Sam felt a hand on his shoulder.
“What division are you in?” demanded a gruff voice.
“Then what are you doing here?” said a boatswain’s mate that they had not seen before, glaring at them.
“I—I don’t know, sir,” stammered Sam.
“Will you tell us what we are to do?” spoke up Dan. “You see, it is our first day on board.”
“Do? Do?” exploded the mate. “Get a swab and go to work; that’s what you are to do. What do you think this is, a liner where you can loll around and look pretty?”
“We are ready to work, if you will show us. Where will we find swabs?” questioned Dan.
The mate conducted them to a chest in which the swabs were kept.
“Take your swabs and hurry aft to the quarter-deck. That’s your station,” he directed.