“What’s this?” demanded the commander sharply.
“They are our applications, sir.”
“Give them to the quartermaster.”
“Yes, sir,” answered Dan respectfully, turning away. As he did so, the eyes of the commander were fixed inquiringly upon him.
“That is a likely looking lad,” muttered the officer. “In fact, they both look like excellent material—good, clean-cut American boys—just the sort of material the United States Navy is looking for.”
In the meantime Dan had stepped to the door through which he had observed the petty officer who had first greeted them, and walked towards him.
“Here are our papers, sir. What are we to do next?”
“Go back and sit down. I’ll tell you when we want you.”
The quartermaster seated himself at a desk, where he went over the applications carefully. He looked them over a second time, nodded approvingly, then glanced up quickly at the flushed, expectant faces of the two lads.
“You men come with me,” he said, rising.