"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 a.s.signed 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 pa.s.s 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.
Pa.s.s 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 tr.i.m.m.i.n.gs."
"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."