CHAPTER XV.
ORDERED AFT.
"Mr. Scott," said Captain Dunham, turning to his lieutenant-commander,"ask Mr. Andrews to step here a minute, will you?"
"Yes, sir," responded Mr. Scott, and a minute later Lieutenant Andrewsrespectfully saluted Commander Dunham.
"Andrews, I'm not altogether comfortable about giving that lad two daysin the brig. The fellow Kennell I have heard is a most unconscionablebully, and, moreover, I am favorably inclined to both those lads. I sawtheir mettle well tested on the _Rhode Island_, as I told you gentlementhe other day. Have you heard any details of the matter which you couldnot relate officially at the inquiry?"
"Yes sir, I have," said Mr. Andrews straightforwardly. "I learneda short time ago, from a boatswain's mate who arrived on the sceneshortly after Kennell had been knocked out, that young Taylor, insteadof being the aggressor, had, as a matter of fact, been attacked byKennell a few minutes after he had extended his hand and offered anapology for an unavoidable, if annoying, accident."
"Hum, hum!" mused the captain; "then it seems that there has been amiscarriage of justice here. But why, in the name of the old Harry,couldn't the young fellow have acquainted me with the full details ofthe case."
"I suppose, sir, that he was unwilling to inform on his shipmate. Youknow that 'snitchers,' as they call them forward, are not encouraged inthe navy."
"No, Andrews, no. But I hate to think I have done the lad aninjustice--even if unwittingly."
"I should not worry about it, sir," put in Andrews. "It will not hurtthe youngster to get a sharp lesson in naval discipline which he won'tforget in a hurry."
"Perhaps you are right," mused the captain; "but I should be unwillingto spoil what I am sure is a fine disposition by over-harshness. Asfor that man Kennell, I have been his commander on another ship ofthe fleet, the old _Massachusetts_. I am sure he is a trouble maker,and I am going to have a sharp eye kept on him. If I can detect himattempting to stir up trouble among the men, I shall visit my wrath onhim pretty sharply."
"And rightly, too, sir," agreed Andrews. "So you have decided to letyoung Taylor serve out his sentence?"
"I think so, yes--for one day, anyway," rejoined the commander. "As yousay, it will be a good lesson, though a sharp one. I intend, however,to put both those lads on a good detail as soon as Taylor is released.It will be by way of compensation for what I feel is a partialinjustice."
Thus it will be seen that, while naval officers outwardly have often to"ship a quarter-deck face" and deal out what may seem harsh measures,yet they are, with few exceptions, kindly, humane men, with anadoration for their flag and country that amounts to fanaticism, and,moreover, a kindly feeling toward the men serving under them. It issomewhat hard, though, to administer the exact measure of justice amongeight or nine hundred high-spirited, healthy young animals like theaverage American tar.
* * * * *
"Well, lad, the smoke lamp is lighted. Light up and forget yourtroubles."
Old Tom paused as he passed Ned during the rest hour, after thejackies' noonday dinner.
"Thanks. I never smoke," responded the boy, whose troubled face showedthat he was still worrying over Herc's disgrace. In fact, Ned took hiscompanion's position to heart much more keenly than did Herc himself,who, knowing in his own heart that he was not to blame, set to work tomake the best of it.
It was the day following Herc's imprisonment, and already the squadronhad passed into the Gulf Stream, and the warm air of the tropics wasabout the mighty fighting ships.
That morning the flagship had signalled to the squadron that whiteuniforms were in order, and very trim and neat the jackies lookedin their snowy garments, as they lounged about the decks. Some weresmoking and chatting, some writing letters, and others playingcheckers, chess or cards, or absorbed in some book in a quiet nook.
As Ned, who was leaning over the rail, gazed downward at the foamflying past the vessel's side, he found never-failing amusement inwatching the great flocks of flying fish that fled shimmering from theyellow patches of "gulf weed" as the _Manhattan's_ mighty bow nosedinto them.
"For all the world like a covey of partridges scared up in the woods athome," thought Ned to himself.
"Ordinary Seaman Strong?" asked a sudden voice behind him.
Ned turned swiftly, and saw the captain's orderly facing him.
"Yes, I'm Strong," he said.
"Come with me," directed the orderly.
Ned had been long enough on a battleship now to obey without hesitationor question when an order was addressed to him.
The lounging jackies regarded him with some interest as he passed amongthem.
"The pal of the red-headed lad is going to get a wigging now."
"Two of them upon the carpet in two days. They won't last long in theservice."
These are samples of the comments that were bandied about as the boypassed along behind the orderly, somewhat troubled, in fact, in hisown mind as to what could be the reason of the sudden summons to thecaptain's cabin.
Old Tom spoke up indignantly as he heard the remarks:
"A whole lot of you young varmints will still be scrubbing decks, andcleaning brasswork, and doing your regular trick in the brig aftershore leave, when them two young fellows is wearing chevrons!" hesnapped.
The old salt was a privileged character, and did and said pretty muchas he liked among the men; but his remark aroused some resentment amongthose about him.
"How about you, old Growler?" asked a gruff voice. "How is it you neverrose from the scrub stations?"
"'Cos I was a fool like you when I was young," snarled old Tom, as thesailors exploded in a shout of laughter at the discomfiture of theventuresome spirit that had essayed to "bait" old Tom.
"Better leave Tom alone, Ralph," shouted one of the card players; "he'stoo sharp for you."
"Yes, he presumes on his gray hairs to do as he likes," snarled theother, who was none other than Kennell. "It's a good thing for him he'sgot a bald head."
"Well, I don't need a pot of paint to cover it, anyhow!" laughed oldTom, at which there was another tornado of laughter; and Kennell, witha black look on his face, rose to his feet and made his way to anotherspot, one where he was less likely to encounter such a sharp tongue asold Tom's.
"Confounded old fool!" he muttered to himself as he went, "I'd like tofinish up him and those two kids at one stroke! I'll do it, too, if Iget a chance."
In the meantime Ned, at the orderly's heels, had traversed several ofthe memorable narrow, steel-lined corridors, and at last found himselfin front of heavy green plush portieres, beyond which lay, as heguessed, that hallowed spot, the captain's cabin.
The orderly knocked softly at the polished mahogany door frame.
"Ord'ly, sir," he announced.
And a minute later:
"Ordinary Seaman Strong, sir."
"Send him in," came the pleasant, mellow voice of the captain.
Ned subdued an inclination to take to his heels, and entered, lookingas calm as he could.
"A moment, Strong," said the captain in a pleasant voice. "I'll bethrough here in a minute."
Ned stood stiffly at attention and gazed about him out of the cornersof his eyes while his commander wrote busily, dipping his pen fromtime to time in a massive silver ink-stand. The commander's quarters,although on a fighting ship, were as luxuriously appointed as thelibrary in any mansion ashore. The fittings were all dark mahogany,relieved, here and there, with maple-wood, on which the soft lightsglowed and shone. As in the officers' cabins, there was no porthole,the armor at this part of the ship precluding any such device. Thickglass, let into the quarter deck above, however, admitted light.
"Ord'ly!"
"Sir!"
The orderly sprang into view, like a familiar spirit, from behind thecurtain where he had been standing at attention.
"Take these general orders to Mr. Scott!"
"Yes, sir!"
The galvanic orderly
saluted and was off like a shot.
"I wonder if that fellow is equipped with springs?" mused Ned, "or ifhe is galvanized daily, or merely wound up by clockwork?"
"Well, Strong."
The captain was gazing at the boy quizzically.
Ned saluted stiffly, and stood straighter than ever at attention,waiting for what was to come.