The Battleship Boys at Sea Part 35

"Then there is nothing mere to be said. Candidly, between ourselves, Coates, I'm more pleased than I know how to express that the young fellow gave Kester a sound thrashing. By the way, I should like to look that young man over."

"Very good, sir. Shall I send him to you?"

"No, not that way. I'll tell you what you had better do. Have both boys a.s.signed as my orderlies in turn. I want these new men to get an early chance at orderly duty. It is a most excellent thing for them. Send Hickey to-morrow."

"Very good, sir."

"I would rather have my own boys act as my orderlies than have the marines do it."

The captain's orderly is supposed to stand outside the captain's door at all times while the commanding officer is in his quarters. When the captain moves to any other part of the ship his orderly follows at a respectful distance, so as to be on hand to carry orders and to perform such other small duties as the captain may command. It is considered an honor to be chosen for the duty.

Soon after the finish of the fight Dan and Sam hurried to their quarters to turn in. Sam was chuckling over his companion's great victory. Dan surveyed him with disapproving eyes.

"Dan, I have always looked upon you as a nice, sisterly sort of a chum."

"Well?" questioned Dan, with a smile.

"You're a bloodthirsty wretch, that's what you are. Good night."

Late that night a full gale sprang up. Word of the weather conditions was brought to the captain.

"Heave up the anchors and get under way at once," was the command. "Tell the chief engineer to get ready as soon as possible. How many boilers are fired up?"

"Six, sir."

"Have the fires put under the other two at once. We must put to sea and ride the gale out there."

The captain quickly dressed and hurried up to the bridge. The spray was dashing clear over the bridge, soaking everything and everyone on it. In the meantime a boatswain's mate was bawling out his orders through the ship, hurriedly turning out the various watches.

Dan and Sam were awakened by the heavy rolling of the ship. Both sat up in their hammocks at the same instant.

"What's going on?" asked Dan as he heard men hurrying along the decks to their stations.

"Maybe the ship is sinking," suggested the cheerful Sam.

"Nonsense!"

"I'm going to get up, anyway."

"You have no right to do so until you are piped down. You will be called out if you are wanted."

"You mean to say that I can't get up if I want to?"

"Certainly not. You are supposed to stay in your hammock and get your rest."

"Not if the ship is sinking!"

"Oh, that would be different. I guess we would all be getting out in that event."

"Huh!" muttered Sam, lying back in his swaying hammock, listening to the wind whistling through the cage masts far above them.

In a short time the ship was under way, moving slowly as she headed out to sea. The storm was in no sense dangerous to the ship's welfare, but it was safer to be out in the open until the gale should have blown itself out.

When the men were piped out the next morning the Battleship Boys found it difficult to keep right side up. Dan was unaffected by the rolling and plunging, but Sam had little appet.i.te for his breakfast.

The morning work having been finished Sam was accosted by the master-at-arms.

"You will act as the captain's orderly to-day, Hickey," he said.

"Orderly?"

"Yes."

Sam did not know whether to be glad or sorry.

"Just before eight bells go to your quarters and put on your clean clothes. See that you are ship-shape. I don't know why the commanding officer wants you."

"Thank you, sir. I report at eight bells?"

"Yes."

"Where?"

"I'll let you know. Wherever the captain chances to be at that moment.

Quite likely he will be at his breakfast. He is on the bridge at present."

"What do you think of that, Dan?" demanded Sam slowly, confiding to his companion the order that had just been given to him.

"I think it fine. It looks as if you had gotten into the captain's good graces. I hope so. See that you perform your duties in a ship-shape manner. Keep your head working all the time. I should call it almost a promotion."

"I hope I don't get seasick," muttered Sam doubtfully. "This rolling is awful."

An hour later, Sam Hickey made his way down the after gangway to the captain's quarters, clad in a spotless white uniform, his braided white knife-lanyard drooping gracefully across his chest and disappearing in the pocket of the blouse.

"I've come to relieve you as the captain's orderly," announced Sam to the marine, who was acting in that capacity.

The orderly returned the nod and hurried away, for he had not yet had his breakfast.

Sam braced himself against a wall in the corridor with his eyes fixed on the swaying curtain that shut off the room in which the captain was breakfasting at that moment. The corridor was narrow and close, and Sam soon grew restive. Espying a chair a little way from him, he helped himself to it and sat down, crossing his legs.

Just then an officer came hurrying through the corridor.

"See here, my man, what are you doing there?" he demanded.

"Captain's orderly, sir," answered Sam, saluting.

"Get up! Don't you know an orderly is supposed to remain on his feet?