“It did, sir!”
“Yet you made no fuss.”
“What good would that have done, sir?” I queried.
He laughed and was silent for a moment, then said: “Tell me, what experience have you had at sea?”
I told him, and then he began to ply me with questions about the frigate, about her sails, and her lines; how to handle her in emergencies; and gave repeated orders, telling me to explain them. There was nothing, however, I did not understand, and rapidly as he put the questions, I as rapidly answered them.
“Very good, Master Dunn,” he finally remarked. “We have no midshipman on board who could have passed a better examination. Unfortunately it is too late for me to send you back to the brig—and perhaps that would not be the wisest thing to do. But it is not too late for me to do you what justice I can.” Then turning to his secretary, “Take the name of Arthur Dunn from the list of apprentices, and place it upon the list of midshipmen, dating the fact from yesterday.”
“I have done so,” the lieutenant announced a moment later.
“Very well; go now and call Midshipman Seymour.”
He obeyed, and soon returned with the young officer.
“Midshipman Seymour,” the Captain began sternly, “did you understand me to say yesterday that this young man was rated as an apprentice?”