When our party reached the landing a lively scene lay before them.
Fully a hundred midshipmen, belonging to the first, second and third classes, were waiting to be transported out to one or another of the great, gray battleships.
Several launches were darting back and forth over the water. The baggage of the midshipmen had already been taken aboard the battleships. Only the young men themselves were now awaited.
Near-by stood a lieutenant of the Navy, who was directing the embarkation of the midshipmen of the different classes.
Five minutes after our party arrived a launch from the "Massachusetts" lay in alongside the landing.
"Third classmen, this way!" shouted the lieutenant. "How many of you?"
Turning his eyes over the squad that had moved forward, the officer continued:
"Twenty-two. You can all crowd into this launch. Move quickly, young gentlemen!"
In another couple of minutes the puffing launch was steaming away to the massive battleship that lay out in the stream.
Dave stood well up in the bow. Once he barely overheard Pennington mutter to a comrade: