"Yankee,"
and goodness knows we had worked hard enough getting the ship ready for
sailing to be permitted a little sport. Then, again, any badgering of
young Potter would be innocent amusement, so I laid by and waited,
keeping my eye on "Bill."

"Bill," by the way, was the captain of our mess, a jolly good fellow,
popular, and always in evidence when there was any skylarking on foot.

Hammocks were piped down at seven bells (7:30 p.m.), and, as it was our
first experience on board the "Yankee," there was some confusion. A
number of new recruits had joined that afternoon, and their efforts to
master the mysteries of the sailor's sleeping outfit were amusing. A
naval hammock differs largely from those used ashore. A hammock aboard
ship is of canvas, seven feet long, with holes a few inches apart at
each end, through which are reeved pieces of strong cord. The latter are
called clews, and they meet at an iron ring, which is attached to the
hooks in the carline beams when the hammock is in position for use. When
a hammock is properly slung it hangs almost straight, with very little
sagging. To get in properly, one grasps two hoops near the head, and,
with an agile spring, throws body and feet into the canvas bed. This
requires a knack, and is learned only after a more or less painful
experience. A three-inch mattress and two blankets go with each outfit.
For sheets a bag-like mattress cover is used, and, in lieu of the downy
pillows of home, the sailor must be content with his shoes rolled up
inside his trousers or flannel shirt. With it all, however, the naval
hammock is very comfortable. There is the advantage of being able to not
only wash your blankets and sheets, but your bed as well. Once each
month clean hammocks are issued and the old ones scrubbed.

While I was below, rigging up my clews, I saw a commotion on the other
side of the deck. The master-at-arms was expostulating with one of the
new recruits who had reported that afternoon. Suddenly the latter called
out, angrily, "I'll see if I have to, durn you!" and bolted for the
upper deck. The master-at-arms followed him at once, and several of us
followed the master-at-arms to see the excitement. We reached the
quarter-deck just as the recruit came to a stop in front of the officer
on watch.

[Illustration: "THAT FAT MAN IN THE CELLAR WANTS ME TO SLEEP IN A
BAG----".]

"What's the matter with you?" demanded the latter, curtly. "What's up?"

"Th-th-that m-m-m