“No—sir,” answered Sam, “but I think I made a dent in the roof.”
“Carry on again.”
The apprentice gripped the rope rather more cautiously this time, measured his distance, and with head well inclined forward, so that he might not hit the ceiling again, he gave a mighty leap.
Sam did not stop when he reached the hammock, however. He kept right on. The hammock turned over, spilling the bedding and mattress out. But this was not all that had happened. Hickey had lost his grip on the rope. The result was that he struck the floor on the other side, flat on his back.
The floor was of cement, and the shock of the fall was severe. Sam managed to save his head, however, and sat up rubbing himself, red of face and thoroughly disgusted.
“Clumsy!” complained the officer.
“Yes, sir; but you see I’ve never had to go to bed that way before.”
“Try it again.”
“If it’s all the same to you, sir, I think I should prefer to sleep on the floor.”
This reply brought another sharp reprimand from the officer. But their instruction in slinging hammocks was over and they turned to other matters.