Ned knew from his previous instructions that the Seneca would be lying in the shelter of one of these islands, as securely moored3 to avoid observation from the scouts5 of the Blue squadron as was possible. Miller's Haven was a sleepy spot,—little more than a fishing village, in truth,—and nobody in the place was likely to pay much attention to the fact that a small gunboat, looking more like a yacht than a vessel6 of the navy, lay, with every appearance of secrecy7, off their hamlet.
[Pg 32]
In fact, the Seneca had been used in several capacities. Her latest work, before being told off as a scout4 and despatch8 craft, was with the Revenue Service.
In this capacity the Seneca had been deemed worthy9 of refitting so far as boilers10 and engines were concerned, so that, although she was not large, she was swift and powerful and just the craft for the work in which she was to be employed during the maneuvers11. Her speed had been shown in several chases after motor-boat smugglers, in most cases she having easily overhauled12 even the fastest of these wasp-like violators of Uncle Sam's customs regulations.
"We'll go to the hotel first," decided13 Ned as they stood on the wind-swept platform at Miller's Haven.
Out on the Sound the blue water was flecked with white and a brisk wind, salt-laden and delightful14 to the boys' sea-going nostrils15, had left the sky clear and cloudless.
[Pg 33]
"You're going to meet Ensign Summerville there?" asked Herc.
"Yes, he'll come ashore16 with a boat and take us out and introduce us to our first command."
"Huh! it may be our last, too," grunted17 Herc. "Say, this thing of being a real, full-fledged officer scares me just a little. Suppose we fall down?"
"We can only attend to our duty the best we know how," rejoined Ned. "If we can carry out the work cut out for us in good shape, it will mean that we'll go a few more rungs up the ladder."
"Yes, if nobody pulls the ladder down," mumbled18 Herc pessimistically.
The two trim, trig lads, in their quiet, unassuming clothes, attracted little or no attention on the single street that Miller's Haven boasted. True, one or two passers-by looked rather curiously19 at the yellow leather sword cases that they carried, but that was all.
[Pg 34]
The hotel soon came in sight, a dingy-looking structure sadly in need of paint. A dejected-looking citizen with a drooping20 mustache, a drooping manner, drooping gray garments and a drooping way of draping himself in his chair, occupied the porch.
"Doesn't look like much of a place," commented Ned, "but we can get a room here that will be good enough to change in, I dare say."
"A room!" demanded Herc. "What do you want a room for? I thought we were going to eat."
"No, we will change into our uniforms first. It would not be the correct thing to board our new command in ordinary clothes. I should think you'd know that."
"Have we got to wear our swords?" inquired Herc with a rebellious21 look.
"Don't you know enough of navy usages yet to be aware that officers must wear their swords under certain conditions, such as taking command[Pg 35] of a new craft and other ceremonial occasions?"
"Umph! Well, all I hope is I don't tumble over that cheese toaster of mine."
"If you do anything like that, I'll disown you for a brother officer of mine," laughed Ned. "But, seriously, Herc, I want you to be on your best behavior and not make any bad breaks."
"Huh! Just as if you were any more used to carrying a sticker,—I mean a sword,—than I am! I'll be all right. Don't you worry about me, Mister Lieutenant22. I bet I will be just as good an officer as there is in the navy."
"We'll wait and see——" began Ned good-naturedly, when Herc cut him short with an exclamation23.
"Look who's here! Right behind us!"
"Well, what is it?" asked Ned, for he was half-way up the steps by this time and the drooping eyes of the landlord, as Ned had rightly conjectured[Pg 36] that the dejected man was, were regarding him with languid interest.
"It's that Rankin fellow! He's looking at us disrespectfully. I've a good mind to tell him that we are officers!"
"You'll do no such thing. If he has been detailed24 to the Seneca, which I think probable, he'll find out our rank for himself soon enough."
"Just the same, I'd like to make him salute25 me," grumbled26 Herc.
Rankin ascended27 the steps behind the two Dreadnought Boys. He was close on their heels, when suddenly Herc's feet flew up and out behind him. In his new dignity he had been holding his head so high that he did not notice a bit of banana peel lying on the untidy steps of the Eagle Hotel.
