arrin reflected, disgustedly, as he stepped
briskly around to port. "A magnificent prospect ahead of me,
if I must depend upon the instructions and the official favor
of a bully and a scoundrel like Cantor! And he can make it hot
for me, too, if he has a mind to do so! Don't I know how easy
that ought to be for him? I shall have, indeed, a lot of pleasure
in my service on this ship, with Cantor for my division officer!"

Mindful of orders, Darrin's first act was to copy the division
roster and the station bills. These he took to his room, placing
them in a drawer of the desk, for future study. For the present,
he wanted to get out into the open air.

Though Ensign Dalzell had been directed to report on the quarter
deck, he was not now there. Dave walked about by himself until
Lieutenant Trent came over and spoke to him.

"Dalzell is busy, I suppose, sir?" Dave inquired.

"Forward and below, directing the stowage of stores," replied
Trent. "Have you been detailed to a division yet, Mr. Darrin?"

"Yes, sir; to Lieutenant Cantor's division."

"Ah, so?" inquired Trent. He did not say more, from which Dave
wondered if Trent did not like Cantor. If such were the case,
then Darrin's opinion of Lieutenant Trent would run all the higher.

"Cantor is a very efficient officer," Trent said, after a pause,
not long enough to be construed unfavorably.

Dave did not answer this, for he could think of nothing to say.

"Some of our newest youngsters haven't wholly liked him," Trout
went on, with a smile. "I fancy that perhaps he works them a
bit too grillingly."

"After four years at the Naval Academy," smiled Ensign Darrin,
"it puzzles me to understand how any officer can resent grilling."

"You'll find life very different on one of these big ships," Lieutenant
Trout continued. "You will soon begin to realize that we are
in a cramped atmosphere. With fifteen hundred officers and men
abroad there is barely elbow room at any time, and sometimes not
that."

"This ship looks big enough to carry a small city full of people,"
Darrin smiled.

"See here!" Trent stepped to the starboard rail, looking forward.

"Just look ahead, and see the magnificent distance to the bow,"
continued the officer of the deck. "We call a ship 'she,' Darrin,
and let me assure you, 'she' is some girl! Look at the magnificent
length and breadth. Yet, when we are at sea, you will soon begin
to realize how cramped the life is."

Afte