Two Boys of the Battleship Part 19

Certainly the _Georgetown_ was being rather ill-used by the elements.

The storm increased, rather than diminished, and soon had attained the proportions of a hurricane. There was rain, too, but so heavy was the salt spray, whipped from the crests of the foaming billows, that out on deck one could not tell the fresh water from the briney. It all came down together.

Of course, in the storm everything was lashed fast, life lines were stretched about the decks, and only the necessary routine work and duties were performed. The battles.h.i.+p proved herself most seaworthy, and though she did roll and pitch and toss, still she remained as tight as a drum, even under the terrific strain.

To while away the time, which was monotonous because of enforced idleness, only the necessary men being allowed on deck, some amus.e.m.e.nts were permitted. Boxing contests were arranged, though it was no easy matter to keep one's footing, and in several of the bouts the less skillful men managed to "knock-out" efficient boxers. This was because an unexpected roll of the s.h.i.+p would send the good boxer off his balance when he least expected it, and the other would have a chance to "land"

one on him. But it was all in fun, and taken in good part.

Frank and Ned were good banjo players, and could also perform on the guitar. And as they had each purchased an instrument just before being a.s.signed to the _Georgetown_, and as several other recruits had also displayed musical talents, they were able to give an impromptu concert below decks during the storm.

The officers encourage the blue-jackets to do this, and instruction in music is provided to those who are fitted for it. Life on a battles.h.i.+p or in the navy is not so dull as some people would have prospective recruits understand.

Gradually the storm blew itself out, or else the battles.h.i.+p ran out of the storm region, and after two days of inclement weather the wind died down, the sun came out, and the men were able to move about freely on the upper decks and go about their usual duties.

Shortly after sick-call one morning there came the rapid ringing of the s.h.i.+p's big bell, and in different parts of the craft bugles were sounded. Then came a certain number of taps on the big bell.

"Fire quarters!" cried Ned, as he caught the signal. He jumped away from the work he was doing, polis.h.i.+ng some bra.s.s, and ran for his designated station.

"Is it drill or real, I wonder?" asked Frank, as he, too, hurried along with his brother. All over the s.h.i.+p were seen signs of activity.

"Fire-quarters! Fire-quarters!" was called.

Again the bugles blew, and by the manner of the call the location of the "fire" was indicated.

"After magazine!" shouted Ned, as he listened to the call.

No one knew whether it was a call to fight a real fire, or whether it was simply a drill. For just as the fire signal is given in the public schools, to get the children used to answering it unexpectedly and without undue alarm, so on board the battles.h.i.+ps these emergency drills are held at unexpected times.

In a few minutes after fire-quarters had sounded on the _Georgetown_ every man was at the station which had been a.s.signed to him some time previous, in other like drills. Then long lines of hose were manned, all converging toward the after magazine, which was the position indicated by the signals. At once all water-tight doors and hatches were closed, so that in case there was a fire it would be prevented from spreading to other parts of the s.h.i.+p.

But fortunately this was not a real blaze on the battles.h.i.+p. The drill was simply for practice, and when the hose had been unreeled, and all was in readiness for flooding the magazine, had such a course been necessary, and when all the doors and hatches had been closed, word was given to the men to resume the work at which they had been when the call came.

"Whew! That was hot work!" exclaimed Ned, wiping the perspiration from his face.

"I should say yes," agreed his brother.

The storm had pa.s.sed away, but as they were now in the tropics and would shortly cross the equator, the air was hot and moist. Orders had been given for a change of clothes, and the men and officers now wore as cool garments as possible, presenting a fine appearance in their white uniforms.

Down past Venezuela and the three Guianas steamed the mighty _Georgetown_. Then, a little later, the s.h.i.+p was off the mouth of the great Amazon, and the "line," as the equator is called, was crossed.

Of course there was the usual horse-play and high jinks permitted by the officers. Neptune, in the person of one of the sailors, came aboard, with his trident, his crown and his wealth of hair, made from strands of oak.u.m; and before Neptune and his court were brought those who had never yet crossed the equator. They were to be initiated.

Various feats were a.s.signed to the luckless ones, not all of them mild, either. But everyone went through the fun with good spirits, though Hank Dell protested when he was told to thrust his head into a bucket of soapy water. He hesitated, but his mates forced him to take the ducking.

"Wough!" he spluttered, as his eyes and mouth were filled with the soapy mixture. Then he was doused with a pail of clean water, and his novitiate over.

Frank and Ned, with the others, had to submit to their share of the hazing, but finally it came to an end amid gales of laughter.

"Well, we won't have to go through with that again," Frank remarked to his brother when they were changing into clean and fresh garments.

"No, and I'm glad of it. There was a little too much rough stuff in it to suit me."

"Oh, it'll do us good, I guess," laughed Frank.

In the days that followed other drills were held aboard the battles.h.i.+p, though they were made as light as possible on account of the hot weather in the tropics.

When the general-quarters call was sounded, all took their stations at the guns for fighting the s.h.i.+p. This was what would be done on going into action, and that drill was usually preceded by the "clearing s.h.i.+p for action" order. In this the upper decks were cleared of all unnecessary rigging, not actually required for fighting. In this drill it is sometimes customary to lower the boats, but as the _Georgetown_ was speeding to accomplish a certain mission she was not stopped to permit the lowering of the small boats.

"Abandon s.h.i.+p" was another drill that interested Ned and Frank. This drill often came after collision drill, and was supposed to indicate that the s.h.i.+p had been so badly damaged in action that she was likely to sink. When the "abandon" signal was given each man rushed to his particular station at the small boats.

Each man had also to get a certain amount of food or supplies which was always his portion, and stow this in the boat. So proficient did the blue-jackets become that in a few minutes after the signal had been given to abandon s.h.i.+p the whole crew, officers and all, would be ready to take to the boats and pull away. And in the boats would be enough food for several days, as well as other comforts and necessities.

Everything possible is thought of in advance, and preparations made for all emergencies, from fire or explosion on board, to an attack by an enemy.

Down past the shoulder of Brazil slipped the _Georgetown_, and as she was now leaving the equator and going south, the heat of the weather moderated a little. Still it was warm enough.

"It won't be long before we shall be there," remarked Frank to Ned one day, as they stood on the forward deck, looking across the sea.

"Yes, we ought to be there soon. I hope we're in time."

"In time? What do you mean?"

"I mean I hope the revolution isn't all over."

"Oh, I see," laughed Frank.

Suddenly the lookout cried:

"Steamer ho!"

"Where away?" came the demand.

"Almost dead ahead. Looks like some sort of cruiser."

Ned, Frank and several others, including a number of officers looked in the direction indicated. There, speeding away ahead of the _Georgetown_, was a craft that did look like a small fighting craft.

"Can you make out her flag?" asked one officer to another.

"No, not yet," was the reply, as the one addressed peered through his gla.s.ses.

"Yes, I can, too!" he cried a moment later. "If those rascals of revolutionists of Uridio haven't got a navy! Well, who would have thought it!"

"Let me see," demanded the other. "Yes," he continued a moment later, "it is a small cruiser, and she flies the hostile flag. They must have bought some old fighting craft that some nation considered out of date.

The captain must be informed."

A little later there sounded down in the engine room of the _Georgetown_ the signal from the bridge of, "full speed ahead!"

"Are we going to chase her?" asked Ned.

"It looks that way," said his brother.