Part 2 (1/2)
”Nothing very much, sir,” replied Dan. ”We belong to the village fire company at home-that is all.”
The commander smiled.
”You are a pair of very likely lads.”
”Have we pa.s.sed, sir?”
”You have.”
”Oh, I'm so glad!” breathed Dan, unable to conceal his delight.
”Then-then we are in the Navy?” stammered Sam.
”Not quite. You will be, very soon, providing you have fulfilled all the requirements.”
”What are we to do?”
”Have you the consent-the written consent-of your parents?”
”Yes, sir. That is, I have my mother's consent. My friend, Sam, here, has no parents.”
”Has he a guardian?”
”Yes, sir.”
”And has his guardian given his written consent also?”
”He has, sir.”
”Let me have both of them.”
The papers were handed to the commander, who perused them carefully.
”How did you lads chance to come so well prepared?”
”We had written to find out, so that we might not be disappointed when we got here. We could not afford to make the trip back home, so we did what we could before coming on.”
”You did well. Young men, I am proud to see lads of your type entering the service. I predict for you both a rapid rise. You will, of course, meet with hards.h.i.+ps. These are a part of the life, but it is a n.o.ble career, and if you are the lads I believe you to be you will overcome all these things. You have in you the making of splendid men, and the United States Navy will surely bring out every dormant good quality that you may possess.”
”Thank you, sir; we shall do our best,” answered Dan.
”I am sure of that.”
”What are we to do now, if it is proper to ask?”
”You will be furnished with transportation to Newport, R. I., where you will go to-night. You will enter the apprentice training school there.
After a course of three months, if qualified, you will be given an a.s.signment on one of the s.h.i.+ps of the fleet. You understand, you will enter the training school as apprentices. While there you will receive a salary of seventeen dollars and sixty cents a month. Your board and lodging, of course, will be furnished by the government, as will your uniforms and equipment.”
”Thank you, sir,” reiterated Dan.