CHAPTER XX
SIX-POUNDER TARGET PRACTICE
Graduation day drew near, bringing exultant happiness to Robert Drake.Not many more things could occur to him--the annual examinations weresoon to be held, but these brought no terrors to Robert's mind. Most ofthe drills had been finished, and the first and second companies werenow neck and neck in competition for the first place, with Blair'scompany slightly in the lead. The final standing now depended upon therecords these respective companies made at target practice.
Annapolis was now in ribboned and brass-buttoned glory. Proudly thebrigade of midshipmen marched each afternoon for dress parade, and onthe walks viewing them was much fluttering loveliness. Then, afterdismissal, came pleasant, even if short, strolls through the grounds, inand about the shady walks.
Robert was happy because of four years of hard work well done and wellappreciated. He loved the place. Every tree on the grounds was an oldfriend, and every spot near and about old Annapolis called up pleasantmemories.
The important things yet to occur were target practice, the first classgerman, graduation, and the great June ball.
Among the midshipmen there were a few, however, who were not happy atthis time. Among them was Harry Blunt; in danger of failing inmathematics, disturbed by reproachful looks from his mother and sisterand worried by severe letters from his father, he commenced to have ananxious appearance, and actually abandoned the gaieties that were nowthrust into midshipman life in favor of much neglected books; thedreaded annual examinations were almost upon him.
Midshipman Bligh, though also in the same precarious position, seemed tolose some of the gloom he had been carrying about him and become morenormal. He went into the city of Annapolis at every opportunity andalways came back with a grateful heart; for Bligh had found a friendwho believed in him, and this friend had rescued Bligh from the pit ofdespondency and terrible sadness into which he had descended.
"Say, Bob," remarked Stonewell one day, "have you noticed that fellowBligh of late?"
"I never happen to think of him. What about him?"
"Nothing much, except that I am constantly meeting him. He never seemsto look at me, but whenever I go out in town nowadays he's pretty sureto be standing at the Maryland Avenue gate; and then later, half thetime I go out I meet him somewhere. This has happened so often of latethat I can't help but feel he's interested in where I go."
"Lots of people are interested in where you go, Stone; every daysomebody asks me why you go out so much alone. For years we have goneout together, but now you never want me."
"It's not that," replied Stonewell hurriedly,--"I've had some personalmatters come up that require my attention. Look here, that Bligh isgoing to bilge, isn't he?"
"He is practically certain to. He is low in every study--he'll have tomake bigger marks in each of them than he ever yet has made to getsatisfactory in the final average. But he may do it; people have pulledout of worse holes than he is in."
"What are you reading, Bob? You seem to be giving that newspaper a gooddeal of your attention to-day."
"I'm reading about the boy who was kidnapped in Baltimore several daysago. First it was thought the boy was lost, but now the police believehe was kidnapped; it says here that Mr. Thompson has received word hisboy will be restored to him on payment of ten thousand dollars. ByGeorge! I hope they catch the kidnappers and send them to prison forlife. That's an awful crime!"
"It is indeed; and just think, Baltimore is only thirty miles away. I'vebeen reading about that Thompson boy and I do hope he will be sent backhome. Well, Bob, are you all ready for your target practice? Do youreally put faith in this new sight you have invented?"
"More so every day, Stone, particularly since I've learned thatpractically the same sight as I have aboard the 'Nevada' has been put onmany different guns throughout the navy. Anybody who sees it and workswith it a little is bound to believe it is far better than the oldsights. Those were simply miserable. I'm now fifteen or twenty pointsbehind Blair, with only target practice yet to be heard from, and I'msure to beat him. I'd beat him even if we should use the old sights. Yousee I have a really very well-drilled crew; they load rapidly. I'm wildto get into the practice; I've a flag at stake, you know. It will besettled before night. Hello, the bugle has busted. Let's get toformation."
