The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Battleship Boys' First Step Upward, by
Frank Gee Patchin

This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or
re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net

Title: The Battleship Boys' First Step Upward
or, Winning Their Grades as Petty Officers

Author: Frank Gee Patchin

Release Date: June 18, 2010 [EBook #32886]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BATTLESHIP BOYS' FIRST STEP UPWARD ***

Produced by Al Haines

[Illustration: Cover art]

[Frontispiece: Dan Headed the "Oriole" for the Harbor.]

The Battleship Boys'

First Step Upward

OR

Winning Their Grades as

Petty Officers

By

FRANK GEE PATCHIN

Illustrated

THE SAALFIELD PUBLISHING COMPANY

Akron, Ohio ---- New York

Made in U. S. A.

Copyright MCMXI

By THE SAALFIELD PUBLISHING COMPANY

PRINTED IN THE

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

CONTENTS

I. Sighting the Shooting Star
II. Whaleboats to the Rescue
III. Bombarded by Big Guns
IV. Looking Death in the Face
V. The Loss of the Tompion
VI. The Red, White and Blue
VII. Putting the Enemy Out
VIII. Sam Gets a Pig's Foot
IX. Lowering the Flag
X. His Narrow Escape
XI. On the Anchor Watch
XII. Obeying His Orders
XIII. The Battle of the Dinghies
XIV. Ordered to the Sick Bay
XV. Before the Summary Court
XVI. A Surprise, Indeed
XVII. At Torpedo Target Practice
XVIII. Hard and Fast Aground
XIX. A Trying Moment
XX. Dan Before the Board
XXI. In the Racing Gig
XXII. An Exciting Moment
XXIII. The Act of a Hero
XXIV. Conclusion

Illustrations

Dan Headed the "Oriole" for the Harbor . . . . . . _Frontispiece_

The Battleship Boys Swung Into the Chorus.

Dan Parried the Blow With the Captured Boat Hook.

The Battleship Boys' First Step Upward

CHAPTER I

SIGHTING THE SHOOTING STAR

"Green light off the starboard bow, sir."

The voice came from the black void far above the navigating bridge of
the battleship "Long Island."

"Where away?" demanded the watch officer on the bridge.

"Two points off starboard bow, sir."

"Wh