“The barracks—where you sleep,” replied the petty officer.
“Sleep in barracks!” cried one. “Why, I thought we’d be put on board a battleship! That’s what I enlisted for. I can sleep on land in a building, any night.”
The petty officer smiled. Doubtless he was used to hearing that.
“You’ll only sleep in barracks while you’re training here,” he answered. “You have to be shown something about a battleship and other naval matters before you’re qualified to go on board. Don’t worry, you’ll have all the sleeping aboard a ship that you want. It will all come in time.”
“That’s good news,” said Ned to Frank.
“Oh, I knew this was only temporary,” was the answer.
“It takes about four months,” the petty officer said, overhearing Frank’s remark.
“Thank you.”
A little later the two brothers, as well as the other recruits, were led into the presence of the medical officer and his assistants.
“Strip!” came the order, and soon the rigorous examination was under way.