“They are long, Os,” replied Creelton, “but they’re easy. I’ve boned[4] all this stuff in college and can speak French. French is always hard at first, but I’ll help you.”
“Now that’s good of you, Creel; you’ll do me lots of good.”
Their attention was now attracted by a rap on the door, and then immediately opened. A first classman wearing white gloves now entered. Ralph and Creelton jumped up, and stood at attention. The first classman looked at them and then growled, “Work hard or you’ll bilge,” and then left.
“What’s that for, I wonder?” inquired Ralph.
“Oh, I guess that’s the midshipman in charge, making his inspection to see if we’re here.”
Ralph and Creelton now commenced to study. Ralph rather skimmed through his algebra. He had always done well in mathematics at school and expected to do the same at the Naval Academy. Besides he had studied algebra as far as quadratics. So he devoted himself to rhetoric which was new and to French which was entirely foreign.
At about nine o’clock there came another rap on the door, and immediately Lieutenant Wilson entered. “Good-evening, gentlemen,” he said, glanced about the room and then withdrew.
At five minutes before ten a bugle call was heard, and both Ralph and Creelton got into their beds. Shortly after ten Cadet Lieutenant Baldwin entered their room, saw they were both turned in, and left.
The next morning, they were turned out by reveille and gun-fire at six o’clock, and soon after a cadet officer inspected the room to see that they were up and that their beds were turned back. Breakfast formation was held half an hour later.
“Open ranks,” ordered the four striper. A moment later he reported to the officer-in-charge: “Sir, the battalion is ready for inspection.”