"There goes a fine addition to the navy," sneered Herc, as the boys started off for Broadway.
"Don't say that, Herc. The navy may make a man of him," remarked Ned.
"Then it's got a fine big job on its hands, that's all I've got to say!" was the red-headed lad's rejoinder.
[CHAPTER IV.]
THE DREADNOUGHT BOYS HAVE AN ADVENTURE.
The Rhode Island, the largest and fleetest of the big passenger vessels plying Long Island Sound between New York and New England ports, was ploughing her way through a wild, bitter night in the latter part of March, down the narrow, tempestuous passage of water dividing the mainland from the low-lying expanse of Long Island.
Although the snow swirled and the wind screamed through the vessel's funnel stays and lofty wireless aerials as if it would root them out, every window and porthole on her three lofty decks glowed with a cheerful yellow light. The lively strains of an orchestra were occasionally swirled away on the fierce wind, when the door of the main saloon swung open to admit or give egress to a passenger.
The laboring vessel had run into the storm at sundown that evening, and now, as she forged her way through the choppy seas off Point Judith, she was, despite her great size, thrown and tossed about like an empty bottle at the mercy of the seas.