Flink shot toward the door, the apprentices setting up a howl, followed by a cheer. But their merriment died on their lips. Lieutenant Commander Devall, the executive officer of the station, attracted by the noise in the drill hall, had hurried down the walk to ascertain the cause of the disturbance. His trim, white-clad figure appeared in the doorway, just as Louis Flink was making his flight.
Flink hit the executive officer with great violence, the two landing on the cement walk outside, with the apprentice on top.
Beyond the narrow walk was a steep bank leading down almost to the water’s edge. On over the bank rolled the apprentice and the lieutenant commander, each making desperate efforts to save himself.
It was a most undignified position for a lieutenant commander to find himself in, to say nothing of the unpleasantness of going over a bank with a raw apprentice on top of one.
“They’re over!” shouted a voice.
Dan sprang forward to the quartermaster, saluting.
“May I go over and help them, sir?”
“Yes. Make haste.”
Dan sprang out through the doorway and down the bank.