The Battleship Boys' First Step Upward; Or, Winning Their Grades as Petty Officers

Green light off the starboard bow, sir.
The voice came from the black void far above the navigating bridge of the battleship Long Island.
Where away? demanded the watch officer on the bridge.
Two points off starboard bow, sir.
What do you make her out?
Don't make her out, sir, answered the red-haired Sam Hickey, who was doing lookout duty on the platform beside the number one searchlight.
Do you still see her!
No, sir.
The watch officer gazed through his night glass in the direction indicated, but was unable to pick up a light of any sort. The Long Island was plunging through a great gale, which she was taking head on. White-tipped seas, backed by solid walls of water were sweeping the bridge more than forty feet above the level of the sea. Even the red-haired boy clinging to the rail far above the bridge was now and again nearly swept from his feet by the rush of water that enveloped him.