To strengthen him in this belief, he had influential3 relatives who had promised to smooth out his path in life for him. Despite this fact, though, Kenworth was still a midshipman. Why was this, when many of his own class had passed him?
Possibly the incident which Ned and Herc had such good cause to recollect4 will throw a sidelight on Mr. Kenworth's character that may serve to explain this condition.
[Pg 59]
It was one night when the wind was blowing "great guns." Ned and Herc, the former then a coxswain, were part of a crew sent to bring some young officers off to the ship from Guantanamo harbor. As it happened, the young officers were all middies and, by right of length of service, Kenworth outranked them.
He was quarrelsome and inclined to be obstreperous5 when he came on board. He began by abusing Ned, who had incurred6 Kenworth's ill-will by his sturdy independence and the steady command of his temper, even under the fledgling officer's insults and slurs7.
The boat put off with a sea running that threatened momentarily to swamp her. It required the whole strength of Ned's arm to keep the craft, which was deeply loaded, headed into the seas in such a way as to insure safety.
"Let her off a point there, you," ordered Kenworth, when they had proceeded a short distance.
"It will hardly be safe, sir," rejoined Ned.
[Pg 60]
"Hang your impudence8," cried young Kenworth; "do what I tell you, do you hear?"
"Very well, sir," and sorely against his will Ned did let the boat's head swing a trifle.
The instant result was what he had anticipated. The crest9 of a sea broke on them, drenching10 Kenworth to the skin. He flew into a frenzy11 of rage.
"You clumsy, incompetent12 nincompoop," he sputtered13, "I'll have you up at the mast for that."
"I obeyed your orders, sir," rejoined Ned simply, knowing there was nothing to be gained by getting into an argument with an officer.
"Don't answer me, sir!" howled Kenworth. "Confound your impudence!"
"Oh, look here, Kenworth," remonstrated14 another midshipman. "It wasn't his fault. He told you it wouldn't do and you insisted."
"And got jolly well wet for your pains," came from one of the men at the oars15 in a low voice intended only for his mate's ears.
[Pg 61]
But Kenworth heard him, heard, too, the smothered16 laugh from the men, none of whom bore him any liking17, his ways having made him the most unpopular officer on the ship.
"How dare you make such a remark to me, sir?" he demanded of Ned, choosing in his anger to make a victim of the man he disliked most.
"I said nothing, sir," rejoined Ned.
"That's right; he didn't utter a word," came from another midshipman.
"He'll sing a different tune18 at the mast to-morrow, insolent19 waterfront scum," gritted20 out Kenworth.
He said no more, but the next day the word was passed forward by the sergeant-at-arms for Ned to appear "at the mast," the man-o'-war tribunal where the captain deals out justice. Luckily Ned had no difficulty in clearing himself, thanks to friendly witnesses, and Kenworth was privately21 reprimanded by the captain for bringing a trumped-up charge against an enlisted22 man.
[Pg 62]
From that day on, Kenworth had nourished such a hatred23 of Ned as only a mean nature like his could cherish. He never, while he remained on the Manhattan, lost a chance to "work him up," as it is called. On one occasion, he went so far as to order Ned to count the sails of every ship in the harbor of Hong Kong and report their number to him.
Ned stood at the rail with a grave face for an hour enjoying the scenery, and then, stepping up to Kenworth, who was swelling24 with importance as officer of the deck, he saluted25 with a quiet smile.
"Well, did you do what I told you?" blustered26 Kenworth.
"Yes, sir; there are just three thousand nine hundred and ninety-five," replied Ned with great gravity.
Kenworth looked sharply at him.
"How do you know?" he asked.
"I counted them, sir," was the reply. "You[Pg 63] can check up my count if you like, sir; you'll find it correct."
As Ned saluted and turned away, he heard a burst of laughter at Kenworth's expense from some Jackies who had heard the little dialogue, and who discreetly28 vanished before the arrogant29 middie's wrath30 could descend31 on them. Soon after this Kenworth had left the Manhattan and Ned lost all track of him; not, indeed, that he felt any great interest in the matter.
And now, by a strange quip of circumstance, they had come face to face once more in the wardroom of the little gunboat. But now their positions were reversed. Ned was in command, Herc was his second in authority, with Kenworth, although he shaved daily and boasted a blue chin, still a midshipman.
"I'm very glad to meet Mr. Kenworth again," he said, when he had recovered his self-possession; "I recollect him on the Manhattan very well indeed."
[Pg 64]
Kenworth mumbled32 something about duty aft and hurried off. Ensign Summerville saw that there was an embarrassing situation in the air and hastened to suggest that they go on deck, where he would have the crew mustered33 and formally turn over the command of the Seneca to Ned.
