Battleship Boys at Sea; Or, Two Apprentices in Uncle Sam's Navy

by Frank Gee Patchin

  CHAPTER II--IN UNCLE SAM'S NAVY

  "Do you know where you are going?"

  "No, but I shall find out pretty soon, Sam."

  Dan Davis paused, pointing off over the beautiful Narragansett Bay towhere the cage masts of two big battleships were observable, toweringhigh above a point of land.

  "Do you see them?"

  "Yes."

  "Who knows but we may be on one of those ships in three months from now.I wish we were going there to-day."

  The lads were standing on a rise of ground just in front of theexecutive building of the Newport, R. I., training station. A long,green lawn sloped down to the water's edge where a fleet of cuttersbelonging to the station, swayed idly at their moorings. On beyond, laythe old "Constitution," fully rigged, a handsome craft despite the factthat more than a hundred years had elapsed since she left the hands ofher builders. The boys did not know her name, but they did know that shebelonged to another age. To the right, lay the "Cumberland," a fullrigged sailing ship; the "Boxer," a barkentine, and some distance fromthe latter they saw moored to a wharf the "Reina Mercedes," capturedduring the war with Spain.

  Dan's eyes lighted up and his face glowed with pleasure.

  "Beautiful!" he breathed.

  "It might be if I had some breakfast inside of me," answered Sam Hickey."We haven't had a thing to eat since we had that plate of ham and eggsin New York yesterday. I'm hungry enough to eat anything."

  The hour was still early, and few of the apprentices of the trainingschool were to be seen on the grounds of the station.

  "Then come along. We will see whether we can find some one to directus."

  The lads started on again. As they came abreast of the flagstaff fromwhich floated the Stars and Stripes, Dan halted. Coming to attention hesaluted the Flag respectfully.

  Sam Hickey grinned, but he did not salute.

  "Why do you do that every time?" he questioned.

  "Because it is the Flag of our country, Sam. Always salute the Flagwhenever you see it. You will find that we shall be expected to do sofrom this time on."

  "You never did that to the Flag in front of the High School at home."

  "Perhaps I did not know then," answered Dan, with a smile.

  They moved on, gazing about them with the keenest interest. A momentlater Dan caught sight of an officer, clad completely in white,approaching them at a brisk pace.

  "I'm going to ask him where we should go," said Sam.

  "No; let me do that. I am afraid you will make a mess of it," laughedDan. "Officers are very particular as to how they are addressed. PerhapsI shan't do it right, but I think I know how it ought to be done."

  Sam muttered something that his companion did not catch. In fact, Danwas not listening. His eyes were fixed on the dignified figureapproaching them. When within eight or ten paces of the officer Danhalted, raising his right hand in salute as he came to attention.

  The salute was answered by the officer, who, noting that the boy wishedto speak to him, also halted.

  "What is it, my lad?" he demanded in a sharp, incisive tone.

  "We are new recruits, sir. Will you kindly direct us where to go?"

  "When did you get in?"

  "This morning."

  "From what station?"

  "We enlisted at the recruiting office in South Street, New York, sir."

  The officer surveyed them inquiringly for a moment. His examinationevidently was satisfying, for he nodded approvingly.

  "You will go to the detention barracks first."

  "Will you kindly tell me where that is, sir?"

  "Follow this walk. The detention barracks is the third building on yourleft."

  "Whom shall we ask for, sir?"

  "Inquire for Chief Quartermaster Broder, if you do not see him at once.He will probably see you first, however. You had better make haste, forthe men are about ready for breakfast there."

  "Yes, sir; thank you, sir," answered Dan, saluting and moving on.

  "My, he's so full of dignity it's a wonder he doesn't explode,"commented Sam, after they had gone on a few steps.

  "He has a right to be dignified," replied Dan.

  "How so?"

  "He is a captain in the United States Navy. I would rather be that thanPresident of the United States."

