Just what the orders were that the commander of the _Georgetown_ had
received at Havana was known only to himself and to his immediate
official family. They were not made public, but the fact that the ship
kept on down the South American coast in the direction of Uridio, was
sufficient evidence that the trouble in the small republic was not yet
over.
"We'll see some sort of action all right," predicted Hank, in talking
the matter over with Ned and Frank, as the battleship labored on through
the storm.
"Action! Say, if there's any more action than we're getting right now,
I'd like to see it--or, rather, I wouldn't," cried Sam Bowler, the sailor
who had found so much fault about the prospective heat.
"There you go again, old calamity-howler!" laughed Tom Dawson, who, with
Hank, had become quite chummy with Ned and Frank.
Certainly the _Georgetown_ was being rather ill-used by the elements.
The storm increased, rather than diminished, and soon had attained the
proportions of a hurricane. There was rain, too, but so heavy was the
salt spray, whipped from the crests of the foaming billows, that out on
deck one could not tell the fresh water from the briney. It all came
down together.
Of course, in the storm everything was lashed fast, life lines were
stretched about the decks, and only the necessary routine work and
duties were performed. The battleship proved herself most seaworthy, and
though she did roll and pitch and toss, still she remained as tight as a
drum, even under the terrific strain.
To while away the time, which was monotonous because of enforced
idleness, only the necessary men being allowed on deck, some amusements
were permitted. Boxing contests were arranged, though it was no easy
matter to keep one's footing, and in several of the bouts the less
skillful men managed to "knock-out" efficient boxers. This was because
an unexpected roll of the ship would send the good boxer off his balance
when he least expected it, and the other would have a chance to "land"
one on him. But it was all in fun, and taken in good part.
Frank and Ned were good banjo players, and could also perform on the
guitar. And as they had each purchased an instrument just before being
assigned to the _Georgetown_, and as several other recruits had also
displayed musical talents, they were able to give an impromptu concert
below decks during the storm.
The officers encourage the blue-jackets to do this, and instruction in
music is provided to those who are fitted for it. Life on a battleship
or in the navy is not so dull as some people would have prospective
recruits understand.
Gradually the storm blew itself out, or else the battleship ran out of
the storm region, and after two days of inclement weather the wind died
down, the sun came out, and the men were able to move about freely on
the upper decks and go about their usual duties.
Shortly after sick-call one morning there came the rapid ringing of the
ship's big bell, and in different parts of the craft bugles were
sounded. Then came a certain number of taps on the big bell.
"Fire quarters!" cried Ned, as he caught the signal. He jumped away from
the work he was doing, polishing some brass, and ran for his designated
station.
"Is it drill or real, I wonder?" asked Frank, as he, too, hurried along
with his brother. All over the ship were seen signs of activity.
"Fire-quarters! Fire-quarters!" was called.
Again the bugles blew, and by the manner of the call the location of the
"fire" was indicated.
"After magazine!" shouted Ned, as he listened to the call.
No one knew whether it was a call to fight a real fire, or whether it
was simply a drill. For just as the fire signal is given in the public
schools, to get the children used to answering it unexpectedly and
without undue alarm, so on board the battleships these emergency drills
are held at unexpected times.
In a few minutes after fire-quarters had sounded on the _Georgetown_
every man was at the station which had been assigned to him some time
previous, in other like drills. Then long lines of hose were manned, all
converging toward the after magazine, which was the position indicated
by the signals. At once all water-tight doors and hatches were closed,
so that in case there was a fire it would be prevented from spreading to
other parts of the ship.
But fortunately this was not a real blaze on the battleship. The drill
was simply for practice, and when the hose had been unreeled, and all
was in readiness for flooding the magazine, had such a course been
necessary, and when all the doors and hatches had been closed, word was
given to the men to resume the work at which they had been when the call
came.
"Whew! That was hot work!" exclaimed Ned, wiping the perspiration from
his face.
"I should say yes," agreed his brother.