On board the monitor "Nevada" they joined the other midshipmen, and soonshe was under way and steaming through the buoyed channel to the freewaters of Chesapeake Bay. The "Nevada" had on board the officersbelonging to the Department of Ordnance and Gunnery and a number ofmidshipmen; there were also on board a six-pounder crew of five men fromeach of the twelve companies of midshipmen. In addition many midshipmenwho had no duties but who were interested in seeing the target practicewere allowed to be present. Soon a cry from aloft was heard.
"Sail ho!" cried the midshipman lookout on the "Nevada's" mast.
"Where away, can you make her out?" returned the midshipmanofficer-of-the-deck, hailing the lookout.
"Right ahead, sir, but I don't know what it is. It looks like a funnykind of a ship with six sails on it."
"Who made that ridiculous report?" inquired Commander Brice in greatdisgust. "If it were an ordinary seaman I'd disrate him to an afterguardsweeper. But I imagine it's a future admiral. The sail he's reported arethe targets--there are six of them. Anybody but a midshipman would knowit. They've been in sight ever since we left the Severn River."
The target was now seen by everybody and the "Nevada" steered for it. Itwas at the apex of an equilateral triangle each side of which was onethousand yards long. The word targets, rather than target, should havebeen used, because in this apex, for the purpose of expediting thispractice, of finishing it in one afternoon, six targets on rafts hadbeen placed. The tug "Standish" was anchored near by. She had brought aparty of enlisted men, who had been working all morning, and had erectedthe marks.
Commander Shaw, the head of the Department of Ordnance and Gunnery,remained on the bridge with Commander Brice until the "Nevada" hadcleared the channel. Then, as he descended the ladder leading from thebridge to the superstructure deck, he was met by an eager-facedmidshipman, who cried to him:
"Captain Shaw, do you remember we were all encouraged by yourinstructors to make any improvements we could in the guns we were todrill with?"
"I do indeed, Mr. Drake," replied Commander Shaw, smiling with interestat Robert's eagerness. "What have you been doing?"
"I will show you, sir. Will you please come over to the starboardsix-pounder gun?"
Robert stepped quickly to the starboard side, followed by the commander.He then quickly unscrewed the regular gun sights, drew them out of thesockets, and threw them over to Chief Gunner's Mate Lenn. The latterhanded Robert a long parcel wrapped in paper.
"Hello, Bob, what have you there, a new gun?" laughed Blair. "Say,fellows, let's see what Bob is up to." Everybody became interested andcrowded about, and many were the laughing remarks made to Robert. Butthe latter, paying no attention to these, quickly stripped the paperfrom the parcel, and a long brass pipe was exposed to the curious eyesabout him. On one end of the pipe was clamped a piece of metal whichcarried a circular ring, across which were attached, at right angles,thin silvery-white wires. At the other end of the pipe was attached asmall brass cylinder, closed except for a minute hole through itscentre. Near the cross wire end, hanging from the pipe, was a solidplug, cylindrical in section.
Robert worked rapidly. He slipped this plug into the recess left by thefront sight, putting in several thin washers; at the rear end of thebrass pipe was attached a condemned rear sight, one furnished by Lenn,and this naturally slipped into its place.
"By George, Mr. Drake," cried out Commander Shaw, "this is splendid.It's the Paul Jones' bar sight! She won this year's six-pounder recordby that sight--I only yesterday received a drawing of it--how in theworld did you get this up?"
"Several helped, sir, and Chief Gunner's Mate Lenn did all the workabout it. May I use these sights, sir, o
n my target practice to-day?"
"Indeed you may, and all of the rest of the gun crews will. We've knownfor some time the old sights were very poor. I'm delighted, Mr. Drake."
Robert's face was radiant with happiness. His classmates crowded abouthim; everybody saw at a glance that Robert's sight was a decidedimprovement.
"I congratulate you, Bob," said Blair to him. "I guess you've got theflag and you deserve to have it; this is just fine. Captain Shaw,"continued Blair, "I request permission to fire my shots with the oldsights."
"Not granted, sir."
