CHAPTER II
SEEN THROUGH STEEL
Before they reached the Gunroom after their interview with the Commander, Lynwood and his companions met a tall midshipman, whom they immediately recognized.
“Hullo, are you the new snotties?” he asked. “I’m Reedham, three terms senior to you—probably you remember me at Dartmouth? You are Lynwood, aren’t you? Weren’t you the fellow that was made a Cadet Captain first shot?”
“Yes,” said Lynwood, and added quickly: “We’ve just come from the Commander.”
“Oh have you? Did he bite your heads off?”
“We seemed to do something wrong.”
“You always will seem to do something wrong whenever the Bloke’s about.... But where are you going now?”
“The Gunroom. Ollenor told us to go there when we had reported ourselves.”
“Well, I shouldn’t, if I were you. Quarters will be sounding off in a minute or two. You had better come up for them. Ten to one, if you don’t, the Bloke will jump on you for shirking. He’s bound to be on the look out. Really you ought to have twenty-four hours to sling your ’ammicks in—standing off all duties; but that theory is a back number with our people.... Are your chests on board yet?”
“No; they have only just come off in the sailing pinnace.”