An hour after going aboard the nurses slipped off their coats and caps and stretched out on the bunks, prepared to jump up the moment there was any indication of leaving the dock. But for hours longer there came that steady tramp, tramp of soldiers’ feet as the transport was packed to sardine-tin tightness.
It was still dark, however, when Mabel shook Nancy out of a sound sleep to say, “I think we’re moving!”
The other two girls were already pulling on their overcoats to go on deck, and together they rushed out. Faint streaks of dawn were in the sky. Hawsers had already been released and the giant ship was being eased out of the harbor by tugs that looked like midgets in comparison.
The first light of day was striking glints from the water when they slipped through the submarine net at the mouth of the harbor. The net-tender waved at them, and Nancy thought a little wistfully that this was the only farewell they had had. She watched the shoreline of our country recede, not without a feeling of sadness dulling her joy. But her sadness was more for those she left behind than any fear of what might be ahead. She was young and strong and eager to do her share, fully aware of the privilege and responsibility of being part of this great task force.
Her group, huddled close together, had fallen silent when suddenly the loud speaker began to bellow, “Life jackets—all personnel must wear life jackets.”
There was a general exodus to individual quarters to don the uncomfortable rig, which they dubbed their “Mae Wests.” Not until their journey ended, weeks hence, could they be separated from them again.
Nancy couldn’t sit still after she was safely girded in her life jacket. She kept popping her head up to the porthole to see what was happening outside. One of the others filled the spot every time she vacated it.
They had orders to line up for breakfast at seven. The nurses were scheduled to eat first. It was an hour, however, before they had been served and could finish eating.
When they reached the deck again Nancy burst forth, “Look, girls, this is the real thing!”
They joined her at the rail to see that their transport was now one of a great convoy of vessels of all sorts, moving steadily into the southwest.