“That will do,” shouted Clif, thickly. “We’ll go on with the performish. Ladies an’ gemmen, the firsh number on the pro—gramish will be rendered by the whole troupe. I’m supposed to be Father Nepchune. You all know ’m. He ish patron father of all shailors. Thatsh me. Those pecuyliar-looking animalish at each end are shea-wolves. And in th’ middle on each side—ha! ha! how’s that for Irish bull?—in the middle on each side are supposed to be mortals. Everyday ord’nary mortalish. They came down in m’—my reals—no, my realms, and now they got to amuse me before they go back to the Naval Academy.”
He sat down abruptly and laughed vacantly.
A titter ran through the audience. It quickly grew into a roar, and then the gun deck resounded with shouts of laughter, catcalls, and vociferous applause.
The captain was plainly growing angry, but he managed to keep his temper.
“Is this part of the show?” he whispered to the first lieutenant, who sat next to him. “If so, those boys are excellent actors.”
“I can’t make up my mind,” replied the executive officer, watching the stage narrowly. “That youngster, Faraday, is very clever. He’s apt to spring most any kind of surprise. But, as you say, if it’s part of the play——”
He was interrupted by a wild howl. Trolley had suddenly leaped to his feet and was giving a grotesque Japanese dance. His eyes were glittering and he giggled and yelled incessantly.
“Go it, Jap!” cried Grat Wallace, clapping his hands. “Let’s show ’em wh—what we can do. Whoop! we’re the bes’ plebes ever entered the ol’ academy! We’ve licked the third class fellows every round. Whoop! We’ll do ’em up every time.”
An answering shout came from several upper classmen in the audience at this challenge. A small coil of rope, fastened with yarn, was hurled at the stage. It struck the netting, tore a great hole in it, and landed with a thump upon Toggles, who was evidently asleep in his chair.
Clif was seen to stagger to his feet and attempt to speak, but the uproar was too great. The pandemonium was brought to an abrupt ending, however, by the captain and first officer, who rose from their chairs and faced the audience.