observations, or did not know how to use those you had?"

"Hold on; that's enough. Don't put on any more trimmings. I'd do
without 'em, even if it were as bad as you say, and I'd never miss 'em,
either."

"What would you do?"

"Do? I'd just keep going by the compass."

"But supposing the compass were wrong?"

"I'd keep going, just the same, till I got somewhere--till I plumped up
against something solid; then I'd sing out, 'full speed astern, both
engines,' just like the 'Old Man' does up there, when the man in the
chains sings out 'by the mark five.' He's awful afraid the old ship
will scrape over a sand bar. Between you and me it would be good for
her. Why, don't you see, it would scrape the barnacles off her so she
wouldn't have to go into dry dock and cost the government all that
money. I know something about ships, I do."

"And what you do not know would sink all the ships in the Navy,"
answered Dan, emphasizing his reply by several nods of his head.

"Don't you believe it."

"Here comes the boatswain's mate. I think he is looking for us. Yes,
he's coming this way. I reckon we shall have to turn out for some
duty."

"I'll run and hide, then. I am not going to work this afternoon. He
can't get me interested in any of his patriotic games to-day. No,
siree!"

But Sam was destined to become greatly interested in the work that the
boatswain's mate had come to talk with them about.

"Good afternoon, boys," he greeted them. "How is your head, Davis?"

"Oh, I had almost forgotten that I had a head," laughed Dan,
instinctively laying a hand on the bandage that was bound about his
wound.

"You did pretty well the other night in overhauling that boat. Have
you done much rowing!"

"Oh, yes; considerable on the river at home. I have rowed in races
there--small rowboat races--and so has my friend Sam."

"I thought you were pretty handy about small boats. It is a good thing
for a seaman to know boats."

"I wonder what he's getting at?" muttered Sam, eyeing the boatswain's
mate suspiciously. "He isn't here for any good, I am sure of that."

The boy had noted that the boatswain's mate was eyeing them closely,
tilting his head to one side and squinting out of one eye as if he were
sighting a big gun.

"Don't shoot," laughed Sam.

"What's that?"

"Nothing, only I thought you were getting ready to shoot, the way you
were squinting at me."

"We are going to have some races ourselves in a