The storm had passed away, but as they were now in the tropics and would
shortly cross the equator, the air was hot and moist. Orders had been
given for a change of clothes, and the men and officers now wore as cool
garments as possible, presenting a fine appearance in their white
uniforms.
Down past Venezuela and the three Guianas steamed the mighty
_Georgetown_. Then, a little later, the ship was off the mouth of the
great Amazon, and the "line," as the equator is called, was crossed.
Of course there was the usual horse-play and high jinks permitted by the
officers. Neptune, in the person of one of the sailors, came aboard,
with his trident, his crown and his wealth of hair, made from strands of
oakum; and before Neptune and his court were brought those who had never
yet crossed the equator. They were to be initiated.
Various feats were assigned to the luckless ones, not all of them mild,
either. But everyone went through the fun with good spirits, though Hank
Dell protested when he was told to thrust his head into a bucket of
soapy water. He hesitated, but his mates forced him to take the ducking.
"Wough!" he spluttered, as his eyes and mouth were filled with the soapy
mixture. Then he was doused with a pail of clean water, and his
novitiate over.
Frank and Ned, with the others, had to submit to their share of the
hazing, but finally it came to an end amid gales of laughter.
"Well, we won't have to go through with that again," Frank remarked to
his brother when they were changing into clean and fresh garments.
"No, and I'm glad of it. There was a little too much rough stuff in it
to suit me."
"Oh, it'll do us good, I guess," laughed Frank.
In the days that followed other drills were held aboard the battleship,
though they were made as light as possible on account of the hot weather
in the tropics.
When the general-quarters call was sounded, all took their stations at
the guns for fighting the ship. This was what would be done on going
into action, and that drill was usually preceded by the "clearing ship
for action" order. In this the upper decks were cleared of all
unnecessary rigging, not actually required for fighting. In this drill
it is sometimes customary to lower the boats, but as the _Georgetown_
was speeding to accomplish a certain mission she was not stopped to
permit the lowering of the small boats.
"Abandon ship" was another drill that interested Ned and Frank. This
drill often came after collision drill, and was supposed to indicate
that the ship had been so badly damaged in action that she was likely to
sink. When the "abandon" signal was given each man rushed to his
particular station at the small boats.
Each man had also to get a certain amount of food or supplies which was
always his portion, and stow this in the boat. So proficient did the
blue-jackets become that in a few minutes after the signal had been
given to abandon ship the whole crew, officers and all, would be ready
to take to the boats and pull away. And in the boats would be enough
food for several days, as well as other comforts and necessities.
Everything possible is thought of in advance, and preparations made for
all emergencies, from fire or explosion on board, to an attack by an
enemy.
Down past the shoulder of Brazil slipped the _Georgetown_, and as she
was now leaving the equator and going south, the heat of the weather
moderated a little. Still it was warm enough.
"It won't be long before we shall be there," remarked Frank to Ned one
day, as they stood on the forward deck, looking across the sea.
"Yes, we ought to be there soon. I hope we're in time."
"In time? What do you mean?"
"I mean I hope the revolution isn't all over."
"Oh, I see," laughed Frank.
Suddenly the lookout cried:
"Steamer ho!"
"Where away?" came the demand.
"Almost dead ahead. Looks like some sort of cruiser."
Ned, Frank and several others, including a number of officers looked in
the direction indicated. There, speeding away ahead of the _Georgetown_,
was a craft that did look like a small fighting craft.
"Can you make out her flag?" asked one officer to another.
"No, not yet," was the reply, as the one addressed peered through his
glasses.
"Yes, I can, too!" he cried a moment later. "If those rascals of
revolutionists of Uridio haven't got a navy! Well, who would have
thought it!"
"Let me see," demanded the other. "Yes," he continued a moment later,
"it is a small cruiser, and she flies the hostile flag. They must have
bought some old fighting craft that some nation considered out of date.
The captain must be informed."
A little later there sounded down in the engine room of the _Georgetown_
the signal from the bridge of, "full speed ahead!"
"Are we going to chase her?" asked Ned.
"It looks that way," said his brother.
From the funnels of the battleship belched clouds of black smoke.