“Is that so? Well, in that case, Strong, I will give you shore leave till midnight. You have earned it.”
“Thank you, sir,” rejoined Ned, his cup of joy brimful, “and—and, sir, may——”
“May Taylor, your inseparable, accompany you? Yes, by all means. This will give you lads an opportunity to accept the kind invitation of Mr. Bretherton to dinner. Now be off, my lad, and you can go ashore in the Chief’s launch. The steamer will be at the landing at midnight. Don’t fail to be there.”
“Oh, no, sir!”
Ned saluted and hastened to get ready for his shore trip. What a wonderful day it had been, he thought, as he looked about for Herc to impart the news to him!
CHAPTER X.
ACROSS THE PACIFIC.
“Eight bells, sir.”
“Make it so,” responded the captain in the time-honored formula of the navy to the petty officer who had just informed him that it was high noon.
The Manhattan from stem to stern presented a busy scene. From her tops and bridge stations the wig-wag flags were busily signaling the orders of the flag-ship to the rest of the squadron. A stiff northwest wind was blowing, and before it small white clouds were scudding like clippers across a bright blue California sky.