"But, captain, there is a special reason why I should, a big reason. Yousee, sir, Drake and I are fighting for the flag; this target practicewill decide things; one of us is bound to win it; now he has got up thissight and it would certainly be unfair to him if I were to get thebenefit of his good ideas and----"
"Captain Shaw," cried Robert, interrupting Blair, "if you think it's agood sight let's all fire with it, and give the Naval Academy a betterrecord in target practice than last year; and if Blair can beat meout--then all the more credit to him, for I've had a lot of practice inaiming and loading. And, captain, I'd like to have each crew practice asmuch as they can find time for; I've had hours of it. It's very easy togo from the old sights to this; you just keep the gun pointed with yourshoulder and arm so that the line through the peep-hole and intersectionof cross wires prolonged will meet the object you want to hit. Here,Sam, you take the gun and get used to it."
"Bob, this is awfully white of you, and it's not fair to you."
"Gentlemen, you'll all fire with this new sight of Mr. Drake's,"announced Commander Shaw, decisively.
"Bob, I'm going to do my best, of course, but you ought to win; if Ishould happen to get credited for the most hits I couldn't feel Ideserved to beat you."
"Don't you worry, Sam," chuckled Robert; "I've been practicing with thatsight for some months. If you can win you've a right to."
Robert was radiantly happy; this public recognition of his having donesomething worth while filled him with joy. And at the same time he wascompletely confident that he would make the best record during the day.He was really desirous of having everybody who fired use the sight hehad installed, because he expected to win anyway. He knew in his heartthat with all the special drill he had had he was practically certain tomake the highest score in target practice, no matter which sight wasused, and he felt he would really have more credit if all who fired usedthe same sights.
"Now, gentlemen, each pointer will have a chance to practice with Mr.Drake's bar sight before he fires," announced Commander Shaw. "Mr.Drake, you will fire first. Are you bore sighted?"
"Yes, sir, everything is ready, but I'd like to fire a trial shot."
"Very well. We'll steam to the range and give you a trial shot, and thenMr. Blair may practice aiming. Then we'll go on the range and you willcommence, and when you finish the second company's gun crew willcommence; as soon as they finish, and while turning the ship around forthe return run, the pointers of the third and fourth crews will practicewith the sight. We'll fire two pointers on a run and practice two on thereturn, so after six double runs we will have fired at the six targets;then a boat from the 'Standish' will patch up the targets, and afterthat we'll fire the other six gun crews; we ought to finish before fiveo'clock. Have you your range cards ready, and a stop-watch?"
"Yes, sir."
"All right." Then to Commander Brice on the bridge: "Are you making tenknots, captain?"
"Yes, sir, just exactly ten knots."
"Take your trial shot just after we pass the first buoy, Mr Drake."
"Yes, sir; I'm ready, sir."
The "Nevada" was now rapidly approaching the range, which was marked bythree buoys in line, this line forming the base of the triangle, ofwhich the targets were in the apex. The "Nevada" was to travel justoutside of the line while the six-pounder was being fired.
"What yacht is that?" asked Commander Shaw of Commander Brice,indicating a yacht that had evidently just come from Annapolis.
"That's the 'Robert Centre,'" replied Commander Brice, after looking ather through his glasses.
"I think she has come out to see the target practice, and I'll wager aship's biscuit that a party of midshipmen with some girl friends are onboard," he continued, with a laugh.
"Just look at the way sail is crowded on her. Jerusalem! the fellow whois running that yacht has a lot of nerve; he's got every rag stretchedthat's aboard."
The "Robert Centre" was a yacht that some years previous had beenpresented to the Naval Academy, and in leisure hours midshipmen wereallowed to sail her in Chesapeake Bay. She was coming out under a greatpress of canvas with a fresh, spanking breeze on her port quarter.
"I'll blow the ship's steam whistle when the first buoy is abeam of themast," called out Commander Shaw. "Mr. Drake, take your trial shot assoon after as you please."
