Some one near him pointed in the direction of the shore, and exclaimed that the king was putting off in the royal barge.
There was a rush for the side, but J. Chesire-Cheshire Cate remained in his former position, the expression upon his face becoming more and more pronounced.
In the meantime Clif had joined the other cadets in the work of preparing the ship for the royal visitor.
Being a plebe, Clif’s duty did not carry him above the deck, but he found plenty to do elsewhere.
Shortly after he left Juanita the crew were called to quarters. Each cadet hurried to his station at one of the guns and stood at attention with military precision.
A moment later the saluting battery opened fire and thundered forth the national salute of twenty-one guns.
The sulphurous vapor from the last discharge had barely lifted above the hammock netting when the cannon in the fort ashore began.
The distant booming of artillery, the smoke enshrouding the old practice ship, the scores of bright flags fluttering from the masts, and the silent groups of uniformed men and cadets lined up on each side of the snowy decks formed an inspiriting scene—one to tarry long in the memory.
Clif with Joy, Trolley and Nanny were stationed at the after starboard broadside gun.