CHAPTER XI
"THREE GROANS FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT"
Great was the delight of first classmen at the privilege of theatreliberty, a rare privilege for midshipmen; and loud and deep were theindignant murmurs of midshipmen other than first classmen to whom thisprivilege was not accorded.
"There's no reason, no reasonable reason why the second and thirdclassmen should not go," protested Third Classman Blunt at supper. "I'min favor of the whole third class going in a body; we'll show theauthorities what we think of the commandant's ridiculous treatment----"
"Mr. Blunt, you are called to order," rang out the sharp, dictatorialvoice of Cadet Lieutenant Drake, sitting at the head of the table. "Youare inciting mutiny and speaking disrespectfully of your superiorofficers."
Harry Blunt was plainly cowed and subsided for a time; but later said ina low tone to a classmate sitting on his right: "I'm going out anyway;it won't be the first time I have gone over the wall."
"You'd be recognized at the theatre and spotted, and you'd be missed attaps inspection; you had better not try it," was the reply.
"I guess you're right," grumbled Harry, "but I've a pretty good trick upmy sleeve, and I may work it."
Later, when the first classmen were all gone and the corridors weredeserted, Third Classman Blunt might have been seen to slip into roomnumber 23, the divisional officers' room. And in a few minutes he cameout looking perplexed and worried.
The Colonial Theatre was a gay sight that Saturday night. All of societyAnnapolis was present, the ladies beautifully gowned, and the men incorrect evening dress. Annapolis prides itself on being as strict insuch matters as Newport. Interspersed throughout the audience were to beseen many navy uniforms; and well toward the front and centre, in seatsreserved for them, were seated as fine a body of young men as had everbeen brought together, the senior class of midshipmen.
It seemed more like a friendly party than an ordinary audience, foreverybody knew everybody else, and before the curtain rose there wereinnumerable greetings and much pleasant talk.
But to the "costume de rigeur" so faithfully observed by theAnnapolitans, there was one exception. In a back seat of a box, on theright of the stage (a public box where seats were sold separately) sat aman dressed in defiance of social custom. He was simply clothed in asack coat, and trousers of dark material. He wore a heavy moustache andfull pointed beard. However, he didn't seem to know anybody and noneappeared to notice him or worry over his unconventional attire.
Penfield had an appreciative audience that night. Never had anything sofine been given at Annapolis, and enthusiastic delight was repeatedlyexpressed.
At twenty minutes before ten the bearded man in the box suddenly leftand once outside of the theatre he started at a dead run toward theAcademy grounds. A convenient negro made twenty-five cents by boostinghim over the wall. The bearded man rushed on the Chesapeake Bay side ofthe Armory and Bancroft Hall, ran over the terrace, and bolted into theopen window of room 23. The five minutes' warning bugle was soon heard,to be followed by the call for taps. And in Bancroft Hall was to beheard the measured tread of the midshipmen on duty making the teno'clock inspection of rooms.
Hardly had this ceased when the bearded man emerged from Bancroft Hallby the same way he had entered it. He was off on a bound and ran throughthe grounds unobserved. The wall presented no difficulty to him, and hewas soon back in his seat in the theatre box.
"What luck," he said to himself, with great satisfaction. "I got out inthe first place, got back again, was in my bed at taps inspection, andnow I'm back here and have missed only a little of the play. And nobodysaw me or knows anything about it."
The play proceeded. At a little before eleven, near the end, while somescenery was being changed, the manager of the theatre stepped out on thestage and called:
"Is Midshipman Stonewell present?"
"I am he," replied Stonewell, rising in his seat.
"I'm sorry, but the superintendent of the Naval Academy has justtelephoned me to have Midshipman Stonewell send in all midshipmen on therun." Before Stonewell had a chance to reply or give an order, andbefore the look of dismay and disappointment had disappeared from hisclassmates' faces, everybody in the theatre was startled by a loud cryin harsh, strident tones of:
"Midshipmen and everybody else, attention!"
An intense breathless stillness followed. Everybody looked to thedirection from where the cry had come. There, in the front of the righthand box, stood a tall athletic looking man. Now a brown slouch hat waspulled down on his forehead; his face was covered with a dark beard. Hewore a sack coat buttoned tightly over his chest.
By this penetrating voice everybody's attention was attracted. Anexpectant hush fell upon the audience. Every eye was upon the beardedstranger.
From the lips of the interrupter came a defiant call of:
"Three groans for the superintendent of the Naval Academy and thecommandant. Oh--oh--oh."
Without a moment's hesitation came ringing orders from Stonewell:
"First classmen, rise! March out on the double. Form in two ranksoutside."
There was no hesitation or delay in obeying Stonewell's order. Swiftlythey ran out of the theatre and halted on the walk outside. And almostimmediately they were put in motion by Stonewell's order of "Firstclassmen, forward, double time-march," and away they sped. Soonfire-bells were heard ringing and the siren in the Academy grounds wasemitting long, terrifying blasts.
"Something's afire in the Naval Academy, Bob," cried Stonewell; "hurry."The first classmen dashed to the Maryland Avenue gate and here were metby streams of lower class midshipmen, starting to drag out the differenthose reels. The first classmen immediately assumed charge of theirvarious commands. The fire proved to be in the carpen-ter's shop, andin a very few minutes it was put out.
After the midshipmen were back in their quarters the one topic ofconversation was the startling event in the theatre.
The next morning was Sunday. Shortly after ten o'clock, when thecommandant had finished his inspection of rooms, Cadet Lieutenant Drakeappeared at the door of Midshipman Blunt's room and said: "Blunt, reportto the commandant's office immediately."
Harry Blunt clutched the table as if for support, and with pallid faceand in trembling tones he asked: "What does he want me for?"
"You'll know when he tells you," and Robert walked out. It was not withhis usual debonair manner that Harry Blunt entered the commandant'spresence. In fact it was a very scared youth who confronted CommanderDalton. Fear and apprehension were plainly depicted in his face.
"Mr. Blunt," commenced the commandant, "your father, mother and sisterare to dine at my house to-day, and I want you to come too. Your fathertells me he hasn't seen much of you of late; you are not on the firstconduct grade, are you? If you are not I'll dispense with the regulationand grant you special permission to dine with an officer to-day."
Harry Blunt suddenly sat down on a chair behind him. He was momentarilyspeechless.
"Sit down, Mr. Blunt," smiled the commandant. Then Harry stood up.
"Wa-wa-was that all you wanted to see me for?" he stammered.
"Yes; we dine at half-past one."
"Thank you, captain; I'll be delighted to dine with you and be with myfather. This is awfully kind of you, captain. Oh, thank you; yes,indeed, I'll be there--I don't believe I've ever called on you, captain,but--"
"Well, well, Mr. Blunt," interrupted the commandant, "what is the matterwith you? At first when you came into my office you seemed to be bereftof speech, and all of a sudden you talk with such a rush that you can'tstop yourself. Perhaps you thought I was going to talk about somethingelse," and Commander Dalton glanced keenly at Harry.
"Be at my house by half-past one," repeated the commandant, dismissingHarry, and the latter left. He took several deep breaths when out of thecommandant's office.
"By George," he said, almost aloud, in tones of great relief, "I fearedI was up against it. I was never so scared in all my life."
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