"Say, Frank, when do you think we'll really go on board a battleship?"
Ned asked this question of his brother, who was busy writing to his
uncle, in the federal prison, telling the unfortunate man something of
their new life.
"On the battleship?" repeated Frank, as he sealed the missive. "Well, I
shouldn't be surprised if it were very soon now."
"Really?" cried Ned in incredulous delight. "How do you know?"
"Oh, well, rumors have been going around that some of the more advanced
of us would be given our chance soon."
"And do they count us advanced?"
"So I understand. We've worked hard enough, haven't we?"
"We sure have! But that doesn't always count."
"Well, I think we are slated for the _Georgetown_ all right," Frank
said.
"What! That magnificent new battleship?" cried Ned, his eyes sparkling
with anticipation.
"That's the one, and it's the very last word in battleships," Frank went
on.
This talk took place about four months after the arrival of our heroes
at the training station. Those four months were so crowded with work,
play, incidents, and a few accidents of minor character, so full of
learning new things, that the whole book could be devoted to what
happened when Ned and Frank were learning to be sailors. But there are
other matters to tell of, so only a brief idea of what took place will
be given. Perhaps another volume will tell more fully of life at
Norfolk.
Instruction for the two boys of the battleship, as well as for their
mates, went on constantly, and they fairly absorbed knowledge of
nautical matters, seemingly taking it in through their skin, as well as
through their eyes and ears.
In the big drill hall, where they were given setting-up exercises, as
well as taught the manual of arms and how to march in certain
formations, one could not help learning. On the walls were flags from
every nation, and all sorts of signal flags. For a sailor must learn to
talk by means of signals--lights at night, and flags or semaphore arms by
day. So the flags were hung on the walls of the drill hall that the boys
might have them before their eyes continually. There was also a big
compass, with its thirty-two "points," painted on one wall, thus there
was no excuse for a lad's not knowing how to box it; which means to reel
off the different directions.
Some of the recruits had to be taught to swim, for this is one of the
first things insisted on by those in charge of making a man-o'-warsman.
But Ned and Frank were masters of this aquatic art, and their ability
was soon recognized. In fact they were even detailed to help show others
how to get about in the water.
And in the matter of boats, too, our heroes had the advantage over many
of their mates. For their years spent on Great South Bay proved of great
advantage to them, though the boats in which the drills were given at
Norfolk were heavy cutters and large motor-driven skiffs, and were not
so easy to maneuver as had been the _Ellen_.
"Do you wish you were back at Ipswhich again?" asked Ned of his brother
one day, after a long boat drill.
"No, to tell you the truth, I think this life just suits us. Of course,
I did love the old home, and I don't dare think about poor Uncle Phil,"
said Frank, "but this is really the life for us."
"You're right," declared his brother. And if ever lads were destined for
the navy Frank and Ned were.
In the model room, and in the rigging loft, the apprentice seamen, the
title borne by Frank and Ned, were taught how to coil down gear, make
knots and splices, as well as hitches, and how to manage sails. For
though a battleship only moves by steam, there are small boats that have
canvas as a motive power, and enough of real sailor knowledge is
required to make it necessary that instruction be given.
In spite of his rather mean character and his bullying ways, Hank Dell
showed that he knew a great deal more than the average recruit about
ropes. He could tie any sort of knot.
"How'd you learn it?" asked Frank, for though he and Ned did not like
the boy, they were honest enough to admire his ability.
"A sailor that lived near me showed me how," was the answer. "He put me
in the notion of coming here. But if I'd known how hard it was I
wouldn't have enlisted."
Hank was lazy and shiftless in many ways, but he had to keep up to the
mark, though this he did not like.
In due time Frank and Ned were assigned to the same battalion, and in
that they went through many drills, all being designed to give the lads
needed instruction. They had to learn how to send and receive messages
by means of wig-wag flags, by the semaphore, which is something like a
railway signal arm, and they also learned the alphabet, and to send and
receive messages by means of colored lights at night.
Target practice, indoors and out, took up considerable time, for the
United States requires its blue-jackets to be good shots with small arms
as well as with the big guns. Ned and Frank became skillful with the
revolver, also, though Ned would never be as expert as his brother. He
had not the patience, but with the rifle they were both about on a par.
So well did our heroes apply themselves that both were soon
promoted--that is they were made petty officers, and each received two
dollars more a month.
"Say, if this keeps on we'll be able to save enough to get Uncle Phil
out on bail," said Ned, with a laugh, one day as they drew their
increase in money.
"That's right," admitted Frank. "But he writes that he is getting along
pretty well, only he would like the chance to get out in order to go to
work to clear his name."
As a matter of fact, except for the obligation to remain within the
legal confines of the federal prison, Mr. Arden was not suffering. He
had a comfortable room and enough to eat. But his financial matters were
in such shape that he could not get money to reopen his case, all his
property, as well as that of the boys, being tied up in the South
American matter.
"But when we get through here, and if we don't want to re-enlist after
our four years are up, we'll be able to earn a good living," Ned
remarked.
"Yes," agreed Frank, "perhaps a better one than if we had finished at
college. Uncle Sam gives thorough training."
And so their work and play went on at the training station, for there
was plenty of play time. After four o'clock in the afternoon the time of
Frank and Ned, as well as that of their mates, was their own. They could
study if they chose, and many did, or they could play baseball or
football, read, or otherwise enjoy life.
Best of all our friends liked the short cruises they were taken on from
time to time to familiarize them with life aboard a ship. They learned
all the details of hoisting boats, letting go the big anchors, weighing
them, or hoisting them aboard again.
As Frank had said, there was a rumor going the rounds that soon some of
the more advanced apprentices would be assigned to a real battleship,
there to put into actual practice what they had learned.
"And that time can't come any too soon!" exclaimed Ned.
"So you're anxious to get out on the deep blue sea?" asked his brother.
"Yes. Aren't you?"
"Well, I should say I am! But still it has been fine here."
"I guess so!" exclaimed Ned, with emphasis. "Some different from the
time we stood in front of the recruiting office, after we were robbed,
wondering what in the world we were going to do."
"That's right! I wonder if we'll ever see those two thieves again?"
"It's hardly possible," said Ned. But fate plays strange tricks.
Toward the close of the four months of training, the work became more
difficult in a way, and yet it was not too hard. It was always
interesting to Frank and Ned. They were very different lads from the
rather easy-going ones to whom I introduced you in the storm on Great
South Bay, when they watched the big gray battleship.
And at last the day came when our heroes were told that their training
time was up, and that they, with others, were to be assigned to the
_Georgetown_, which was then in the Brooklyn navy yard. There Frank and
Ned were sent, reporting to the proper officer.
"There she is!" Frank exclaimed, as the gray shape of the very latest of
the dreadnaughts loomed before them. "There she is, Ned!"
"Oh, what a beauty!" cried Ned, using the word beauty as one does toward
a very homely bulldog.
"All aboard!" exclaimed Frank, as they walked up the inclined bridge to
the decks of the fighting monster. "All aboard!"
"Huh! Some new jackies!" remarked one of a group of sailors who watched
the arrival of the recruits. "Maybe they won't be so anxious to be on
board once we get to sea," he sneered.