Part 21 (1/2)
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 s.h.i.+pmates.”
”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 s.h.i.+p, 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 battles.h.i.+p 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.