"Aye, aye, sir."
In a moment there was a strident blast from the steam whistle andimmediately after: "Bang!" went the six-pounder.
Many midshipmen, not prepared for the deafening report, jumpedviolently.
"A bull's-eye," cried out Commander Shaw in delight. "Mr. Drake, yoursight is all right, and the powder is all right. Captain Brice, I'd liketo go back and commence over again. Mr. Drake, let Mr. Blair practicesighting the gun. You'll find, Mr. Blair, that the new sights are easierto shoot with. Mr. Drake, I'm delighted; that was a bully good shot."
Again the "Nevada" steamed toward the range.
"Now, fellows," said Robert, "put cotton in your ears and don't mindabout the noise; get the gun loaded as soon as I fire; and, Glass, besure you throw the shell in home; the only chance of a poor score is ajammed cartridge."
The "Nevada" rapidly approached the first buoy. An intense, breathlesssilence, an air of solemnity, pervaded the ship. Standing like statuesgrouped about the six-pounder gun that was about to fire, were Robertand his crew, with grim determination written on every face.
"After the whistle blows commence firing immediately," ordered CommanderShaw. "I'll time you with a stop-watch; you will fire for just a minute;jump back the instant I tap you on the arm like this. Mr. Blair, haveyour crew ready to jump to the gun just when I signal to Mr. Drake tocease."
"Aye, aye, sir," came the replies in unison from both Robert and Blair.
When the whistle blew, there came a novel sensation to those on boardwho had never before seen a navy target practice.
A sheet of white flame burst from the muzzle of the six-pounder, athunderous, reverberating report assaulted the ears of everybody, andhardly had this been experienced when the same thing was repeated, overand over again. The grim statues at the gun had burst into recklesslife. At the first shot, the recoil of the gun had thrown down thebreech-block and so had opened the gun, ejecting the used cartridgecase. The gun was ready for loading, and Glassfell lost no time. Hardlyhad the empty cartridge case been ejected than into the chamber he threwa fresh shell. A spring was automatically released, throwing thebreech-block into place, and the gun was ready for firing. Almostinstantly it was discharged, for Robert never allowed the sights toleave the target.
And so a thunderous bang! bang! bang! was kept up from the gun.
Commander Brice, on top of the pilot house, with his glasses leveled onthe target, was in an ecstasy of delight.
"A bull's-eye," he cried, "another bull's-eye, a beautiful shot,wonderful shooting."
While this was going on, a wild-eyed enlisted man, scantily clad inworking trousers and undershirt, and evidently under intenseexcitement, came tumbling up on the superstructure deck, screaming,"Captain, captain."
He ran into half a dozen midshipmen, fell down twice, reached the ladderleading to the pilot house top, still continuing his wild cry of"Captain." He bumped into Captain Brice, and when the latter turnedangrily around to him, he thrust a paper into the captain's hands.
Commander Brice read the paper, and then in a stentorian voice criedout: "Cease firing." r />
At the same instant Commander Shaw touched Robert on the shoulder andcalled "time."
"Cease firing," repeated Commander Brice. "Keep Mr. Drake and his crewat the gun! Hard a starboard the helm! Call away the life-boat. Gunner'smate, get up twelve rifles and rifle ammunition, double time! CaptainShaw, detail Lieutenant Joynes to take charge of the life-boat; have twomidshipmen crews, armed with rifles, prepared to go in the life-boatwhen it is lowered. Ease the helm, amidships with it--steady so."
Many pairs of surprised eyes were upon Commander Brice. With glasses upto his eyes, he was now looking at a yacht on the starboard bow,recognized by everybody to be the "Robert Centre" which, some distanceaway, was careening far to one side and was bowling along at a furiousspeed.
"Mr. Drake!" called out Commander Brice.
"Sir?"
"Do you see the 'Robert Centre'?"
"Yes, sir."
"Drop a shell under her bows. Don't hit her. The range is about fifteenhundred yards."