“Make it so,” responded the captain in the time-honored formula of the navy to the petty officer who had just informed him that it was high noon.
The Manhattan from stem to stern presented a busy scene. From her tops and bridge stations the wig-wag flags were busily signaling the orders of the flag-ship to the rest of the squadron. A stiff northwest wind was blowing, and before it small white clouds were scudding1 like clippers across a bright blue California sky.
From the stacks of each of the grim sea bulldogs, black clouds of smoke were vomiting3, and semaphore arms were jerking up and down frantically4. On the bridges of every ship of the[96] squadron stood the officers in full uniform. On the bridge of the Manhattan, of course, was the rear-admiral, a bluff5, hearty6 seaman7 known the world over as “Fighting Bob.” From the after truck of the dreadnought’s cage masts fluttered his insignia.
The steamer came off with the last mails from the shore and was swung hastily into her davits. Below in the engine-rooms and boiler8 spaces, the great vessels10 of the squadron throbbed11 and hummed with pent-up energy. It was as if they were impatient to get to sea once more after the royal time they had enjoyed in San Francisco. From the gaff of each ship of the long line fluttered proudly Old Glory.
“What a sight, eh, Herc?” remarked Ned to his red-headed chum as, being temporarily unemployed12, the two found a chance to look about and to chat.
“Never could have seen anything like this if we’d stayed at home on the farm,” grinned Herc.[97] “Although, speaking of the farm, the ships do remind me of a long line of gray geese with the old Manhattan, the daddy gander, that shows ’em the way.”
“Well, I never saw geese that gave out black or any other colored smoke,” chuckled13 Ned, “nor do geese have funnels14 sticking up out of their backs. Otherwise your comparison is all right, Herc.”
“Just come off on the steamer,” he said.
“Now what in the world can this be?” wondered Ned as he opened his package, while Herc did the same. When the coverings were torn off, within each was revealed a purple plush box. Within these, in turn, nestling in beds of white satin, were two gold watches. On the back of each was this inscription16: “Presented in token of appreciation17 of a gallant18 act. San Francisco, 19——.”
[98]
The boys’ eyes sparkled. No need to ask from whom the handsome presents came. The consul19 at dinner the night before had hinted at gifts, but that they were to be such magnificent ones had never entered the boys’ heads.
They had small time to admire them, however. Orders came to take stations, and each lad hastened to his turret20 to get everything in readiness for the good-bye salute21 of twenty-one guns.
The decks were in what to a landsman would have seemed hopeless confusion. Yet, underlying22 all was the system that has made our navy what it is. Orders were passing rapidly, bos’uns’ pipes screaming shrilly23, and Jackies running hither and thither24 like so many ants when their nest has been disturbed.
High up on the lofty bridge, Commander Dunham and the admiral surveyed the scene.
“I think we are ready, sir,” said the admiral at length.
[99]
“All ready, Mr. Jenks,” he said.
The executive officer saluted, and then came a hoarse26 hail through his megaphone while the wig-waggers on the Manhattan transmitted the signal, “Up anchor,” to the other ships of the squadron.
The band crashed out into “The Girl I Left Behind Me,” swinging into “Nancy Lee,” “Auld Lang Syne” and other favorites. The blue-jackets grabbed each other around the waist and pirouetted about on the foc’scle like schoolboys. Some sang with the band until “Boom! Boom! Boom!” the stately measured farewell to San Francisco began to boom from the steel mouths of the big guns.
“Anchors shipped, sir!” sang out a middy from the forepart of the ship.
“Slow speed ahead!” ordered the captain to the ensign at the engine-room telegraph.
“Aye, aye, sir!”
[100]
“Both engines.”
The Manhattan slowly swung around and headed to sea, with her big guns belching28 yellow smoke and flashes of scarlet29 flame. Ashore30, every whistle in the city sent up a deafening31 roar of screeching32 and hooting33. The wharves34 and tall buildings on the water-front, black with people, added to the din2.
Slowly, and in stately fashion, the huge dreadnought maneuvered35 till her bow pointed36 straight for the historic Golden Gate. Each ship of the squadron followed at a measured distance of four hundred yards. From each came clouds of smoke, the fulminating roar of the big guns and the crashing of bands.
Up on the signal halliards of the Manhattan went a string of bunting.
“Increase distance to sixteen hundred yards.”
Gradually and as perfectly37 measured as if they had been figures in a minuet, the great fighting ships lengthened38 the distance between each other.
[101]
Out through the Golden Gate they steamed “in column,” and as they passed the twin headlands, the guns from the forts on either side answered the barking throats of the fleet’s heavy artillery39. Out past the Farallones they steamed, keeping perfect distance or “interval,” as it is called, between each ship.
