A blank expression appeared on Sam's face, while a twinkle showed in the eyes of the boatswain's mate.

"I-I don't know, sir. If the stopper were good to eat I don't think I should pa.s.s it unless I were walking in my sleep."

The boatswain's mate leaned back and laughed uproariously.

"Pa.s.sing a stopper, my lad, means to wrap a rope about a fall while another belays it. There are a lot of these sea terms that you will learn as you go along. I see you have been a.s.signed to the deck. What branch of the service would you prefer to be in, or haven't you thought about the matter seriously?"

"I think we should prefer to be on one of the guns-in a gun squad, sir."

"That's my idea, too; but, first of all, serve some time on deck. You will learn a great deal there. I will instruct you carefully in your duties and show you your billet, after which you will go forward and get acquainted with your shipmates."

"Will you tell me, sir, what I do with this casket?" inquired Sam.

"The ditty box?"

"Yes, I guess that is what the other man called it."

The boatswain's mate smiled good-naturedly.

"That is for the purpose of holding your valuables."

"Money?"

"Oh, no, it would not be exactly safe. You had better place your money in the hands of the paymaster."

"That is what we intend to do," spoke up Dan.

"The ditty box, my lads, is the sailor's most treasured possession. In it he keeps his trinkets, his pictures, his letters, his pen and paper.

But this is not all. The ditty box serves as the jackie's desk, his table, his seat and many other things. Never interfere with another man's ditty box unless you are looking for trouble. You will get it fast enough if you do so."

"I'll be too busy looking after my own to want to bother chasing the other fellow's ditto box."

"Ditty," corrected Dan.

"All right. It's all the same."

"I will now show you through the ship, as you will be required to be familiar with it. Learn all you can. Learn the name of everything on board, for all this knowledge will be needed some of these days when you come up for promotion. I presume you have ambitions to rise to higher grades?"

"We are going to do so, sir," answered Dan promptly.

"That is the way to talk. You will win with that spirit. Nothing can stop you. Now, come with me and take a look at the 'Long Island.'"

"There we go again," laughed Sam. "What time do we mess, sir?"

"Very soon, now. I shall get you back in plenty of time."

They started out on their first tour of inspection of a battleship and the boys uttered many exclamations of wonder as the parts of the great floating machine and implement of war were revealed and explained to them.

The boatswain's mate took them first to the bridge, where the compa.s.s and steering wheel were located; thence to the fire control, a steel-bound enclosure, open at the top, just forward of the bridge. It was from there, he told them, that the electric signals were given for torpedo firing.

"Is this a torpedo boat also?" questioned Sam innocently.

"Certainly not. This is a battleship. It is provided, however, with two torpedo tubes, a starboard and a port tube."

From this point the lads went down, deeper and deeper into the ship, By this time there were no stairways to walk down. In place of them were narrow ladders running through narrow apertures in the various decks.

As he went along the boatswain's mate briefly explained everything, going into detail regarding the handling of the big guns, the ammunition hoists and the electric signaling plant far down amidships. They did not complete their journey until they were far below the level of the water in the very bottom of the ship.

From there they made their way upward to the wireless telegraph room, where the operator was sitting with receiver on his head, listening for the faint ticking of the messages that might be hurled through the air.

Now and then the operator would nervously clutch his key.

Sam jumped when the resonators crashed forth their message to another far-away operator; then the sending instruments settled down to a steady squealing.

"Reminds me of Bill Thompson's pigs," nodded Sam. "That's the kind of a noise they make when they get an appet.i.te."

At last the lads completed their tour.

"Stand by the starboard anchor chain!"

The command was given from the bridge as the lads emerged from the forward hatchway. Glancing up they saw several officers in their white uniforms standing on the bridge of the ship.

"I guess we must be going to get under way, sir," said Dan.

"Yes."

The "Long Island" had swung with the tide until she was headed down the river. Groups of expectant jackies thronged the forward deck. To one side stood the members of the ship's band, instruments in hand.

"Stand clear of the starboard anchor chain," came the second command from the bridge. "Up with the starboard anchor."

A rattling of chains followed instantly as the anchor was quickly raised by electric power until its stock was level with the forward deck.

"Starboard anchor shipped, sir," was the answer from the forward deck.

"Aye, aye!"

The captain, who had been standing looking over the forecastle from the bridge, now turned to the midshipman at the bridge telegraph, from which signals are transmitted to the engine room.

"Slow speed ahead, both engines," commanded the captain.

A tremor ran through the ship and at the same instant the Stars and Stripes fluttered from the gaff, showing that the ship was under motion.

At that moment the band struck up a lively tune. With one accord the jackies threw their arms about each other and began waltzing about the deck, raising their voices in song as they spun around.

The Battleship Boys, however, did not sing. Their eyes were swimming with happiness, their hearts were full of patriotism. The throb of the engines was borne faintly to their ears, and the great ship, turning her prow seaward, headed slowly for the Narrows.