The recall sounding, Dave turned to Whittam, saying crisply but pleasantly:
"Thank you for our instruction."
"He's thanking the fellow for my new scrape," growled Pennington inwardly.
Dave marched his section back to deck and dismissed it. Dan Dalzell, as section leader in steam instruction, immediately re-formed it.
"You will report in the engine-room, Mr. Dalzell, to Lieutenant-Commander Forman, who is chief engineer of this ship. He will assign you to an instructor."
"Aye, aye, sir," Dan replied, saluting. "Section, right wheel—march!"
Dan already knew where, down in the bowels of the great battleship, to find the engine room.
Reaching that department, Dan halted his section.
"Section all present, sir," reported Dan, saluting a strange officer, who, however, wore the insignia of a lieutenant-commander.
"Your name, sir?" inquired the officer.