The quartermaster eyed the two boys sternly for a moment. He did not ask
any of the other men who had thrown the pie.
"Carry on!" he commanded, the suspicion of a smile playing about the
corners of his mouth. But he hid the smile from them by passing a hand
over his mouth.
No one moved in obedience to his command.
"When I say 'Carry on,' it means that you are to resume whatever you
were doing at the time attention was commanded. In this instance you
were at your breakfasts. Continue it. Carry on!"
The boys sat down to finish their breakfasts which now proceeded without
further interruption.
"I've changed my mind," Sam informed his companion in a low tone.
"How so?"
"I am going to quit."
"What do you mean?"
"I don't want to be a jackie."
"You already are one--that is you are a rookie, which is practically the
same thing. We shall be jackies in twelve weeks if we have good luck."
"I won't. I won't be here then."
"Where will you be?"
"Back in Piedmont."
"Look here, Sam Hickey, what do you propose to do?" demanded Dan.
"Go home; that's what I propose to do."
"Do you know what would happen to you were you to do a thing like that?"
"Nothing very much, I guess."
"Were you to leave now, you would be a deserter. You would be arrested
and sent to prison. And that is not all."
"Go on; what else?"
"You would be disgraced for life. Why do you even think of doing a thing
like that?"
"Well, I reckoned I'd like to lick that Pennsylvania Dutchman and then
go back home. They'd probably make a fuss about it here, if I give him
what he deserves," replied Sam slowly.
"I should say they would. Forget it. Do your duty. Have too much respect
for the Flag under which you are serving, to disgrace it by doing any
such foolish thing as you propose. There goes a bugle. It must be some
sort of command for us."
It was.
"Attention!" commanded the officer.
The men rose from their seats.
"Those whose names I call will fall in with bags and equipment and march
to barracks A."
He then called off the names of the apprentices who were to leave the
detention barracks, Sam and Dan's names being among them. This done, the
boys gathered their bags and falling into line started off across the
grounds, led by the officer.
Barracks A was to be their quarters for the next three weeks. Here, they
were turned over to another quartermaster, who proceeded to instruct
them in their duties.
To each man he assigned a billet, that is a place where he should sling
his hammock each night before he turned in, for the lads were to live
just as they would when aboard ship.
The hammocks were made of canvas, and were suspended from hooks in the
ceiling, so high up that a person could walk under the hammocks by
stooping slightly.
"Each of you," said the instructor, "will be expected to sling his
hammock every night and lash it in the morning. If you will observe me I
will show you how it is done."
The apprentices gathered about.
"You first hook the ring of the clews to the hammock hook; then pass
each outer nettle from out inwards through the eyelet on its own side of
the hammock. Square the two nettles and take a half hitch with each.
Pass the remaining nettles in the same manner, extending the end of each
through the hitch, following it toward the center. Sling the other end
in the same manner. Is that clear?"
"Yes, I think so," answered Dan rather doubtfully.
"How about you, Hickey?"
"Maybe I could do it, now that I've seen you go through the motions,
sir, but I couldn't tell a fellow how to do it to save my life."
The apprentices grinned broadly.
"Attention! Now, in the morning, to lash the hammocks, you place the
mattress squarely in it, fold the blanket, placing it in lengthwise and
roll it up taut. Lash with seven marline turns. Turn the hammock over
several times to twist the clews, unhook one end at a time and tuck the
clews under the lashing and haul them taut. When the reveille is sounded
hammocks must be stowed within fifteen minutes. Is that clear, Hickey?"
"Clear as mud--sir," added Sam, flushing hotly as he realized a moment
later that he had said something that might bring a rebuke upon him.
It did. The quartermaster read him a stern lecture on the necessity for
speaking in a respectful manner at all times. Sam was told that a direct
question called for a direct answer, "without any trimmings."
"I seem to be getting all that's coming to me," whispered the boy to his
companion.
"You talk too much; that's your worst fault, and the one that is likely
to get you into trouble if you don't look out."
"I didn't talk when the other officer was trying to make me tell who
smashed me with the pie, did I?"
"No; you showed yourself to be a man in that case, Sam. Sh-h-h! He's
speaking to you."
"Sir?"
"You will now try the hammock."
"How do you mean, sir?" questioned Sam.
"Get in it."
"Yes, sir; where's the ladder?"
"Ladder?" exploded the quartermaster.
"Sure! You don't think I can get into that thing without using a ladder,
do you?"
"We do not use ladders. Watch carefully. I will show you how it is done.
This is the way you will have to turn in all the time that you are in
the Navy."
The officer reached up, grasping the rope that held the hammock to the
hooks above. With an ease born of long experience he lifted himself
clear of the floor, curled his body upward and placed himself on his
back in the hammock without the least apparent effort. The officer got
out of the hammock by a reverse movement and with the same ease.
"Did you see how it was done?"
"Yes, sir?"
"Think you can get in now?"
"I can make a bluff at it--sir."
"Answer 'yes' or 'no' sir."
"No, sir."
"Try it."
Sam took hold of the rope as he had seen his instructor do, glanced up
at the spot where he was expected to place himself, then set his teeth
tightly together. He sought to draw himself up slowly, after the manner
that he had been shown, but somehow, strong as he was, his feet refused
to leave the floor.
Sam let go, wiping the perspiration from his brow, and gripped the rope
again. This time he made a leap. His head hit the ceiling and he sat
down on the floor heavily.
"Ouch!" howled Sam, bringing a laugh from his companions and a smile to
the face of the instructor.
"Attention! You will get the knack after a little. Did you hurt your
head?"
"No--sir," answered Sam, "but I think I made a dent in the roof."
"Carry on again."
The apprentice gripped the rope rather more cautiously this time,
measured his distance, and with head well inclined forward, so that he
might not hit the ceiling again, he gave a mighty leap.
Sam did not stop when he reached the hammock, however. He kept right on.
The hammock turned over, spilling the bedding and mattress out. But this
was not all that had happened. Hickey had lost his grip on the rope. The
result was that he struck the floor on the other side, flat on his back.
The floor was of cement, and the shock of the fall was severe. Sam
managed to save his head, however, and sat up rubbing himself, red of
face and thoroughly disgusted.
"Clumsy!" complained the officer.
"Yes, sir; but you see I've never had to go to bed that way before."
"Try it again."
"If it's all the same to you, sir, I think I should prefer to sleep on
the floor."
This reply brought another sharp reprimand from the officer. But their
instruction in slinging hammocks was over and they turned to other
matters.