A smile stole irrepressibly to Phil’s face. Here on board this tiny ship, scarcely a hundred feet long and of a little over one hundred tons displacement, the far-reaching navy regulations were being carried out with as much form and punctiliousness as they would be on the biggest battle-ship.
In a graceful speech Marshall bade farewell to his small crew and then he unfolded the paper in his hand signed by no less a personage than the admiral commanding the Asiatic fleet.
“You are, upon the reporting of your relief, Midshipman Philip Perry, U. S. Navy, detached from the command of the U. S. S. ‘Mindinao’ and will proceed immediately to Manila, reporting your arrival, for passage to your home, to the senior officer present.”
As soon as Marshall’s voice died away, Phil began to read his own orders, which he had kept safely pinned to the inside of his breast-pocket during the last few exciting days.
“You are hereby detached from the U. S. S. ‘Phœnix’ and will proceed to Palilo, Island of Kapay, Philippine Islands, and upon your arrival assume command of the U. S. S. ‘Mindinao’ as the relief of Ensign Charles Marshall, U. S. Navy.”
For a moment there was complete silence, broken in an instant by a hoarse voice.
“Three cheers for Captain Marshall.”
From twenty-five strong chests the cheers were given, while the happy man honored blushed with pleasurable pride and manly tears welled to his eyes. And then Phil’s turn came to blush and look confused, and as he said afterward, foolish, when the same loud voice proposed, “Three cheers for Captain Perry.”
Immediately the cheering was over the boatswain’s mate’s pipe sounded shrilly and the men, touching their caps respectfully, returned to their quarters forward.
The lads saw Marshall sail away on a small island steamer similar to the one on which they had commenced their journey four days before and then returned to sit upon the quarter-deck of their gunboat and enjoy the intense gratification of being their own masters on their own ship.