Great ceremony marked his coming. The gangway was manned and the officers all donned full uniform. The band played “God Save the King,” and the amount of bowing and ceremonious hand-shaking and saluting that was gone through caused Herc to remark to Ned later on that he felt as if he’d been mixing up with a book of etiquette. At the English commander’s departure the same ceremony took place. The boys had had their first introduction to the strict laws of ceremony which govern an interchange of courtesies between the commanders of fighting ships of different friendly nations.
CHAPTER XIX.
BLUE LIGHTNING ASHORE.
Next morning, after the routine work was out of the way, word was passed that parties would be allowed to leave the ship for a cruise ashore. The signal of this decision was sent to other vessels of the fleet, and before long boats were making for the shore in tow of the battleships’ steamers, carrying parties of singing, joyous tars.
On board the Manhattan upwards of a hundred men were allowed liberty, and among them were Ned and Herc. Before they left the ship, the liberty parties were lined up aft and the captain made them a little speech.
“You men are to be allowed a run on shore as a reward for faithful service,” he said. “You will be expected to conduct yourselves in a manner befitting your country and the service. I hope that in your own interests you will report back on board ship within the forty-eight hours I am allowing you. That is all.”
Discipline went to the winds for a minute. The men cheered Commander Dunham as he turned away.
“There’s a captain for you,” said one.
“Yes, he’s no bucko skipper, always working up a poor sailor,” put in another. “He’s all wool and a yard wide.”
“And so say we all of us!” cried Herc, heading the rush for the boats that were to take them ashore.