“Say, Herc,” remarked Ned, when after the firing was over he rejoined his chum on the foc’scle, “I’ve been doing some figuring. Do you know how much water this fleet displaces?”
“I haven’t the smidge of an idea, ship-mate.”
“Well, just about five hundred thousand tons of water.”
Herc peered over the side and then looked around in a puzzled way.
“What’s become of it all?”
“Of what?”
“Of all that misplaced water.”
“Oh, it’s just distributed about. It is merely a technical term.”
[102]
“I suppose the misplaced water goes to the same place that your lap goes to when you stand up,” commented Herc, grinning broadly.
“I reckon that’s about it, Herc. Isn’t it good to get to sea again, though? They gave us a fine time in ’Frisco, but, after all, a sailor’s place is out on the ocean.”
“That accounts for so many recruits being all at sea,” rejoined Herc whimsically.
On the bridge of each ship stood a middy working a little instrument of bars and glasses and wheels, graduated to a scale of figures and called a stadimeter. It showed to a fraction of an inch the exact distance each ship was from the one preceding her, and according to the readings of this instrument the number of revolutions of the ship’s propellers41 would be slowed down or speeded up.
This involved incessant42 watchfulness43, and was calculated to keep the bridge officers on the jump. Everything in Uncle Sam’s navy must be done[103] with a precision almost incomprehensible to a landsman, but which forms a part of every seaman’s training.
Looking back and watching the long line of “gray geese,” as Herc had called them, Ned gave a sudden exclamation44. From the signal-yard of the Louisiana, the third ship in line, there suddenly fluttered a white triangular45 pennant46 with a red border.
“Oh, wow!” yelled Herc. “There’s the old Luzzy out of line again.”
The signal that the ship in question had just displayed meant that she was more than forty yards out of the way. This was duly noted48 against her on board the flag-ship, and it may be imagined that the officer on duty hated to have to send that signal aloft.
The Farallones were mere40 tiny clouds on the eastern horizon, as the sun went down with a[104] glow of burnished49 gold in the west that seemed like a benediction50. Just as it sank below the horizon, the rays shone on the sullen51, lead-colored sides of the grim sea-fighters, giving them a softened52 touch. To a landsman it would have appeared a beautiful sight. But to Ned and Herc, and to most of the sailors on board, that sunset bore a different significance.
“We’re in for a blow,” declared Ned.
“Storm of some sort, that’s as sure as shooting,” rejoined Herc.
Up on the bridge the officers were discussing the outlook.
“The glass is falling rapidly, sir,” reported the navigating53 officer to Commander Dunham.
“Aye, aye, sir.”
As the sun dipped below the horizon, bugles55 began to sing, and on the foremost main-truck, the stern and the sides of every vessel9 in that[105] long line, appeared simultaneously56 flashing lights. Night time had shut down on the fleet as it rolled across the vast Pacific wastes.
Other lights began to twinkle and glimmer57 through the gloom like the illuminated58 windows of a small city after night has fallen. Behind the great ships streamed a dark, sullen storm cloud of black smoke.
The supper call came and the crew sat down to a meal of beef pot-pie, jelly, bread and butter and tea. Conversation ran mainly on the prospects59 of the voyage and the lands they were to visit. Many of the old tars60 had been in the far East and the Mediterranean61 before, and these regaled the youngsters with many stories of their experiences. Naturally this talk only served to sharpen the appetites of the sailors who awaited their arrival in the Orient with avidity. Then, too, Ned’s rounding up of the recalcitrant62 stragglers was discussed, and the sentences meted63 out to the culprits were approved. Of course, Ned and Herc[106] had to show their handsome gold watches, also, and explain the story connected with them.
After supper the Jackies talked and lounged,—those that were off duty, that is. Then came tattoo64, and following that the long, melancholy65 sweet notes of “Taps,” which is the bugle’s way of saying good-night. The sky was heavily overcast66 and the sea was beginning to heave and roll under the twenty-thousand-ton dreadnought as the bugles sang plaintively67 the sailors’ bed-time call:
“Go to sleep! Go to sleep! G-o t-o s-l-e-e-p!”
