Two Boys of the Battleship Part 15

"I have my suspicions," was the answer.

"Well, I can tell you for sure. It was that sneak, Hank Dell. He's boasting of it now!"

"I was pretty sure he did. What was his object?"

"I guess he wants you and your brother to shift to some other mess.

There are a couple of tough friends of his that he wants to berth alongside of him in your places."

"Well, he's welcome to have them as far as I'm concerned," Frank said, "but he needn't have gone that way about it. I think I'll have to take it out on him."

"I would," advised Tom. "Some of us will stand by you. We don't like Hank any too well. Slip down below right after afternoon drill, and there'll be a clear place where you can see how well he can handle his fists."

"I'll do it," agreed Frank.

Boxing is encouraged among the blue-jackets, and Frank was an adept at it. He had seen Hank in action, and realized that he, too, could put up a good fight.

Afternoon drill began at 1:30 o'clock, and on this occasion consisted of a talk on projectiles, and practice in sighting the big gun, and in firing a dummy charge. It was over at three, and Frank slipped below.

Some of those in the secret followed him.

Just how it had been brought about Frank did not know, but in a secluded place on a lower deck he found a number of his friends, and there, also, was Hank with a few of his cronies. Hank did not wait but swaggered up to Frank and said:

"I understand you have been sayin' things about me."

"What things?" asked Frank, coolly.

"About slicin' the ropes of your brother's hammock."

"I said I thought you cut them-yes."

"Well, if I did, what are you going to do about it?"

Frank's answer was to strip off his middy blouse, an action followed by Hank. The others formed a ring about them, and soon the fight was on. It was scientific, in a way, until Frank, with a feint, caught Hank unawares, and landed a good blow on one eye.

Then Hank lost his head and struck out wildly. He lost control of himself, and Frank easily got through his guard, planting several effective blows.

"I-I'll pay you for that!" spluttered Hank, as his lips swelled and one eye partly closed. He struck out wildly, and did manage to hit Frank on the face. It was a stinging blow, and hurt. But Frank knew he could not hope to come off scathless.

Then it was give and take for awhile, until Frank saw his chance, and aimed a sharp uppercut at Hank's chin. It caught the bully squarely, and almost lifted him off his feet. He staggered back, and would have fallen had not one of his chums caught him.

"I-I've had enough!" he muttered.

"Don't try to cut down any more hammocks," said Frank, as he went to wash himself, for a scratch on his cheek was bleeding.

"Oh, you haven't heard the last from me-not by any means," threatened Hank. But Frank did not worry.

The next day when Hank reported for early morning inspection his condition, as well as that of Frank, attracted the attention of the officer in charge of the division.

"How did you get that black eye?" he asked of Hank.

"Why, sir," was the grinning answer, "one of the fifteen-inch rifles recoiled and struck me."

"Very good!" was the grim and understanding comment. "And you, Arden-how about your scratches?"

"The-er-the goat mascot, sir."

"I see. A new fact in natural history-a goat with claws."

Of course, fighting was forbidden, but it went on just the same, and it was winked at to a certain extent when not too flagrant. So the incident was closed, as far as the ship authorities were concerned.

A few days later Ned was able to report again for his duties, and after that Hank was transferred to another division, berthing in another part of the ship.

"Well, I'm glad he's gone," Ned remarked. So were many others, for the red-haired recruit was not generally liked.

When the _Georgetown_ had been at sea about a week, it was announced one morning directly after sick-call that great gun drill would be held.

"And it's with projectiles, too!" cried Ned. "Cracky, but I'm glad.

You're in the forward turret with me, Frank."

"Yes, and I hope our ear drums don't crack. They make an awful racket, those fifteen-inch rifles."

Preparations for the drill went on. It had been gone through with many times before, though not always with charges of powder and projectiles, so the men knew the routine.

Frank had been detailed on this occasion as gun-pointer, which meant that he was to fire the gun when it was sighted at the target. Ned was helping with the ammunition and powder, which came up into the turret on a hoist, or elevator, from the magazine below.

"Are you all ready?" asked the officer in charge of the forward turret.

"All ready," was the answer.

"Watch yourselves, then. Try to make a record," he added.

"Aye, aye, sir!" answered Frank, who stood at the telescope sight, ready to look for the big canvas target which would soon be towed into range.

CHAPTER XIV-A BRAVE ACT

Target practice with our big guns aboard a battleship is rather an important occasion, as it is not often done. It is too expensive to fire away hundreds of pounds of powder and projectiles, the cost of which runs into the thousands. But it must be done occasionally.

When it is done, in order to get as nearly as possible to actual war conditions, it is customary to have the unexpected happen. That is to say, the target, which is a big square of canvas on a float, is towed by some other ship, and where or when it is to appear is not known to the men who work the guns. This is to make them quick and resourceful.

"Watch out now, men," advised the officer. "Arden, keep your wits about you. Remember there is quite a swell on to-day, and allow accordingly when you point the gun."

It might be stated here that the big guns are moved and controlled by machinery, but the machinery is under the fingers of the pointer and his a.s.sistants. By a simple movement of a lever the gun can be shifted up or down or from side to side. And probably all know that elevation is one of the most important matters in firing.

If a gun is taken, or for that matter a bean-shooter, and some projectile is fired or blown through the air, it will be noticed that it goes in a straight line for only a short distance. Then it begins to curve down and fall. This is due to loss of energy, and to the attraction of gravitation.