Dick saluted and climbed up on deck as quickly as he could. He felt a kind of new opening in his brain, and was keen on making his observation and calculation as soon as possible. Every trace of seasickness had vanished.
CHAPTER XVI
The Commandant’s Inspection
The next morning Billy Brown went through “washing clothes” and “scrubbing decks”, “colors”, “bright work”, “quarters”, and “mast” with his eyes and ears wide open; and, all the time, he was looking out for an opportunity to practice the exercise which his “B. M.” had given him as medicine for his “softness.” During morning instruction he had “knots and splices” for one period, “boxing the compass” for another, and “ship’s tackle” with the mate for the third. He came out very well with the first two, but was of course quite ignorant when it came to ship’s tackle. As was always the case, however, the more ignorant he was, the more anxious he seemed to learn, and quite a shower of questions fell about the ears of the mate before the instruction period was over.
While drill was going on among the boys, the Captain and the Chairman were making a regular inspection below to prepare for the visit of the Commandant of the Portsmouth Navy Yard, who was expected on board at 11:30 to inspect the ship and crew.
Several boys’ lockers were found in disorder and reported to their respective “B. M.’s.” But the Chairman was delighted with the excellent condition of the galley and the forecastle.
“Ketchy”, the cook’s assistant, also served as cabin boy on board, and he was particularly careful that morning to see that the officers’ quarters were as well up to the mark, at least, as any other part of the vessel.
At half-past ten Mr. Miller left in the launch to call for the Commandant at the Navy Yard; and Dick Gray, who was one of the regular watch, was detailed to keep a sharp lookout for the return of the launch and report it at once to Mr. Wentworth, who was Officer of the Day.
All the boys were in their “whites” in honor of the impending visit; and they were just about finishing the third instruction period when Dick noticed the launch, flying the “Jack” in her bow, turn the corner of the fort at the entrance of Little Harbor. He immediately reported to Mr. Wentworth, and the “B. M.” on watch blew his call and sounded “Retreat from drill.”
“Side boys—stand by!” was the next command, and two “B. M.’s” with their respective quartermasters took their positions at the starboard side-ladder. Meantime the rest of the crew was ordered to its regular stations as at “quarters”, and only the watch were left to lend a hand as the launch drew up to the side.
The Commandant was rather a stout officer with a pleasant look. A good-humored smile lit up his face as he stepped on deck between the side boys standing at salute and noticed the trill of the boatswain’s call. His hand was first raised to acknowledge the salute, and he then shook hands with the Captain and the Chairman who were waiting to receive him.