“Well, sir,” answered Dick, “I’m sure of one thing; it’s not half as good as it ought to be, but I do care more than I did. I never knew what ‘trustworthy’ meant, sir, until that day when I found out that I had been untrustworthy, and had taken a mean advantage. I learnt something that time, and I guess I’ll never forget it.”
“I believe you never will, Dick, and the officers of the ship agree with me that you should have more responsibility laid upon you. There is to be a special call to quarters in half an hour and you are to be appointed ‘B. M.’ of the first section, second division.”
Dick looked up with evident surprise and exclaimed:
“Half an hour, sir! That’s a short time to get on to my job!”
“I trust you for that, my boy. Many of the duties you are, of course, already familiar with. The backbone of the job is to see that your men learn the same sense of responsibility that you have gained yourself. As regards necessary points of seamanship, in which you may be lacking at present, go to the Chief ‘B. M.’; and, if necessary, he will pass you on to the boatswain. If you realize what you don’t know, you can very soon find out all you need to know. The worst thing is to imagine that you know when you don’t.”
“What’s the matter with Jones, sir?” asked Dick.
“I think Jones is coming along all right,” replied the Chairman. “His appointment was a mistake, although it would have been difficult to know it beforehand. There are other things that he must learn first before he can be a petty officer, and I believe that he has begun to learn them already. You might go up and have a little talk with him before quarters.”
The two boys had their little talk then, and it turned out to be the first of many talks—some very long ones, in which they exchanged ideas and compared notes. That afternoon on the Bright Wing was the beginning of a friendship which bids fair to last all their lives.
CHAPTER XXII
Friendly Things and a New Point of View
They got through the Canal late in the afternoon; and, during the playtime between supper and prayers, it seemed as if the boys were keen on making the most of their last evening on board.