“Yes, sir, we didn’t miss many. We were firing pretty slow, though, because Scott, one of the powdermen, who took the plug, didn’t understand it at first. And we had no shellman.”
“What did you do?”
“I pointed, sir, and Jennings trained; and we all helped at loading.”
“You were hurt, too?”
“Not much, sir. A bit of shell cut my head a little.”
“The Gunnery Officer reports that ‘Seaman Gunner Troy, Naval Reserve, then took command and with three other seamen, made repairs to electrical circuit and served gun for upwards of half an hour.’ You estimate the time at twenty minutes.”
“It might have been a half-hour, sir.”
“It’s a bit difficult to judge the passage of time under some circumstances.” The officer smiled. “In any case you did good work, Troy, and I shall take pleasure in recommending you for promotion.”
Nelson flushed. “Thank you, sir,” he murmured. Then: “I didn’t do any more than Jennings and Scott and Farley, sir,” he disclaimed. “They——”
“I understand. I have their names, too. That’s all, Troy.”