is to me," touching his ear gingerly.

"How are you getting along with your work on the seven-inch?"

"Fairly, sir. I find there is a great deal to learn. May I ask your
advice, sir?"

"Go on, lad. I am listening."

"I have been thinking that I should like to take a course in one of the
seaman-gunner classes at the Torpedo Station in Newport. Will you tell
me, sir, what to do to enter such a class?"

"Certainly. Your ambition is a laudable one. However, you have not
been in the service long enough for that as yet. I should advise you
to continue your duties on shipboard for a year longer. Then you will
be well fitted for the gunner class. Your marks on shipboard must
average seventy-five per cent. That will entitle you to admission.
The course is six months. In it you will learn the assembling of guns
and everything to do with the practical part of ordnance. I can give
you some further books along this line, if you wish."

"I do, indeed, sir. I find I have considerable leisure time in which
to study. I am working for promotion."

"With your ability, my lad, you will get promotion eventually without
going to the school. But it will be an excellent idea for you to go.
There you will learn theory as well as practice. After you have served
a year, then, it might not be a bad idea to take the eight months'
course at the Torpedo Station, where you will learn all about torpedoes
and mines. If you hope to rise in the service you will have to know
all this, and more. Do you know anything of navigation?"

"Yes, sir; I am studying that now."

"Excellent. Who is teaching you?"

"I am teaching myself."

"I would suggest that you have one of the quartermasters help you. He
will do so gladly, and you will possibly avoid falling into errors that
you will find troublesome later in your course."

"Yes, sir."

"That will be all. The bugle is piping gun crews up, so you had better
go to your station. Ord'ly!"

The orderly stepped in and saluted.

"Tell the chief quartermaster that I wish to see him when he is at
leisure."

"Yes, sir."

Dan hastened to his station, more proud than ever. He could hardly
wait until the crew was piped down again to tell Hickey of the
encouragement he had received from the commanding officer. Dan
determined that Sam should go with him when the time came to go to the
gunners' class at Newport, and, with that in view, he had a long talk
with his chum that afternoon,