“Since this cruise started, I have seen some boys hanging back and doing their work in a poor-spirited way; I did not always blame them, because I knew they were acting from ignorance and did not yet know the absolute necessity on board ship of a prompt and cheerful spirit. But, after this, I shall expect all hands to put their best foot foremost and to show that they have in them the making of good sailors and Sea Scouts.
“Those who are not able to live up to this standard will loaf their way along until they drop out,—maybe at the next port we make. They will not come on another cruise and they will have missed all the training as well as all the fun and enjoyment that comes from putting your heart into your work and doing what you have to do with all your might.”
While Mr. Miller was talking, you could see some of the boys here and there straighten up in sympathy with his words. Tom and Chippie, especially, looked at one another significantly and hoped that Dick was taking it all in as eagerly as they were. But they were disappointed, for the grouchy look on Dick’s face had not cleared away.
The instruction that morning was “Knots and Splices”, “Boxing the Compass”, “Ship’s Rigs”, and “Chart-work with the Captain.” Tom liked the chart-work best and found no difficulty in remembering the symbols for lights, buoys, shoals, etc., and felt as if he were on a cruise within a cruise, exploring the waters of some foreign land. Chippie felt most at home with his knots and splices, because it was less like studying than any of the other subjects; and both boys were surprised to find how much they had to learn about ship’s rigs. Dick, on the other hand, did not seem to take much interest in anything, and if there had been any motion of the sea he would have been suspected of being seasick.
About ten o’clock the breeze died down while they were still a good distance from Marblehead. It was hot, but as there was no swell on the water, everybody felt comfortable in spite of the heat. The boys had begun to feel at home in their new surroundings, and were too much absorbed in the interest of their work, as each division passed from one instructor to the next, to mind the discomfort of the heat.
As there was no particular hurry in getting to Marblehead, which was their destination for that day, the Captain decided not to use the launch to tow the ship unless it should become necessary toward the afternoon. So the Bright Wing lay with her sails flapping quite lazily, and with the jaws of the main gaff creaking and snarling, as it swayed from side to side, until eleven o’clock; when the bugle sounded “retreat from drill”, and there was nothing more but play and good fun until dinner time.
After dinner a change in the weather set in, in the form of gathering clouds toward the northwest, which at first were scarcely noticeable; while the ship’s band—in the form of a good Victrola—played some lively airs, in which the boys often joined in chorus. By about three o’clock the wind was blowing in light but sudden gusts and the clouds in the northwest had gathered thickly, with streamers extending overhead, indicative of more wind.
Jack climbed up into the crosstrees to take a good look at the sky and reported to the Captain, when he came down, that there was smoke in the direction of Marblehead, but he could not make out whether it was at Marblehead itself or beyond. Pretty soon the smoke became quite perceptible on deck as the wind increased to a fresh breeze.
The Captain sent word to the Chairman; and, as soon as he came on deck, he noticed the cloud of smoke which was now quite conspicuous in the northwestern sky, and stretching like a long streamer over the sea.
“There may be something for us to do when we get to Marblehead,” said he to Mr. Miller, who was standing by. “It must be a big fire to cause so much smoke as that.”