The crew was piped to quarters and the ensign handed Ned a complete roster34 of the men. The shrill35 sounds of the bos'un's whistles filled the air, reminding Ned and Herc of the days when a response was part of their duty.
The inspection36 did not last long. It was actually more a ceremony of introduction. When it was over, the ensign tarried to help Ned in working out his course into the Sound.
"I would suggest that Mr. Kenworth take the ship out to deep water, as he knows the channels hereabouts thoroughly," said the ensign, as he bade good-by to the new commander of the Seneca.
[Pg 65]
"Mr. Kenworth, you will take the bridge, then," said Ned.
Kenworth saluted and hurried off to take his post. But as he did so, he grinned to himself.
"Good luck!" he exclaimed. "I think I see a chance to take the wind out of your sails before very long, you beggar on horseback, you forecastle Jack27 on the quarter deck! If I don't fix you and your ambitions and double spike37 'em before this cruise is over, my name isn't Raymond Kenworth."
Swords were removed and sent below as soon as Ensign Summerville was over the side.
While waiting for the gig to return, Ned and Herc lingered over the charts and gave a few necessary orders.
"Well, Ned," confided38 Herc in a lull39, "this is actually real after all."
"No doubt of that, old boy. I'm crazy to get under way and look at my orders. Who knows what they may contain and what lies before us?"
[Pg 66]
What, indeed, did the future hold for these two ambitious young officers of Uncle Sam's? They were destined40 to learn ere long. Over the horizon of that day of life lay new experiences to be met, new problems and dangers to be faced like officers and gentlemen and true Americans.
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1
naval
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| adj.海军的，军舰的，船的 | |
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2
uncommon
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| adj.罕见的，非凡的，不平常的 | |
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3
influential
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| adj.有影响的，有权势的 | |
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4
recollect
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| v.回忆，想起，记起，忆起，记得 | |
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obstreperous
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| adj.喧闹的，不守秩序的 | |
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6
incurred
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| [医]招致的，遭受的； incur的过去式 | |
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7
slurs
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| 含糊的发音( slur的名词复数 )； 玷污； 连奏线； 连唱线 | |
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8
impudence
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| n.厚颜无耻；冒失；无礼 | |
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crest
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| n.顶点；饰章；羽冠；vt.达到顶点；vi.形成浪尖 | |
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10
drenching
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| n.湿透v.使湿透( drench的现在分词 )；在某人（某物）上大量使用（某液体） | |
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11
frenzy
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| n.疯狂，狂热，极度的激动 | |
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incompetent
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| adj.无能力的，不能胜任的 | |
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13
sputtered
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| v.唾沫飞溅( sputter的过去式和过去分词 )；发劈啪声；喷出；飞溅出 | |
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14
remonstrated
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| v.抗议( remonstrate的过去式和过去分词 )；告诫 | |
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15
oars
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| n.桨，橹( oar的名词复数 )；划手v.划（行）( oar的第三人称单数 ) | |
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16
smothered
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| （使）窒息， （使）透不过气( smother的过去式和过去分词 )； 覆盖； 忍住； 抑制 | |
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17
liking
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| n.爱好；嗜好；喜欢 | |
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18
tune
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| n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整 | |
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insolent
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| adj.傲慢的，无理的 | |
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gritted
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| v.以沙砾覆盖（某物），撒沙砾于( grit的过去式和过去分词 )；咬紧牙关 | |
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privately
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| adv.以私人的身份，悄悄地，私下地 | |
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enlisted
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| adj.应募入伍的v.（使）入伍， （使）参军( enlist的过去式和过去分词 )；获得（帮助或支持） | |
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hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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swelling
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| n.肿胀 | |
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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
blustered
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| v.外强中干的威吓( bluster的过去式和过去分词 )；咆哮；（风）呼啸；狂吹 | |
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27
jack
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| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
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discreetly
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| ad.(言行)审慎地，慎重地 | |
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arrogant
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| adj.傲慢的，自大的 | |
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wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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31
descend
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| vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降 | |
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32
mumbled
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| 含糊地说某事，叽咕，咕哝( mumble的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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33
mustered
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| v.集合，召集，集结（尤指部队）( muster的过去式和过去分词 )；（自他人处）搜集某事物；聚集；激发 | |
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roster
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| n.值勤表，花名册 | |
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35
shrill
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| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
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inspection
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| n.检查，审查，检阅 | |
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37
spike
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| n.长钉，钉鞋；v.以大钉钉牢，使...失效 | |
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38
confided
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| v.吐露（秘密，心事等）( confide的过去式和过去分词 )；（向某人）吐露（隐私、秘密等） | |
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39
lull
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| v.使安静，使入睡，缓和，哄骗；n.暂停，间歇 | |
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destined
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| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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