
"Davis, are you on watch to-night?" he asked as Dan approached,saluting.
"Yes, sir."
"How is your wound?"
"Improving, sir, thank you."
"Seeing you are on anchor watch with me, I will let you take charge ofthe extra-duty squad."
This squad is obliged to remain on duty after the regular hours of workbecause of some trifling offences. In such cases it is customary togive the squad some light work to do. Now and then the men would beobliged to stand at attention with their rifles for half an hour at atime. Different officers employ different methods with theirextra-duty squads.
"Aye, aye, sir," answered Dan, his heart giving a jump, for this was tobe his first real command. To all intents he was an officer. He wasto command this unhappy squad of shipmates and assist in theirpunishment. When this thought came to him the boy did not feel half soelated as he had been a moment before.
"What do you wish me to do with them, sir?"
"I will leave that to you. They are not doing anything just now.Perhaps you had better march them about the deck for a time. However,do as you think best."
Dan walked over to where the six delinquents were standing ruefully,with guns over their shoulders.
"Men, I am to have charge of you during this watch. How long are youto be on duty?"
"Two hours, sir."
"You are to be released at ten o'clock, then?"
"Yes, sir."
"Very good. We will now have a few moments in the manual of arms.Attention! Present arms! Carry arms! Port arms! Right face! Carryarms! Forward march!"
The midshipman smiled as the measured tramp of feet attracted hisattention, the extra-duty squad in single file marching steadily towardthe stern of the vessel.
"Column right, march! Column right, march! Halt!"
The men halted. They were now facing the superstructure.
"Right face!"
"Men, I am going to form you into a guard. Count off."
"One, two, three, four, five
, six," counted the men.
"Numbers one and two will take the forward end of the deck, three andfour the port and starboard sides respectively, with numbers five andsix at the stern. Each set will march back and forth from oppositeends of their stations, patroling their beats. You will carryyourselves like soldiers. Remember, you are on guard duty. You areresponsible for this part of the ship. Let no person pass unless he ishalted, and then gives the countersign."
"What is the countersign, sir?"
Dan reflected. He had not thought of that. It would not do to letthem see that he was at a loss to answer the question.
"I think, men," said Dan, with a smile, "that a pretty good countersignfor you will be 'Never again.' Yes, that is the countersign. To yourposts, forward march!"
Six faces, reflecting as many grins of appreciation, marched to theirposts, which they began patroling, marching back and forth in oppositedirections.
The midshipman, officer of the deck, halted in his leisurely pacing upand down the deck, glancing at the sentries with a puzzled look.
"Now what is that boy Davis up to, I should like to know?" he wondered."Ah, I see. He has turned out a guard. Not a half-bad idea, at that.He will do. He ought to be an officer, with such resourcefulness as heshows on every occasion."
The officer of the deck resumed his walk, forgetting all about theformation for which Dan was responsible. But it was brought to hisnotice in a most forcible manner half an hour later.
The night was moonless, and heavy clouds had settled down, enshroudingthe ship in a gloom that was broken here and there by the faint raysfrom a port hole.
Shortly after nine o'clock the captain came up from below for a look atthe weather and a breath of fresh air before turning in. He paused atthe top of the hatchway, glanced about the deck, then started pacing upand down as was the midshipman doing on the opposite side.
"Halt!" ordered a voice sternly.
The captain glanced up in surprise. He found himself facing a Kragrifle.
"What--what----"
"Who goes there?"
"A friend," he answered instinctively.
"Advance, friend, and give the countersign."
Something of the truth began to dawn upon the quick mind of thecommanding officer.
"I do not know the countersign, my man. But I am the commander of thisship."
"Officer of the deck, sir," called the sentry.
The officer of the deck hastened to the spot.
"Sir, stranger without the countersign."
"Man, what do you mean? This is the captain of this ship whom you havehalted. What do you mean?"
"Orders, sir, to let no one pass unless he has the countersign."
"Who is responsible for this?" demanded the captain in a half amusedtone.
"I let young Davis take charge of the extra-duty squad, and he formedthe men into a guard. They had been patroling the deck for the lasthour. I did not interfere, not having any idea the affair would becarried this far, sir. I'm sorry, sir. Man, lower your gun."
"Wait, wait!" exclaimed the captain, raising a restraining hand. "Thisman has his orders. He is quite right. It is a most excellent idea.Fine training for these young men. What is the countersign, Carter?"
"I--I don't know, sir."
"What, you the officer of the deck and not know the countersign? I amsurprised, sir. Where is Seaman Davis?"
"He was here a moment ago."
Dan at that moment was peering from behind the twelve-inch-gun turret,fairly aghast at the situation in which his efforts to do somethingoriginal had involved them.
"Davis!" called the officer of the deck, in a sharp voice.
"This is where I get it!" muttered the boy. "Aye, aye, sir," heanswered promptly, stepping from behind the turret and hastening towardthe group.
"What does this farce mean, sir?" demanded the midshipman.
"I will attend to this, Mr. Carter. Davis, these are your men, arethey not?"
"Ye--yes, sir."
"You ordered them to let no one pass unless he had the countersign?"
"Yes, sir."
"My man, you did quite right," announced the captain, addressing thesentry. "Davis, will you be good enough to give me the countersign?"
"'Never again,'" whispered Dan in the ear of his commanding officer.
"What's that? I asked you for the countersign."
"The countersign is 'never again.'"
For a moment the captain stared, then he roared with laughter.
"'Never again,' my man," he said, whereat the sentry instantly loweredhis rifle.
"Well, if that doesn't beat anything I ever heard!" chuckled thecaptain, grasping Dan by the arm and leading him over to the starboardside of the deck.