“Don’t get spoiled by the biscuits,” Gray said. “We eat pretty well, but the cook doesn’t have time for such frills very often when we’re under way.”
By the time the meal was over March and Stan felt completely at home, and Gray seemed very much at ease.
“We’ll go over the ship tomorrow morning,” he said. “She’s a beauty. Nothing finer being built today, and I know you’ll love Kamongo. Know about her name, by the way?”
“Yes, Captain Sampson told us about it when we got our orders in New London,” March said. “I like it.”
“So do I,” Stan said. “I felt proud telling everybody at home about what it meant.”
A little later, while they were talking, Corvin and McFee, the two other officers, came in together. Introductions were informal and easy, and March began to feel very happy. These two men were just as young as their Skipper. March felt as if he were really at home with people just like himself. He turned and gave a look at Stan, who was beaming.
“What’s that mean?” Gray asked, who seemed to notice everything. “Think you’ll like us?”
March didn’t know what to say. “It’s hardly up to us to decide—” he began.
“Oh, yes, it’s very important,” Gray said. “If I don’t like you—off you’ll go. If you don’t like me—I’ll know it, even if I like you, and off you’ll go anyway.”
He laughed. “You see, we’ve got to get along together.”