It seemed that he was a personal friend of the Secretary of the Navy; in fact they had been old-time chums in their school days. And Professor Perkins had used his influence with the Naval Department so as to have this wonderful invitation extended to the troop in which he had taken such a keen interest.
The scouts had all left the home town on the scheduled train, and before five that evening were aboard the cruiser, wild with delight over the prospect that loomed up ahead. They were given quarters forward with the men, and being accustomed to camping, believed they would be able to make themselves very comfortable while sleeping in hammocks.
And indeed, that night they had no complaint to make, though it did seem pretty noisy around the docks, especially to lads accustomed to the quiet of country life.
On the following day they were allowed shore leave with explicit instructions to be aboard at one o’clock, since that was close to the hour set for sailing; and as Hugh put it, “neither time, nor tide, nor yet Government war vessels wait for any man.”
Here one o’clock had come, and as yet two of the scouts had failed to show up, so that Hugh was naturally bothered, for he considered this tardiness inexcusable in boys who had been taught the value of keeping their engagements to the letter.
All of the other scouts had lined up on that side of the vessel with scores of the Naval Reserves, deeply interested in what was going on. As is usually the case when a boat is due to move out, there was great confusion. Trucks were being rushed this way and that, to get some late luggage or food supplies aboard; officers were shouting orders; men bidding good-by to wives and friends; and all in all, it was a sight the boys would never be apt to forget no matter what they might experience in coming days, such an indelible impression did it make on their young minds.
Again did the long and shrill whistle start blowing with frequent breaks. The Reserves, knowing that this meant “all aboard,” broke away from the various little groups on the crowded dock and started up the gangways. Gradually order was coming out of apparent chaos, and it could be seen that every man was now aboard the Vixen; the vessel trembled from the escaping steam that roared like a giant, impatient to be off.
“Too bad,” said Hugh, as this racket suddenly ceased, and he saw the men begin to unfasten the heavy hawsers that held the cruiser close to the wharf. “Those fellows have missed the chance of their lives.”
“Look! there comes one on the run!” exclaimed Walter Osborne near by.
“It’s Sam Winter, and he’ll just make it, and no more!” echoed Alec Sands, who probably felt a deeper interest in the success or failure of the runner than any of the other boys, since he and Sam represented the Otter Patrol aboard.