  "Does he earn as much money as the president does?"

  "Oh, no; not by a great many thousand dollars."

  "Then me for the presidency," concluded the irrepressible Sam.

  "There's the barracks."

  A few minutes later the lads presented themselves at the door of thedetention barracks. They were met by an officer wearing the insignia ofa chief quartermaster.

  "Are you Mr. Broder, sir?" asked Dan.

  "Yes; who are you?"

  "My name is Dan Davis. My companion is Sam Hickey. We enlisted in NewYork yesterday. We have come to report for instruction."

  "Where are your papers?"

  The lad presented them.

  After reading the papers, the quartermaster turned on his heel.

  "Come with me," he said.

  The boys were conducted to a bathroom, where they were directed todisrobe and take a shower bath. After the bath, they were once moreexamined by a surgeon, who pronounced them to be in splendid physicalcondition.

  Sam's face wore a smile. It was all highly amusing to him, but when thequartermaster finally conducted them to another room, where severaluniforms were laid out on a table, the boy began to feel a keenerinterest.

  The petty officer glanced over the display of clothes, then picking outtwo suits, handed them to the lads.

  "Put these on," he said, "then report to me."

  It did not take the boys long to get into their new white uniforms.

  "I wish I had a looking glass," grumbled Sam.

  "What for? I can tell you how you look."

  "How do I look?"

  "Well, barring the freckles, you look as if you might be a jackie someday. But don't stand there with your shoulders slouched forward. Standup and act as if you were proud of the uniform you are wearing. Here, wehaven't put on our leggins yet."

  "Leggins? Do we wear those things?"

  "Yes. Otherwise we shall be dressed just like the sailors on the warships."

  At that moment the quartermaster entered. He stood surveying themcritically.

  "What shall we do with our citizen clothes?" asked Dan.

  "Leave them. I will have them taken care of. Do you wish them sent toyour homes?"

  "No, sir; it is not necessary. I presume we shall be permitted to takethem aboard ship with us when we leave here?"

  "That depends upon what ship you join."

  "What are we to do now, sir?"

  "In the first place I will instruct you about your clothing. These bagshere will answer for your trunks. All your belongings will be kept inthem," said the quartermaster, exhibiting two canvas bags, about threefeet long, and on which the names of the boys had been stamped with astencil. "Each piece of clothing must be folded neatly, rolled uptightly and secured with a white cotton stop two inches from the end ofthe roll."

  Sam measured off what he thought to be two inches with his fingers.

  "The clothes are to be stowed in the bags in layers of three pieces,each layer at right angles to the one below it."

  "What's all that for? Why not stuff them in till the bag's full?"interrupted Sam.

  The petty officer fixed him with a stern eye.

  "Don't ask unnecessary questions, young man," rebuked the officer,whereat Sam subsided.

  "Is there any system, other than what you have spoken of, for stowingthe clothes, sir?" questioned Dan respectfully.

  "Yes. I'll explain. Place the blue clothes and cap in the bottom of thebag, white clothes and hats next, small bags, socks and other articleson top. Secure the bag with two turns of the lanyard as close down onthe contents as possible--this way. Do you understand?"

  "Yes, sir; thank you, sir."

  "That will
be all for the present. Have you had your breakfast?"

  "No, sir, and we're half starved," spoke up Sam Hickey quickly. "I couldeat a horse."

  "No comments, please. Remember, men, you are now full fledged rookies.You are in the service of the United States Government and you mustremember to conduct yourselves accordingly. I will see that you getfurther instruction after breakfast."

  The bugle was blowing the breakfast call at that moment. Thequartermaster conducted the lads outside the building and around intoanother apartment where a group of white-uniformed young fellows werestanding about waiting for the command to seat themselves at the tables.

  "Fall to!" commanded the officer.

  There followed a rattling of dishes and a scraping of feet as theapprentices seated themselves at the long table, each with a keen zestfor his morning meal.