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1
scudding
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| n.刮面v.（尤指船、舰或云彩）笔直、高速而平稳地移动( scud的现在分词 ) | |
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2
din
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| n.喧闹声，嘈杂声 | |
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3
vomiting
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| 吐 | |
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4
frantically
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| ad.发狂地, 发疯地 | |
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5
bluff
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| v.虚张声势，用假象骗人；n.虚张声势，欺骗 | |
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6
hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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7
seaman
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| n.海员，水手，水兵 | |
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8
boiler
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| n.锅炉；煮器(壶，锅等) | |
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9
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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vessels
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| n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人 | |
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11
throbbed
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| 抽痛( throb的过去式和过去分词 )； （心脏、脉搏等）跳动 | |
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12
unemployed
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| adj.失业的，没有工作的；未动用的，闲置的 | |
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13
chuckled
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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14
funnels
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| 漏斗( funnel的名词复数 )； （轮船，火车等的）烟囱 | |
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15
bustling
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| adj.喧闹的 | |
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16
inscription
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| n.（尤指石块上的）刻印文字，铭文，碑文 | |
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17
appreciation
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| n.评价；欣赏；感谢；领会，理解；价格上涨 | |
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18
gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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19
consul
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| n.领事；执政官 | |
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20
turret
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| n.塔楼，角塔 | |
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21
salute
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| vi.行礼，致意，问候，放礼炮；vt.向…致意，迎接，赞扬；n.招呼，敬礼，礼炮 | |
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22
underlying
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| adj.在下面的，含蓄的，潜在的 | |
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23
shrilly
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| 尖声的； 光亮的，耀眼的 | |
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24
thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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25
saluted
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| v.欢迎，致敬( salute的过去式和过去分词 )；赞扬，赞颂 | |
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26
hoarse
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| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
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27
bellowed
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| v.发出吼叫声，咆哮（尤指因痛苦）( bellow的过去式和过去分词 )；（愤怒地）说出（某事），大叫 | |
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28
belching
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| n. 喷出，打嗝 动词belch的现在分词形式 | |
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29
scarlet
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| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
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30
ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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31
deafening
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| adj. 振耳欲聋的, 极喧闹的 动词deafen的现在分词形式 | |
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32
screeching
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| v.发出尖叫声( screech的现在分词 )；发出粗而刺耳的声音；高叫 | |
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33
hooting
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| （使）作汽笛声响，作汽车喇叭声( hoot的现在分词 )； 倒好儿； 倒彩 | |
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34
wharves
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| n.码头，停泊处( wharf的名词复数 ) | |
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35
maneuvered
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| v.移动，用策略( maneuver的过去式和过去分词 )；操纵 | |
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36
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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37
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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38
lengthened
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| （时间或空间）延长，伸长( lengthen的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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39
artillery
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| n.(军)火炮，大炮；炮兵(部队) | |
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40
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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41
propellers
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| n.螺旋桨，推进器( propeller的名词复数 ) | |
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42
incessant
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| adj.不停的，连续的 | |
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43
watchfulness
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| 警惕，留心； 警觉（性） | |
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44
exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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45
triangular
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| adj.三角（形）的，三者间的 | |
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46
pennant
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| n.三角旗；锦标旗 | |
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47
steer
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| vt.驾驶，为…操舵；引导；vi.驾驶 | |
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48
noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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49
burnished
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| adj.抛光的，光亮的v.擦亮（金属等），磨光( burnish的过去式和过去分词 )；被擦亮，磨光 | |
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50
benediction
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| n.祝福；恩赐 | |
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51
sullen
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| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
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52
softened
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| （使）变软( soften的过去式和过去分词 )； 缓解打击； 缓和； 安慰 | |
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53
navigating
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| v.给（船舶、飞机等）引航，导航( navigate的现在分词 )；（从海上、空中等）横越；横渡；飞跃 | |
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54
snug
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| adj.温暖舒适的，合身的，安全的；v.使整洁干净，舒适地依靠，紧贴；n.（英）酒吧里的私房 | |
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55
bugles
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| 妙脆角，一种类似薯片但做成尖角或喇叭状的零食； 号角( bugle的名词复数 )； 喇叭； 匍匐筋骨草； （装饰女服用的）柱状玻璃（或塑料）小珠 | |
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56
simultaneously
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| adv.同时发生地，同时进行地 | |
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57
glimmer
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| v.发出闪烁的微光；n.微光，微弱的闪光 | |
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58
illuminated
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| adj.被照明的；受启迪的 | |
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59
prospects
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| n.希望，前途(恒为复数) | |
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60
tars
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| 焦油，沥青，柏油( tar的名词复数 ) | |
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61
Mediterranean
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| adj.地中海的；地中海沿岸的 | |
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62
recalcitrant
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| adj.倔强的 | |
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63
meted
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| v.（对某人）施以，给予（处罚等）( mete的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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64
tattoo
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| n.纹身，(皮肤上的)刺花纹；vt.刺花纹于 | |
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65
melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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66
overcast
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| adj.阴天的，阴暗的，愁闷的；v.遮盖，（使）变暗，包边缝；n.覆盖，阴天 | |
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67
plaintively
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| adv.悲哀地，哀怨地 | |
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