Nine weeks had passed since the occurrence of the episode related in
the last chapter. That graduation day which had made Ralph Osborn’s
classmates first classmen, and had seen himself dismissed from the
Naval Academy was now a thing long passed and was of no further
interest. It is the uncertainty of the immediate future that dominates
our thoughts and actions, not the pleasant recollections of a recent
past. In moments of relaxation we reminisce and talk of those grand
old days of the beautiful long ago, not so much of what happened six
months ago. And Bollup and I, and you and Himski, all veteran officers,
laugh and talk over those exciting incidents of our midshipman days.
They always remain fresh in memory, and the beautiful friendships there
formed grow more precious each year.
But it is not only older officers that reminisce; midshipmen as well
are great at that, only their “long ago” commences when they were
fourth classmen.
“Way back in ninety ----, when I was a youngster,” commenced Bollup,
and then he was surprised at an amused laugh from Himski. “What’s the
matter, Himski?” he asked his comrade.
“Oh, I was laughing at that ‘way back’ of yours, seeing it was but two
years ago when you were on your youngster cruise. But go on, Bol, spin
us your yarn; what happened in that ‘way back’ time of only two years
ago?”
“Oh, nothing special, but I was just thinking of what good times we
used to have with good old Os; and isn’t it strange we never hear from
him? He was so happy that last time we saw him, one could not have
believed he had just been dismissed. Have you any idea what his address
is, Himski?”
“Not the slightest, but I’m sure Os will write. He had something up his
sleeve and I’ve imagined he has been waiting for it to materialize.
Well, our first class cruise is nearly over; it’s been a fine cruise
and I’ve only one regret about it and that is that Os isn’t with us.
Here it is nearly the middle of August and next week we start for
Annapolis; and two weeks from now we’ll commence our September leave.”
These young men were reminiscing on their “long ago.” They were making
their first class practice cruise aboard the battle-ship _Texas_ which
was now swinging around her anchor at the mouth of the Thames River,
below New London.
It was late Saturday afternoon and the midshipmen, having finished
supper, were idling on the starboard side of the deck, near the
starboard twelve-inch gun.
“Who went on liberty to-day?” asked Bollup.
“Billy Bacon, Smith, M., Warren, Taylor and quite a lot of others; why?”
“I guess New London isn’t so attractive as it was when we first
anchored here. There’s some midshipman coming back in a shore boat;
don’t you see that little rowboat pulling over to the ship? There’s a
midshipman in blue service uniform in the stern sheets.”
“You’re right, Bol; but I imagine it isn’t a matter of the town being
less attractive; probably the midshipman is broke.”
“If he were broke he wouldn’t be hiring a shore boat, would he?”
inquired Bollup with convincing disdain. “I tell you the girls of New
London aren’t what they used to be. Why, when we were youngsters there
was the daisiest set of girls here I ever knew.”
The small boat drew near the gangway. In an idle way Himski, shading
his eyes from the setting sun, and only half interested, looked at the
small boat and its occupants.
Of a sudden he straightened up, and then breathlessly cried out: “Look,
Bol, look! Why man, it’s Os; he’s come back to us.” And forgetting
their dignified rank as first classmen Himski and Bollup uttered wild
whoops of joy and ran to the quarter-deck like madmen.
Ralph paid the boatman a quarter and then walked up the gangway to the
quarter-deck to report.
The officer of the deck happened to be First Classman Creelton. The
regular officer of the deck was below at dinner.
“I’ve come to report to the captain, sir,” announced Ralph in a
strictly official tone.
“Why, why, what are you doing here?” stammered the utterly bewildered
Creelton, while Bollup and Himski, hardly able to control themselves,
stood on the side, impatiently waiting for Ralph to finish his
reporting.
“That’s none of your business, sir,” said Ralph savagely; “you will
please send in word to the captain that First Classman Osborn, first
classman, please, is here to report in obedience to orders from the
superintendent.”
“The captain is at dinner with some guests, sir,” faltered Creelton,
“and gave orders that no reports should be sent to him till after eight
o’clock.”
“Very well; I’ll report to him then. And by the way, Mr. Creelton,
should you happen to be in correspondence with the friend who took you
on a yachting trip last September, you might report to him that I came
aboard in your watch. And advise him that if he ever dares to touch me
again I have friends that will crush him, him and his crew.”
“Hoorah!” screamed Bollup, unable to stand any more of this. “Bully for
you, Os,” and Ralph found himself seized in the arms of Himski and
Bollup, and the latter two, shouting and yelling like Indians, rushed
him forward. Cheer after cheer from forward greeted the ears of the
aghast Creelton, who, not knowing what had happened, and fearful of
what might have been discovered, was in a paroxysm of fright.
Ralph had never before appreciated how popular he was. He was actually
battered with the enthusiastic hugging he received and his arm was
nearly wrenched off. And one of the most delighted of all was Plebe
Chappell.
