“I’m going to get up, anyway.”
“You have no right to do so until you are piped down. You will be called out if you are wanted.”
“You mean to say that I can’t get up if I want to?”
“Certainly not. You are supposed to stay in your hammock and get your rest.”
“Not if the ship is sinking!”
“Oh, that would be different. I guess we would all be getting out in that event.”
“Huh!” muttered Sam, lying back in his swaying hammock, listening to the wind whistling through the cage masts far above them.
In a short time the ship was under way, moving slowly as she headed out to sea. The storm was in no sense dangerous to the ship’s welfare, but it was safer to be out in the open until the gale should have blown itself out.
When the men were piped out the next morning the Battleship Boys found it difficult to keep right side up. Dan was unaffected by the rolling and plunging, but Sam had little appetite for his breakfast.