“Shall I order retreat from quarters, sir?”
Captain Brookes gave a quick glance into the darkness enshrouding the frigate, and replied:
“No. It’s a good night for further drill. We’ll try ‘abandon ship.’”
“Man the boats only, sir?”
“No; lower them. The sea is rather quiet. It might be a good idea to send the boats out half a mile. It will give the cadets a taste of actual experience.”
Lieutenant Watson, the executive officer of the Monongahela, was too well trained to offer an objection, or even advice, but he glanced askance at the black wall surrounding them, as he called out:
“Bugler, sound abandon ship.”
There was a quick, lively blast of a bugle, then the men and cadets melted away from their stations and swarmed about the boats secured in the davits.
The frigate was hove to, and when her way was checked the small boats were lowered and brought alongside the sea gangway.