Part 29 (1/2)
”I sentence you to three days in the brig on bread and water, with no full rations during that time,” announced the captain. ”The next time I will make it thirty days.”
”Davis,” he continued, turning to Dan, ”I am fully satisfied that you acted wholly in self-defense. No marks will be placed against you.”
Secretly the captain was well pleased that the bully had gotten such a sound drubbing. The man's face was a sight. The plasters over the nose plainly located the spot where Sam Hickey's fists had landed, while the eyes, lips and ”cauliflower” ear testified to the power of Dan Davis's muscular punches.
”Remember, however, Davis, that fighting is discouraged aboard s.h.i.+p.
Fighting will be severely dealt with in all instances. Providing a man is acting in self-defense, with no fault on his own part, that fact will be considered in pa.s.sing upon any disturbance that he may become involved in. You understand thoroughly, do you not!”
”Yes, sir,” answered Dan, saluting.
”You are a new man. Be guided wholly by your officers. When in doubt consult them.”
Kester was led away to the brig to serve his sentence. Sam heard them coming along the corridor. Stepping to the door of his cell he peered out through the grating. A grin spread over his face as he caught sight of the woebegone figure of Kester.
”h.e.l.lo, Bill,” he jeered. ”Who have you been thumping?”
The bully made no reply, and a moment later the cell door clanged behind him.
CHAPTER XVI-RECEIVING A CHALLENGE
”No mine drill to-day,” sang out a boatswain's mate, as he pa.s.sed along the forecastle. ”Water too rough. If the weather quiets down, however, there may be something else doing.”
Instead of a day in the small boats laying mines, as had been planned, the men were to have another field day, painting s.h.i.+p, after the decks had been scrubbed down. Gun crews got out their pots and brushes, then crawled through the narrow openings into the gun-turrets, first having thrown open the hatches on top of the turrets, to let in enough light to enable them to see where to paint.
Walls were painted white, floors red, jackies both red and white. Dan and Sam-the latter having been released from the brig after serving his sentence-not belonging to a gun crew, were put to work in a corridor on this occasion. They were in great good humor, having gained the distinction of being ordered to report for wig-wag signal duty during the mine practice, both being experts with the signal flag. The boys were talking over their good fortune when the captain came hurrying through. Instantly the boys came to attention.
”Good morning, lads,” greeted the commanding officer.
”Fresh paint beside you, sir,” warned Dan.
”Very careless of me not to have observed it. I see I have gathered quite a quant.i.ty of it already,” he added, examining his trim braided blouse that was now streaked with white.
”May I speak, sir?” asked Dan.
”Certainly, my lad. What is it?”
”Let me rub the paint off while it is still fresh?”
”How?”
”This way, sir.”
Dan examined the sleeve of his jacket critically. Having found a clean place he approached the captain and began rubbing his own sleeve over the soiled spot on the sleeve of the commanding officer. This done he went at the left side of the blouse where there was a larger blotch of white. In a few moments he had so thoroughly cleaned the blue blouse, by rubbing it violently with the goods of his jacket, that all traces of the white paint had disappeared.
Dan stepped back, saluting respectfully.
”Why, you have taken it all off, but you will have the trouble of cleaning your own jacket.”