ship Boy, following it with an entertainment. There were songs,
buck and wing dancing, a little playlet and a lively boxing bout.

Dan was dragged to the stage amid loud demands for a speech.

"Tell us how you did it," shouted the jackies. "Tell us all about it."

The Battleship Boy blushed furiously.

"Mates, I can't do it. I--I----" then Dan fled. They found him, an
hour later, hiding in the twelve-inch gun turret.

The officers, however, felt a keen professional interest in the lad's
accomplishment, and especially in the effect on the schooner of the big
gun-fire. Hardly a man of all that crew of eight hundred men and
officers ever had stood on the deck of a ship that was being bombarded
by heavy projectiles.

Dan was summoned to the captain's quarters. There, in the presence of
the senior officers, he related in a clear, comprehensive manner all
that had occurred, describing in detail the shock when the projectiles
hit the schooner; giving as nearly as possible the degree of list that
had followed and the number of hits. His technical knowledge was a
surprise to the ship's officers. Such knowledge was unusual in a
seaman, showing, as it did, that the lad had used his eyes and his
brain to good purpose since he had been on shipboard. As a matter of
fact, Dan had been studying ever since his enlistment. He had spent
all his leisure moments in studying the technical works with which the
ship's library was equipped, asking questions of the petty officers,
until he had informed himself far beyond his grade.

Both lads had by this time risen to the grade of full seamen, which
carried with it a substantial increase in pay.

"What, in your opinion, prevented our fire from sinking the schooner?"
questioned the captain.

"Why, the fact that the boat was loaded with lumber was all that kept
her afloat, sir. Then, again, her hull lay so low in the water that
the projectiles had no opportunity to do effective work. If you had
elevated the seven-inch and dropped a projectile or so on the deck of
the schooner, I might not have been here to tell you about what
happened," added Dan with a suggestive smile.

The captain smiled at his executive officer.

"That is most excellent logic, Mr. Coates."

"Yes, sir."

"I think we shall have to make a full report of this to the Navy
Department. Prepare a statement from what Seaman Davis has told us,
together with any further technical information he may be able to