CHAPTER X--THEIR FIRST DETAIL
Summary court-martial met on the following afternoon. Louis Flink wasfound guilty, the recommendation of the court being that he be dismissedfrom the service.
At a general muster the findings of the court-martial, approved by thecommandant of the station, were read out by the executive officer. Itwas an impressive scene to the Battleship Boys--one that they neverforgot, showing as it did that the United States Navy is no place for aman guilty of a dishonorable act.
Louis Flink was read out of the service and driven from the grounds ofthe Training Station, a disgraced man.
"I'm sorry for the poor fellow, though I have no sympathy for him,"murmured Dan.
"What's the difference?" demanded Sam.
"Difference between what?"
"The difference between feeling sorry for a man and having sympathy forhim? I, for one, am mighty glad to see him go, but I'm sorry I did notget a chance at him first. I'll never get over that."
"He must have been the one who was the cause of our other trouble, Sam."
"Of course he was, beginning with the pie he threw at us. But what arewe going to do with the marks against us? We were no more to blame forthe things we were disciplined for than we are for having our jacketsruined."
"We shall have to take our medicine; that is all," answered Danruefully.
Two days later, the boys were summoned to the office of the executiveofficer. They went rather apprehensively, wondering what could be thereason for the unusual summons.
Arriving at the executive office the lads stated their business to thesentry, and were admitted after a little delay, coming to a halt andsaluting as they reached Lieutenant Commander Devall's desk.
The salute was quickly answered, after which the boys stood atattention, hats in hands.
"I presume you would like to join a ship, would you not?" he asked.
"Join a ship? Indeed we should," answered Dan, his eyes glowing withpleasure.
"You boys, I believe, joined from the same place?"
"Yes, sir."
"H-m-m-m!" mused the executive officer, consulting the enlistment recordof the two apprentices. "Piedmont?"
"Yes, sir."
"You would like to be shipmates, would you not?"
"We should like it very much, indeed. If it were possible, I wish wemight be placed on the same ship," replied Dan.
"I will arrange it," replied Lieutenant Commander Devall, consultingseveral papers from the mass with which his desk was littered. "Severaldetails are being sent out to various ships to-day. I was under theimpression that one ship on my list asked for two ordinary seamen. Ah,yes, here it is. Yes, that will be all right. I shall assign you, but,of course, I cannot promise that you will be retained indefinitely inthat way. You may be reassigned to some other part of the service at anytime, but it is not likely that this will be done for some time, yet."
"May I ask, sir, to what ship you will assign us?"
"Yes; the battleship 'Long Island.'"
"The 'Long Island,'" mused Dan.
"The 'Long Island,'" repeated Sam under his breath.
"That is the new battleship, is it not, sir?"
"The newest one in the Atlantic fleet. She has just had her trial trip,and has been accepted by the government. I am very glad to be able togive you this detail, for you are a pair of likely young men. Yourrecord at the station has been a splendid one, and your promotiondeserved."
"Thank you, sir. You know we have some marks against us," spoke up Dan.
"I was thinking of that. Let me see. There appears to be some doubtabout those extra duty tours--I mean to say as to whether you men werewholly in the wrong. Have you any reason to suspect that others weretrying to get you into trouble?"
"Yes, sir; we have had reason to suspect as much," answered Dan after aninstant's hesitation.
"Whom did you suspect?"
"There can be no harm now, sir, in saying that we suspected the fellowFlink."
"Yet you made no report of it?"
"How could we, sir? We had little on which to base our suspicions, andbesides it did not seem the manly thing to do, to carry tales aboutone's shipmates."
"He's the fellow, sir, who threw the pie," spoke up Hickey.
"What's that?"
"Threw the pie." Sam did not heed the warning look from his companion."The day we entered the training school."
"I recall the incident, and I also recall that you both refused to statewhat you knew. Always obey the command of an officer; bear that in mind,young men. No matter if it does mean getting an associate into trouble.Your officers will never make a request of you that is not for the goodof the service. You are well fitted for the duties that are before you.Be obedient, courteous and willing. Never allow soreheads--'sea lawyers'we call them on board ship--to make you discontented on board. Rememberthat there is no more honorable calling in the world than that which youhave chosen. See that you do honor to it."
"We shall try, sir."
"And, by the way, you are entitled to a leave of absence for four weeksfrom this time, with a full allowance of pay. You may join your shiplater, at the expiration of leave. I take it that you lads would like togo home and show yourselves in your uniforms."
Dan hesitated.
"Of course, we should like it, sir, but I think we should prefer to joinship at once."
"Very good, then; you will join the 'Long Island' to-morrow. In themeantime I shall arrange to have the marks against you canceled, so thatthere may be no bar to your progress. You will go aboard with a cleanbill of health in every way."
"May I ask where the 'Long Island' is, sir?" questioned Sam.
"New York."
"At the Navy Yard, sir?"
"No, she is lying in the North River; I think about off Riverside Drive.Do you know where that is?"
"No, sir."
"That is nearly opposite General Grant's tomb. You can find the placeeasily. Any policeman will tell you how to get there."
"Yes, sir; when do we go, sir?"
"On the night boat. You came up here on that, did you not?"
"Yes, sir."
"I will have your papers prepared and your transportation ready at fiveo'clock. You will call here for them. The quartermaster will instructyou as to what you are to take with you and how to proceed. My lads, Itrust I shall hear good reports from you. We always feel a keen interestin the young men who have had their first instruction here at theTraining School. That will be all."
Two hands were brought to foreheads in precise salute, and, executing aright about face, the Battleship Boys, marched steadily from the room,their faces grave, their shoulders thrown well back.
Once outside, Sam turned a bronzed, freckled face toward his companion.
"We are the people--the real people--aren't we, Dan?" he questioned, witha sly wink.
"We are," answered Dan soberly.
The heads of the Battleship Boys were in a whirl of expectancy for therest of the day. The afternoon hours dragged slowly along, but at lastthe evening mess was over, and they quickly gathered their dunnage,starting for the New York boat with light and happy hearts.
Each boy had nearly fifty dollars in his pockets as the result of histhree months' service at the Training Station. This money, however, theyhad decided to deposit with the paymaster of the 'Long Island' as soonas possible after arriving on board.
The next morning Dan and Sam were up just as the Fall River Line boatwas about to pass under the Brooklyn bridge.
"Look!" cried Dan. "Do you recognize that yellow building over there?"
"Can't say that I do. What building is it?"
"It is the recruiting station where you and I joined the service threemonths ago. And now, just think of it, we are jackies. Everybody knowswe are jackies as soon as they look at our handsome uniforms."
"Yes," breathed Sam, "and there's the very Flag under which weenlisted."
Instinctively the Battleship Boys removed their caps and came toa
ttention, in which position they stood until the towering Sound steamerhad swept on and began rounding the Battery.