Part 36 (2/2)
”I approve of your prompt attention to duty, lad, but you will have to learn to control yourself.”
”I-I am very sorry, sir.”
”Never mind, lad; you will learn. This is the first time you ever acted as orderly, is it not?”
”Yes, sir.”
”Then I will instruct you in your duties, for you no doubt will be called upon to perform this duty many times during your service.”
The captain's kindly tone went straight to the heart of the Battles.h.i.+p Boy.
”In the first place, when you come to the door bearing a message for me you should halt outside and rap, saying, 'orderly, sir'; then wait for the summons to enter. When I call you to give you some directions, you need not rap. Say nothing, but enter and come to attention. Do you understand!”
”Yes, sir.”
”I am sure you will do better next time. You will now go to the officer of the deck, and say that I wish to see Mr. Coates, the executive officer, at his early convenience.”
”Aye, aye, sir,” answered Sam, backing away. He bethought himself of the door sill just in time to prevent another tumble, this time out into the corridor.
Sam delivered his message and returned to his station, where he pondered deeply over what had befallen him.
”I hope the boys don't hear about that,” he muttered. ”They'd make this s.h.i.+p so warm for me that I should have to jump overboard. I-I couldn't stand it; that's all.”
Shortly after that, the captain decided to make an inspection of the s.h.i.+p. It was a long and tiresome journey. For the next two hours Sam Hickey was climbing down and up ladders, crawling through narrow s.p.a.ces, his head swimming, his face red and perspiring.
”This orderly business isn't all it is supposed to be,” he complained to himself, when once more they had emerged upon the quarter-deck, Sam following obediently behind the s.h.i.+p's commander. From there, they went to the bridge.
”How are you headed?” questioned the captain of the man at the wheel.
”South, southeast one half,” came the answer.
”Mr. Coates, the storm appears to be abating. I think we may safely turn about and steam slowly back toward our anchorage now.”
They were out of sight of land by this time. The big s.h.i.+p was turned about and headed back over the reverse course. At noon, eight bells again, Hickey was relieved from his duty, another man taking his place.
The boy heaved a deep sigh of relief and hurried forward to hunt up Dan, to whom he confided his experiences of the morning. Dan laughed until he could laugh no more.
”Don't-don't tell any of the fellows, please,” begged Sam.
”It's too-it's too good to keep,” gasped Dan between laughs.
”Dan Davis, if you tell a human being about that I'll thrash you worse than either of us thrashed Bill Kester. Now tell about it, if you want to.”
Dan sobered.
”Very well; if you feel that badly about it I won't say a word.”
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