Part 37 (1/2)
”You had better not,” growled Sam.
The rest of the afternoon was devoted to routine duties aboard s.h.i.+p, Sam having gotten into his old clothes for the work before him. Painting s.h.i.+p was continued. Corridors and gun decks showed the result of the work that already had been done, and the smell of fresh paint was everywhere.
Night came on with the s.h.i.+p nearing her former anchorage.
”We shall have good weather to-morrow,” announced the s.h.i.+p's navigator.
”I hope so,” answered the captain. ”We want to lay out that mine field and get to work. We are going to try to beat the record of the 'Georgia'
this time, providing we have no accidents. That is the main reason why I am so anxious about the weather.”
At last they reached a sheltered spot, anchors were let go and the battles.h.i.+p swung about, facing into the rolling sea.
That night the Battles.h.i.+p Boys lost no time in turning in after taps had been sounded. The s.h.i.+p was rolling more gently now, just enough to lull them into a sound sleep, their hammocks swaying slightly under the battles.h.i.+p's motion.
How long they had been asleep they did not know. All of a sudden Dan uttered a shout and Sam sprang up, as did many others in the corridor.
”Pipe down the racket,” growled several voices.
”What's the matter? Is that you, Dan!” called Sam, observing, in the faint light, that his companion was not near him.
”Yes,” answered a m.u.f.fled voice from below.
”What's the trouble, did you fall out of bed?”
”I don't know. I guess I did.”
”Hurt you any?”
”Hurt me? Every bone in my body is broken.”
”Will you rookies shut up and let the rest of us go to sleep, or must we come down there and thump you?” demanded a s.h.i.+pmate from his hammock.
”We are not rookies,” protested Sam indignantly. ”We are ordinary seamen.”
”My hammock is down,” complained Dan.
”Then why don't you use more care in putting it up? Hurry and get it in place before any of the sentries pa.s.s here. We, or rather you, will get on the report if they discover you with your hammock down.”
”I can't put it up?”
”Why not?”
”I'm hurt.”
Sam was down out of his hammock instantly.
”Where are you hurt?”
”My wrist. I think I have broken it. I must have twisted it under me when I fell.”