Crash! The newly created officer performed an almost complete back somersault with great effect. Plump! came down his not over-light form right on top of the ascending28 Rankin. Together[Pg 37] they rolled down the steps and into the dusty road, while Ned looked on in dismay.
"You done that a-purpose! I'll fix you for it!" bellowed29 Rankin furiously.
"What are you talking about, you numbskull?" retaliated30 Herc, as the two rolled on the dusty street. "Don't be a fool! Let me up."
But Rankin clung tightly to Herc, for whom he had conceived an intense dislike ever since the episode on the train.
"You try to make a fool out of me, will you?" he growled31; and as they clinched32 and tumbled about at the foot of the steps, Rankin aimed a vicious blow at Herc, who returned it with right good will.
"Gracious! Here's a fine kettle of fish!" exclaimed Ned in consternation33.
He started back down the steps at top speed, determined34 to stop such a scene at all costs. It was really too bad that their arrival in Miller's[Pg 38] Haven should be marked by such a disgraceful mix-up.
Ned glanced anxiously down the street and was glad to see that no one was in sight. He would not, for the world, have had anyone witness the mêlée who was in any way connected with the navy.
"Get up at once, Herc!" he cried, thoroughly35 angry. "Stop it instantly. Do you hear?"
But despite Ned's admonitions, the pair on the ground continued their struggle, the noise of their thumps36 and pantings rising above Ned's voice. Flushed with vexation and indignation at Herc, Ned determined to take decisive action.
He cleared the last two steps of the flight leading to the street in one jump. The next instant his hands shot out.
"Stop this and stop it quick!" he ejaculated. "What sort of a way do you consider this to behave?"
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
haven
|
|
| n.安全的地方，避难所，庇护所 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
tricky
|
|
| adj.狡猾的，奸诈的；(工作等)棘手的，微妙的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
moored
|
|
| adj. 系泊的 动词moor的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
scout
|
|
| n.童子军，侦察员；v.侦察，搜索 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
scouts
|
|
| 侦察员[机，舰]( scout的名词复数 )； 童子军； 搜索； 童子军成员 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
vessel
|
|
| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
secrecy
|
|
| n.秘密，保密，隐蔽 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
despatch
|
|
| n./v.(dispatch)派遣；发送；n.急件；新闻报道 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
worthy
|
|
| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
boilers
|
|
| 锅炉，烧水器，水壶( boiler的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
maneuvers
|
|
| n.策略，谋略，花招( maneuver的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
overhauled
|
|
| v.彻底检查( overhaul的过去式和过去分词 )；大修；赶上；超越 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
decided
|
|
| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
delightful
|
|
| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
nostrils
|
|
| 鼻孔( nostril的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
ashore
|
|
| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
grunted
|
|
| （猪等）作呼噜声( grunt的过去式和过去分词 )； （指人）发出类似的哼声； 咕哝着说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
mumbled
|
|
| 含糊地说某事，叽咕，咕哝( mumble的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
curiously
|
|
| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
drooping
|
|
| adj. 下垂的，无力的 动词droop的现在分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
rebellious
|
|
| adj.造反的，反抗的，难控制的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
lieutenant
|
|
| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
exclamation
|
|
| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
detailed
|
|
| adj.详细的，详尽的，极注意细节的，完全的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
salute
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
grumbled
|
|
| 抱怨( grumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 发牢骚； 咕哝； 发哼声 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
ascended
|
|
| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
ascending
|
|
| adj.上升的，向上的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
bellowed
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
retaliated
|
|
| v.报复，反击( retaliate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
growled
|
|
| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
clinched
|
|
| v.（尤指两人）互相紧紧抱[扭]住( clinch的过去式和过去分词 )；解决（争端、交易），达成（协议） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
consternation
|
|
| n.大为吃惊，惊骇 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
determined
|
|
| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
thoroughly
|
|
| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
thumps
|
|
| n.猪肺病；砰的重击声( thump的名词复数 )v.重击， （指心脏）急速跳动( thump的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |