The Battleship Boys at Sea

Chapter 9

Dan got his promotion on the following day, with an increase of pay, so that the two boys now had the same rating in the school.

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.

In the meantime, Sam and Dan had been progressing rapidly. They had learned many things. First, they had perfected themselves in signaling, splicing, knot-tying and seamanship, so far as was possible in the limited time at their disposal. The Battleship Boys by their application, hard work and keen minds, had won the respect of their officers as well as of their own associates. The frequent cruises about the bay and down Long Island Sound of the Boxer had given them practical experience and agility; for by this time Sam and Dan were able to cling to a yard arm in a rolling sea with out being in the least disturbed. They were as agile aloft as if they had been at sea in sailing ships for years.

And now they were just completing their course. A week remained for them to put the finishing touches to it. Already they were looking forward with keen anticipation to the day when they should receive their summons to join a ship. This might not come for some time, but on account of their high standing they were reasonably certain that they would be chosen with the first detail of their class that went out.

During all this time, however, the Battleship Boys had been subjected to petty annoyances that both troubled and mystified them. Perhaps they may have had some slight suspicion as to the cause of their troubles, but if so, there was no definite clue on which to base their suspicions.

First, something was found wrong with the mechanism of Hickeys rifle. Then next, Dans Krag rifle was discovered at inspection to be in a sad state of neglect. The inspection officer said it was quite evident that the gun had not been cleaned in weeks.

For both these offenses the lads were disciplined, not seriously, but enough so that the lesson might be impressed upon their minds.

Dan and Sam held many quiet talks over these incidents. Sam was for going to one of their superior officers and voicing their suspicions, but of this Dan would not hear.

We have got to prove ourselves men, no matter if we do get some bad conduct marks by so doing. And, besides, these things that have happened to us may be the result of a mistake. For instance, you remember that rifle on account of which I was ordered to do extra duty?

Yes, nodded Hickey.

Well, that wasnt my gun at all. It was some one elses Krag.

Then some one else took yours? questioned Sam, with rising color.

Yes, but I think perhaps that was a mistake.

It wasnt any mistake at all, snapped Sam, and Im going to keep my eyes open. Ill get even with the fellow who is trying to get us into troubleIll get even with him before we leave the station, if I lose my job doing it.

That afternoon there was to be a battalion drill, and, after the mornings work, all hands hurried to quarters to get into their bright, clean white uniforms. It was the one time in the week when the apprentices were given an opportunity to show themselves at their best. Many people came out from town for this regular Thursday afternoon drill, when every apprentice at the station appeared on parade, with flags waving, bands playing, the sunlight glistening on polished weapons.

This will be our last drill here, I hope, glowed Dan, as all preparations having been made, the lads hurried out and falling in, started for the drill ground, marching by fours.

All went well until the company in which the two boys were marching had swung into line. Then there came a sudden command:

Halt!

The petty officers in command ran their eyes over the line in some surprise. They did not understand what it meant. They knew, however, that something had gone wrong.

The executive officer was standing to the rear of the line, at some distance, while the battalion was going through its evolutions. His observant eyes had suddenly caught sight of something that filled him with amazement and indignation.

Quickly striding down to the line, the men facing away from him, he called the chief quartermaster to him.

Take those men out of line.

Which ones, sir?

The executive officer, pointed, and then the petty officer saw that which also amazed him. A moment more and he had tapped both Dan and Sam on the shoulder.

Fall out! he commanded.

They obeyed promptly, but wonderingly.

Report to your quarters, and remain there in detention.

The boys saluted and moved away.

Now, will you tell me what this means? demanded Dan.

Thats what I was trying to find out. We havent done anything.

They had reached their quarters when, all at once, Dan uttered an exclamation.

What is it? demanded Sam.

Look at yourself.

Whats wrong with me? growled the freckle-faced boy.

Take off your jacket and youll see.

You had better take off your own while you are about it, replied Sam, opening his eyes wide as he gazed at his companion.

With one accord they stripped off their jackets, uttering exclamations of anger as they did so.

The backs of the jackets were streaked with bright red until they resembled the bars of the American Flag, which they no doubt had been intended by the perpetrator of the outrage to represent.

Sam examined his jacket critically; then, glancing up, he met the eyes of his companion.

Red ink, nodded Sam. Ill bet the eagle will scream now.

Who could have done it?

The question is not who could have done it, but who did do it.

We shall be held responsible, in any event. I see ourselves losing our ratings and perhaps missing our detail to a ship. Come, lets get into some decent clothes before one of the officers gets here.

They quickly changed their uniforms, laying out the ruined ones, backs upward ready for the inspection that they felt sure would soon follow.

In this surmise they were right. The drill over, the quartermaster, accompanied by the executive officer, Lieutenant Commander Devall, appeared at the boys quarters.

Dan and Sam came to attention as the officers entered.

The latter fixed their eyes upon the garments laid out on the floor of the quarters. Lieutenant Commander Devall picked up one of the jackets, examining it closely.

How did this happen? he demanded, eyeing Sam sternly.

I do not know, sir.

The garment has plainly been inked. How does it happen that you did not notice this when you put on your uniform?

We dressed in a great hurry, sir, spoke up Dan. As you will observe, it is quite dark in here. It seems as if we ought to have noticed that something was wrong, but we did not.

Lieutenant Commander Devall pondered for a moment.

You have no idea who could have done this thing, men?

They did not answer.

Search the quarters, quartermaster.

The lads stood looking on with troubled faces as the petty officer began his search. The Battleship Boys did not know what the lieutenant commander expected to find, and as a matter of fact he probably had no definite idea himself.

Sam moved over to where his bag stood, having observed that it was open. As he drew the cord down tightly he chanced to glance at the bag standing beside it. Hickey uttered a smothered exclamation. What he had seen was a smear of red at the mouth of the canvas bag.

May I open this bag, sir? he asked, saluting.

For what?

Sam pointed to the streak of red.

Open it!

One by one the lad drew out the neatly folded garments from the sea bag, the officers scrutinizing these keenly as they were withdrawn and placed on the floor.

At the very bottom of the bag Sam came upon an object which he quickly drew out, holding it to the light, with a triumphant grin on his face. He nodded to Dan as he did so.

The object was a towel. It was streaked with red, as if some one had wiped his hands upon it. In fact, finger marks were plainly visible all over it.

The executive officer snatched the cloth from the boys hands.

Whose bag is this? he demanded sharply.

Ill look up the number, sir, answered the quartermaster.

At that moment a figure darkened the doorway. It was Flink. The instant he saw the officers in the quarters his hand mechanically came up in salute.

A ray of sunlight slanted across the hand as he stood there. Sam caught his breath sharply, then an eager look overspread his face. He hesitated a moment; then, springing over to where Flink was standing, Sam grabbed the hand, jerking it sharply down, examining it briefly in the few seconds that elapsed ere Flink could resist.

Attention! commanded Lieutenant Commander Devall. What does this mean?

If you will examine this mans hand, I think you will understand, sir, answered Sam, saluting.

The lieutenant commander stepped over to Flink.

Let me see your hands. Palms up!

The palms were smeared with red.

Is that your sea bag yonder?

Flink nodded.

So, you are the man who is responsible for this, are you? What have you to say for yourself?

The apprentice hung his head, making no reply.

You are released from quarters, Davis and Hickey. I begin to understand a few of the things that have happened here. Quartermaster, place this man under arrest. Turn him over to the master-at-arms with instructions to lock him in the brig.