“Now isn’t that remarkable?” replied Creelton. “I was coming over here for the particular purpose of asking you to room with me. But it will be bully. I’d like it ever so much, Os.”
“All right, Creel; then we’ll look upon that as settled. I’m awfully glad we’re to be roommates. We’ll have a bully good time together.”
The Chesapeake was kept at sea until July 10th, when it put into New London and anchored off the old Pequot Hotel. The midshipmen were here given leave every day for two weeks; on first getting ashore they were all wild with delight and enthusiasm, but before the ship started on her homeward cruise most of them had spent all the money they had and were glad to be off. The Chesapeake left New London July 25th and was scheduled to arrive at Fort Monroe August 20th, spend a few days there, and anchor at Annapolis the 30th.
On this homeward bound cruise was shown the benefit the midshipmen had received from their previous six weeks’ work. Ralph Osborn now ran aloft boldly and went out on the highest yard-arms with perfect confidence. He could reef and furl and make all sort of knots and he felt he knew every rope aboard and where it was and what it was used for. He could heave the lead and give correct soundings, and heave the log to get the ship’s speed. The good-natured enlisted men took a real interest in giving the midshipmen information, and before the ship had returned to Annapolis it can be safely said that she had a very efficient ship’s company.
When the ship was under way, each morning at seven o’clock the midshipmen who had been on watch since four o’clock were required to run up the rigging to the top and from there up the topmast rigging over the topmast head, and then down to the deck. This was supposed to be good exercise for them and tended to make them nimble aloft.
On one cold, gray morning in the middle of August the Chesapeake was bowling along at a ten knot speed. The wind was fresh and the ship was driven into rough, heavy seas. The ship was under all sail to topgallantsails.
“By George, Os,” remarked Creelton to Ralph, after six o’clock, as the young men were having their morning coffee, “I hope the officer of the deck won’t send us over the rigging this morning; it’s awfully cold and I’m almost numb, and just see the ship roll! It’s dangerous to go aloft this weather.”
“It won’t bother us a bit after we once get started, Creel,” replied Ralph. “We’ve been over the rigging in much worse weather than this; it’s only a fresh breeze.”
“What are you two plebes yapping about?” snarled Third Classman Coleman who was standing near. “And what do you mean by loafing on the windward side of the forecastle? Oh, it’s you, is it, Mr. Osborn? You have the cheek of a right whale. Get out of here, you miserable beast.”
Ralph became angry but tried to control himself. “Take it back, Mr. Coleman,” he said; “as a third classman you may run me; I’ll stand for that, but you can’t insult me. Take it back, sir.”