"A bad habit for a superior officer, isn't it?" inquired Benson, looking around at his student guests. "But Mr. Somers may be taken very seriously indeed—-when he's on duty. He is unreliable at table only."
"Unreliable at table?" echoed Eph, helping himself to a slice of roast meat. "Why, it seems to me that this is the one place where I can be depended upon to do all that is expected of me."
The others now sat back, out of courtesy, looking on and chatting while Ensign Eph Somers ate his meal. "There may be a few questions—-or many—-that you would like to ask," suggested Lieutenant Jack Benson. "If so, gentlemen, go ahead with your questions. For that matter, during your stay aboard, ask all the questions you can think of."
"Thank you, sir," replied Midshipman Dave Darrin, with a slight bow. "I have been thinking of one point on which I would be glad of information."
"And that is——-"
"The full complement of this craft appears to consist of three officers and four enlisted men—-that is, of course, outside of your combined cook and steward."
"Yes," nodded Benson.
"One of the officers is commanding officer; another is deck officer and the third engineer officer."
"Yes."
"Then, on a cruise," pursued Dave, "how can you divide watches and thus keep going night and day?"