The Battleship Boys at Sea; Or, Two Apprentices in Uncle Sam's Navy

"Thank you, sir. Come on, Sam; I was right. That is the place we are looking for. See that flag up there in the third story window? That's the flag you and I are going to serve...

"He had a broken wrist when he went out this morning. I understand he broke it again in getting into the whale boat this morning. I advised that he go on binnacle list for the d...

"How are you going to know which is the port side of these tubs?" muttered Sam, shading his eyes from the sun and gazing at the ship. "I'm blest if both ends don't look alike to...

They did "nail" him, but not a second too soon, and Kester was hauled back into the ring amid a great uproar. Dan was standing in the center of the roped enclosure, his face a b...

All hands forward were discussing the coming battle--the evening's fun. They knew they would have it. None, however, doubted that Kester, in a regular match, would prove too muc...

Kester was a man who was very much disliked by his associates and shipmates. He was in his second enlistment. He had once been dismissed from the service, but, by means known to...

"Stand by the oars. Hold your bow to the wind. Keep them up, lads. And not a signalman on board to tell the ship we are in trouble!" the officer muttered to himself.

"No mine drill to-day," sang out a boatswain's mate, as he passed along the forecastle. "Water too rough. If the weather quiets down, however, there may be something else doing."

"Good boy!" breathed Dan. "I am proud of you. Fine! I knew you would show them the material you are made of when you got the chance. Were you really struck by lightning?"

Sam's billet was next to that of Louis Flink. The former was not aware of this until that night, when the lads turned in at the sound of the bugle. So close were their hammocks...

"Oh, why didn't he tell the captain that Kester had knocked him down," muttered Dan. "I tried to signal Sam, but he would not even look at me, so interested was he in what was g...

"Here's my chance," decided Dan. Springing to his feet, he grabbed Flink by the collar with both hands. Giving him a violent tug, Flink came away, Dan hurling him to one side wi...

"Three minutes and twenty seconds," replied the officer. "That breaks the record." Picking up his megaphone the officer shouted out the tidings to the men who were out on the mi...

Flink, however, had grown very surly. As the days wore on he became more and more ugly so far as the boys were concerned, but the latter gave little heed to him.

The lads were standing on a rise of ground just in front of the executive building of the Newport, R. I., training station. A long, green lawn sloped down to the water's edge wh...

As soon as possible, after having gotten up from his uncomfortable bed on the floor, Dan hastened to the sick bay, for his wrist was swelling and demanded immediate attention.

Sam got himself out from the wreckage, and slowly rose to his feet, ruefully surveying the scene before him. He did not speak. There were no words that would probably express hi...

At a general muster the findings of the court-martial, approved by the commandant of the station, were read out by the executive officer. It was an impressive scene to the Battl...

At five o'clock next morning, when the bugle piped all hands out, the red-haired Jackie was in a sad state. His hair was standing up like the quill of a porcupine, fairly bristl...

"As near as we could determine the mine should be about fifteen yards to the southwest of us. Bring your boat around to leeward and make a sounding. We did not dare move over fo...

"Carry on!" he commanded, the suspicion of a smile playing about the corners of his mouth. But he hid the smile from them by passing a hand over his mouth.

The command was followed by a bustling about the decks. Men hurriedly brought out their deck swabs, implements somewhat resembling mops. Others brought pails which they filled f...

After they were well started on the meal, the officer left the room in order that the new boys might get acquainted, which would not be likely as long as he was in the room.

"I don't know. I was laid out. I guess I would have drowned if I hadn't come to when I did," answered the lad, forgetting to add the "sir." The lieutenant commander appeared not...