“But think what it means, my dear fellow. Why, such a thing has never been dreamed of before on a naval academy practice ship. Plebes give an entertainment! Pshaw! you’re crazy!”
“Here comes Blakely. He’ll tell you whether I am right or not.”
The speaker pointed along the starboard part of the Monongahela’s spar deck. Blakely was sauntering forward.
He halted in front of the two and glanced inquiringly at Naval Cadet Payne, who had beckoned to him.
“What’s up?” he asked.
“Why, this chump here has been telling me a ghost story. He says the old man has given the new fourth class permission to hold an entertainment on the gun deck.”
“That’s straight, Ferguson.”
“Wh-what!”
“The plebes, headed by that very gally function, Faraday, sent in a request this morning asking Captain Brookes’ permission to give a minstrel entertainment on the forward gun deck. The old man gave his consent at once, and it is to be held Saturday night.”