The executive officer was angry. He believed the corporal’s story, and the very idea of such a gross breach of discipline was too much for his temper.
“Come down, sir!” he roared, shaking his spyglass at poor Nanny. “Come down at once or it will be the worse for you.”
A cadet first class man named Blakely, the captain of the academy football team, involuntarily leaped into the rigging, thinking the pursuit of the fugitive was desired by Lieutenant Watson.
The latter’s stern voice and Blakely’s action proved the last straw, and Nanny fled upward again in dismay.
The rigging swayed under his hurrying feet and several times he came dangerously near falling. But fear lent confidence, and he gained the top without mishap.
Lieutenant Watson watched his progress with mingled amazement and rage. In all his experience he had never known a cadet to run aloft to escape punishment.
“The boy is crazy,” he muttered.
“Shall we send several men after him, sir?” asked the officer of the deck.
Before a reply could be given the commander of the Monongahela, who had been in his cabin, walked forward attracted by the commotion.
“What is the matter?” he asked, glancing at the cadets.