Everybody was wild with joy at seeing the unexpected Osborn with them
again, and hundreds of questions were shouted at him.
“Tell us all about it, Os; how did you get back? A midshipman bilged
for hazing isn’t eligible to reinstatement. It’s against the laws of
Congress. Tell us about it this minute, Os, or I’ll bust,” shouted
Bollup.
Ralph was indeed happy at the outburst of joy which his sudden
reappearance created. “Give me a chance, fellows, and I’ll tell you all
about it,” he cried. “Here, Himski, get upon that carpenter’s bench and
read this paper; it explains everything.”
Himski snatched the paper from Ralph’s hand and commenced to read as
follows:
“_Navy Department, Washington, D. C._,
“_August 9_,----.
“SIR:--
“This Department referred to the Department of Justice certain legal
questions concerned with your dismissal from the naval service by
sentence of court martial for the hazing of Mr. Frank Chappell, a
citizen in the town of Annapolis.
“The attorney-general has decided that for a naval court to have
cognizance of an offense of hazing the hazing must have been on a
person in the naval service. That your offense was committed on a
civilian and therefore was not within the legal naval meaning, in
your case, as defined by act of Congress, of hazing. Your offense
was an assault upon a citizen in the city of Annapolis, and for that
offense you are amenable to the municipal laws of that city.
“The attorney-general decides that you were not legally subject to
trial for hazing; that the charge, trial, finding and sentence were
all illegal. The order of your dismissal is therefore and hereby
revoked from the time it went into execution. During the time of your
absence from the Academy your status is to be considered as that of a
midshipman on leave.
“A copy of the attorney-general’s complete opinion is herewith
enclosed.
“You will acknowledge the receipt of this letter, and with it will
report immediately to the superintendent of the Naval Academy at
Annapolis.
“Very respectfully,
“HENRY BROWN,
“_Rear Admiral, and Acting Secretary of the Navy_.
“TO MIDSHIPMAN RALPH OSBORN,
“_First Class, Washington, D. C._”
NOTE.--A midshipman who had been dismissed for hazing a candidate was
reinstated by decision of the attorney-general of the United States
on the grounds expressed in the above letter.
Admiral Brown might also have included in his list of titles “and
brother-in-law and dear friend of Captain Waddell,” but as Himski
read the letter this additional definition of his place in the world
did not appear, though wise ones may have a notion, incorrect of
course, that these latter unexpressed titles may have had something
to do with the alacrity by which Ralph’s case was rushed through the
attorney-general’s office.
* * * * *
Judging by the cheers that greeted the reading of the letter it may be
safely said they all heartily approved of the attorney-general.
Ralph soon went aft and was directed to enter the captain’s cabin. Here
he expected and was prepared to receive a lecture, but was amazed as
well as pleased to be most cordially received.
The captain shook hands with him and told him he was glad to see him,
and Ralph enjoyed the short talk he had with him. He left the cabin
a little after eight, and with some uneasiness saw that the officer
of the deck, who was pacing up and down, was none other than his
relentless prosecutor, Lieutenant Colton, the judge-advocate of his
court martial.
Ralph started to walk by rapidly, but Lieutenant Colton met him with
outstretched hand. “By George, Osborn,” he exclaimed, “I can’t express
the pleasure I experience in seeing you back with us. I never had such
disagreeable duty as that of prosecuting you. I congratulate you; I’m
delighted you’re back with us.”
“Why, Mr. Colton,” said Ralph much pleased, “why, I’m surprised; I was
afraid you’d be disappointed to see me back.”
“Disappointed! Why, my dear boy, I’m really happy that you’re back!”
“You certainly acted as if you wanted to have me dismissed,” remarked
Ralph with some spirit.
“Hum, perhaps I did. But I really wasn’t working for that. You see a
judge-advocate always has his own reputation at stake; it wasn’t that
I wanted to see you dismissed, but it was vitally necessary that the
government’s case against you should be properly presented, that was
all.”
“Then you really feel friendly to me, Mr. Colton?”
“Indeed I do. My only disappointment is that you’ll probably get a
clean sleeve for your first class year and you ought to have four
stripes.”
“Thank you, Mr. Colton; I am so glad the officers are not disappointed
that I am back. The captain was awfully kind to me, and when I reported
to the superintendent he was like a father. Good-night, sir.”
“Good-night, Osborn. Come up to me some time when I have a mid-watch
and we’ll have a talk.”
Ralph quickly settled down to ship’s ways. He was detailed to
different duties with the rest of his class just as if he had not
missed most of his cruise. But no words of the pen can express the joy
he felt at being really a midshipman once more, and of his heartfelt
happiness in being with his beloved comrades, Himski and Bollup.
The two weeks aboard the _Texas_ passed swiftly and without special
incident, and on August 28th all midshipmen were once more assembled
at Annapolis and immediately dispersed to their homes; First Classman
Osborn was soon on his way to Toledo, his program being to spend two
weeks there and three weeks at Hampden Grove with Bollup.