“Slow speed ahead, both engines,” commanded the captain.
A tremor ran through the ship and at the same instant the Stars and Stripes fluttered from the gaff, showing that the ship was under motion.
At that moment the band struck up a lively tune. With one accord the jackies threw their arms about each other and began waltzing about the deck, raising their voices in song as they spun around.
The Battleship Boys, however, did not sing. Their eyes were swimming with happiness, their hearts were full of patriotism. The throb of the engines was borne faintly to their ears, and the great ship, turning her prow seaward, headed slowly for the Narrows.
CHAPTER XII—IN THE DECK DIVISION
“Deck division turn out to swab down decks!” bellowed the boatswain’s mate.
The ship had poked her nose out into the open sea by this time, the “Long Island” rising and falling gracefully on an easy swell.
“What did he say?” questioned Sam.
“I’ll confess that I did not understand a word of it,” answered Dan. “I don’t see why those mates cannot talk plain United States.”
The command was followed by a bustling about the decks. Men hurriedly brought out their deck swabs, implements somewhat resembling mops. Others brought pails which they filled from the taps on deck, while still others coupled hose to pipes along the sea gutters.