this time every officer and man on the battleship "Long Island" knew
Dan Davis and Sam Hickey by name as well as by sight. But the lads
bore their honors well. Neither of the boys sought to take advantage
of the favor he had gained. If anything, the boys toiled harder than
ever. They worked with the formidable seven-inch gun during all the
hours that were allotted to this work.

During the rest hour Dan and his companion would ordinarily be found in
the turret, examining the gun and its carriage, quizzing each other to
test their knowledge, committing to memory the name and use of every
part of these complicated instruments of war.

Late one afternoon, when the men were supposed to be at play on the
forward deck, the captain was passing through on his way to his
quarters, when he heard voices in the turret and peered in there.

He saw Dan and Sam stripped to their undershirts, working the big gun
and going through with their own examination. Dan was trying to
explain to his companion the theory and practice of
range-finding--learning the distance and location of the enemy. From
that they drifted into the question of sighting the big guns, elevation
and other technical subjects beyond their years and experience.

The ship's commander smiled proudly. After a few moments of listening,
he stepped inside.

"Well, lads, do you never rest?" he questioned, in a kindly tone, for
the commanding officer of the "Long Island" was a humane man, one who
had the interests of his men at heart to a degree possessed by few
commanding officers in the service.

The lads saluted but made no reply, as an answer was not expected to
the question.

"Are you studying--I mean in books?"

"Yes, sir," replied Dan.

"Where do you get your books?"

"From the ship's library, sir."

"I am afraid you are in need of some more advanced works than you will
find in the crew's library. If you will come to my quarters, this
evening after your mess, I will see what I can find for you. I think I
have some books that will be of use to you. By the way, I heard you
mention electricity once or twice. Do you know anything about that
branch?"

"A little, sir, but we are studying that as well," Dan replied.

"From books?"

"Oh, yes, sir. Besides this we are taking a course in electricity with
a correspondence school."

The eyes of the commanding officer twinkled.

"You are two very industrious boys. I am afraid not many of our boys
ar