CHAPTER II
THE COMMANDANT OF MIDSHIPMEN
Drake and Stonewell reached Washington the next morning, and thefollowing morning took a train bound for Annapolis. They were ahead ofthe yearly rush of midshipmen returning from September leave; members ofthe Naval Academy football team are expected to sacrifice part of theirprecious vacation in order to commence football practice early. Hardlywere they aboard their train when a tall, fine-looking young man, ofperhaps twenty-one or twenty-two years, approached them. In his hurriedglance at Robert and Stonewell one might have seen an expression ofpleasure combined with uncertainty, the pleasure when looking atStonewell, the uncertainty when his gaze rested momentarily upon Robert.
"How do you do, Stonewell?" he said, in a rather precise way, extendinghis hand to him. "I'm glad to see you and Drake; have you seen anyothers of the football squad?"
"Hello, Farnum, how are you, old chap? I'm real glad to see you," saidStonewell, heartily. "No, I haven't seen any midshipmen but you yet."
"How are you, Drake?" continued Farnum, rather pointedly, and stood withhand outstretched toward Drake. Apparently the latter did not seeFarnum's hand; he made no effort to take it, but with his own right handhe touched his hat and said: "Hello, Farnum." Farnum's hand dropped tohis side, and he said impulsively, "Why won't you shake hands with me,Drake? I would like to be friendly with you, and I don't know why weshouldn't be friends. Perhaps you are thinking of the time when most ofus misjudged you, a matter that no one has more regretted than I have."
"Farnum," said Robert, "you remember our second class summer, don't you,when I was reported for deliberate neglect of duty?"
"Surely," answered Farnum.
"And you remember why I neglected my duty? I was on as 'midshipman incharge of floor' when you and Stone and Pete and some others wereFrenching, and I left my post so as not to have to report you all."
"I remember that very well indeed," rejoined Farnum; "what of it?"
"Stone and the rest of them, except you, reported themselves for thepurpose of helping me out, as much as they could, of the trouble I wasin. Stone was broken as acting senior cadet officer, and you, guilty ofthe same offense, were given his place. I hope you enjoyed it." Robertspoke warmly.
"Look here, Drake, suppose you let me ask you a few questions. When youleft your post that night was it to avoid reporting me? Would you havedeliberately neglected your duty for me, or was it to benefit your ownparticular chums, Stone, Pete and Glass?"
"I'd do more for them than for anybody else at the Academy."
"Of course you would; I'd blame you if you wouldn't. But you wouldn'thave done it for me alone, would you?"
"I don't know--I'd got sick of reporting classmates. I hope I won't haveto face that question again."
"Drake, I wouldn't either have asked or expected you to do that for me.I didn't report myself because you didn't do it for me; I took my chanceand was not reported. It was all right for Stone to report himself if hewanted to. As for being shoved into his position as acting senior cadetofficer, that didn't amount to a hill of beans, and you know it. It wasa very temporary matter, and it didn't make any difference to Stone orme or you or anybody else. At the same time I don't mind saying that Iwas sorry at the time I supplanted Stone. I'm also sorry you have seenfit to brood over this matter. I suppose I can get along without yourfriendship, though I was perfectly sincere in offering you mine."
"Do you know who's going to have five stripes?" asked Robert sharply.
"Why Stone, of course--I haven't seen the stripe list yet, but I don'timagine anybody else will be considered for that job."
Without saying anything more, Robert took a newspaper clipping from hispocket and handed it to Farnum. Stonewell, who had been silent duringthe talk between his two classmates, now said, offering his hand to thelatter, "I congratulate you, Farnum; I'm sure you'll have a goodbrigade; you may depend on my helping you to the best of my ability."
Though Farnum was ordinarily a very self-contained young man, his eyesbulged when he saw himself gazetted as cadet commander. He hesitated fora moment, seemingly lost in perturbed thought; then turning toStonewell, he took his hand and said, "Stone, this is very kind of you,"and without another word passed out of the car.
"Bob," said Stonewell rather sharply, "I have a request to make of you,and if you are the friend I take you to be you'll heed it. I want you todrop this matter of five stripes. You'll make a nuisance of yourself andwill make me ridiculous. I want you to promise me you will not go aroundand tell people Farnum shouldn't have five stripes and that I should."
"Stone, I boil over every time I think about it; I can't help it. Itjust makes me mad to see Farnum smirking and grinning, and usurping theplace that belongs to you. But I don't think he'll enjoy his job,feeling in his heart that everybody knows he's an impostor. The idea ofhis saying to you 'this is very kind of you.' I'm disgusted!"
"Well, Bob, don't think about him, and as you feel so strongly try toavoid talking about the matter. Let's talk of something else. The entiresquad should arrive by to-morrow, and we ought to get in some goodpractice----"
Here Stonewell received a violent interruption. A sudden lurch of thetrain threw a passing youth right on top of the two midshipmen. Theyoung man immediately recovered himself and then broke out into a heartypeal of laughter. "I beg your pardon, I'd no idea I was so clumsy. Youchaps are going to Annapolis, aren't you? So am I. I'm a midshipman."The speaker seemed to take it for granted that he was both important andinteresting. He was full of apparent good nature and friendliness andwanted to talk; he was about nineteen years old, and was tall andstrongly built. A great shock of tawny yellow hair surmounted a ratherhandsome, freckled, healthy face. He had a thick neck and his shoulderswere heavy. His appearance betokened great good nature, and there werehealth, strength and quickness in every movement.
"You don't look like a midshipman," said Robert shortly.
"Oh," said the young man with a laugh, "I've only been one for twentydays; I was sworn in September first, and then got leave, a grandmotherdied and the estate had to be settled--ha, ha, ha,--any excuse wouldhave done--but I'm going to go back to-day for football. I knowsomething about the game, and expect to make the team from the start. Myname is Henry Bligh. What are yours?"
"Young man," said Stonewell, in forbidding tones, "after you've been amidshipman for a while you will notice that other midshipmen are a bitslow in proclaiming who they are to strangers in public places. You areexcused."
A blank expression spread itself over Mr. Bligh's face. He looked fromStonewell to Robert. Neither took any further notice of him, and in ahesitating way he walked to the rear of the car.
"A bit fresh, isn't he, Stone?" smiled Robert.
"Yes, Bob; like you and I were when we first came here, and like mostmidshipmen are at first. He's a well-built plebe, and looks like goodfootball material. Well, here's old Annapolis once more--what a pleasureit is to get back to the old town."
The train slowed down and stopped and the passengers impatiently crowdedto the door, anxious to be off.
"Hello," exclaimed Robert, "Farnum must be in a hurry; he's taken acarriage; I'm glad I'm not in a hurry, for I'm busted, as usual."
Farnum had jumped into a carriage and gave directions to be driven toBancroft Hall; on his arrival there he went immediately to thecommandant.
"I'm glad to see you, Mr. Farnum," said the commandant, greeting himwarmly. "I suppose you've come back early for football practice?"
"Yes, sir." Farnum paused for a moment and then began abruptly,"Captain, I have here a list of midshipmen which it is said you are torecommend as cadet officers. I am slated, according to this list, to becadet commander. I wish permission to speak to you frankly about this."
"Go ahead, Mr. Farnum. Those are the recommendations I shall submit tothe superintendent within an hour. The list was not made public by me;it leaked out somehow; but I guess no harm has been done. But it willnot be final until the superintendent approv
es it. He has just returnedfrom leave, and so has not acted upon it."
"Will you please tell me frankly why I am recommended to be cadetcommander, and Mr. Stonewell is not?"
"This is unusual, Mr. Farnum, but as you are recommended for the highestcadet rank I don't mind being perfectly frank. Mr. Stonewell is numberone in your class, and in pretty nearly everything at the Academy. Thesummer cruise officers and the ordnance and seamanship and disciplineofficers have recommended that he be made cadet commander; and you wererecommended pretty nearly unanimously to be the senior cadetlieutenant-commander. But last summer Mr. Stonewell committed a mostserious breach of Academy regulations. He took French leave one night."
"Is that the only reason he doesn't get five stripes, sir?"
"Frankly, yes."
"Then, sir, I must report I was also guilty, at the same time, of thesame offense. Mr. Stonewell and all the others of the party, exceptmyself, reported themselves for being absent, for the purpose of helpingMr. Drake. I didn't at the time feel called upon to do so, though I havesince keenly wished I had. You can see, sir, it will be impossible forme to hold five stripes with any degree of self-respect. My classmatesknow all the circumstances. I would feel that I was an impostor and myclassmates would have contempt for me. I could never have the respectnor exert the moral authority that should go with five stripes."
"Mr. Farnum, I'm entirely surprised. You should have reported yourselflast summer."
"Yes, sir, but as I didn't do so then I must now."
"Of course; however questionable your notions of last summer were yourpresent action is commendable. Well, Mr. Farnum, you will hardly getfive stripes, but, I assure you, you have my entire respect.Good-morning, sir," and Farnum was bowed out.
"By George," reflected the commandant, "that young man has a sense ofduty; he's pointed right. I shouldn't wonder but what it would be a goodthing to call in the leading midshipmen of a class before cadet officersare assigned and talk it over with them. Well, I think the best thing Ican do about this list is to recommend Stonewell for the brigadecommander and Farnum for command of the first battalion. They willsimply shift places and the other recommendations will not bedisturbed."
After making this change in the list the commandant left his office andwas soon with the superintendent, Rear-Admiral Wentworth. After acordial greeting and some preliminary talk the commandant, CommanderDalton, said: "Admiral, the most pressing thing I have is to get yourapproval for the assignment of the cadet officers. I have therecommendations here; I am entirely satisfied we'll have the brigade ofmidshipmen well officered this year."
"Let me have your list," said the superintendent, reaching out for it."I see you have recommended Mr. Stonewell for cadet commander. Hum. Ihad almost decided to put another young man in that position, but Ithink I'll let that stand. Farnum and Sewall are to be the cadetlieutenant-commanders. Well, let that go. Ryerson, senior cadetlieutenant; he'll make an ideal brigade adjutant. Pass him; but wheredoes my young friend come in?"
"Who is he, admiral? What's his name?" queried Commander Dalton.
The superintendent did not reply, but read the list over hurriedly, andthen said, impatiently, "Why, Dalton, his name doesn't figure here atall, but I can fix that easily; he goes in right after Ryerson, and willbe cadet lieutenant, commanding the first company of midshipmen."
The admiral seized a pen, interpolated a name between Ryerson and Blair,and then signed the roster of cadet officers. He handed this to thecommandant, saying, "Dalton, Mr. Drake will command the first company;shove everybody after him on your list down a peg."
"Why, admiral," remonstrated the commandant, "Mr. Drake isn't entitledto this; it is true he was unanimously recommended by all but thediscipline officers to be cadet lieutenant, but he most deliberatelyneglected his duty when he was a second classman when on a specialdetail. He is a very attractive young man, but we cannot forget such aserious blot as that."
The superintendent smiled. "Dalton," he said, "I was here on dutytwenty-five years ago, when I was a lieutenant, in the department ofseamanship."
"Yes, sir, I well remember your being here, for I was at that time herealso, as a midshipman."
"Well, one year I was among those detailed to make the recommendationfor new cadet officers. There was one midshipman, high in his class, asplendid fellow, that would have had high cadet office except he wasconstantly kicking over the regulations. He was the leader of every madexcursion that occurred within these walls; his exuberance of spiritsbrought him continual trouble. So when we came to make ourrecommendations we pursed our lips and passed over the midshipman I'mspeaking of. We made a mistake I've regretted ever since. Well, thatmidshipman became an officer that the whole navy ever since has beenproud of, and when I was ordered here as superintendent I asked the NavyDepartment to send him here as commandant. By the way, his name isDalton."
Commander Dalton became very red in the face, and then in a husky voicemuch affected said, "Admiral, I'd no idea you had this opinion of me--Ican't express my feelings; you have touched them deeply. I am glad Mr.Drake is to be cadet lieutenant. I'll have the list copied and publishedthis afternoon."