The Battleship Boys at Sea Part 7

"Yes, sir."

"At whom?"

The lad, a very young recruit, pointed to Sam and Dan. There were traces of pie on Dan's cheeks still.

Dan had given the young recruit a warning glance, whereat the lad checked himself and volunteered no further information.

"Davis, is this true?" demanded the quartermaster sternly.

"Yes, sir."

"One of these men threw a piece of pie at you?"

"A piece of pie hit me in the face. There were two pieces thrown."

"Both at you?"

"I think not."

"At whom, then?"

"One struck me in the face and the other hit my friend Sam, sir."

"You know who threw the pie?"

"Yes, sir."

"Name him."

Dan was silent.

"Point out the man who did it."

"Sir, I would rather not," answered Dan, eyeing the officer steadily, but with nothing of disrespect in his gaze.

"I repeat, point out the man."

"Sir, I have no wish to inform on one of my s.h.i.+pmates. I wish you would not press the question, sir. I wish to obey orders strictly, but I cannot be a sneak. Perhaps the pie was thrown in a spirit of fun. I am sure the man who threw it is sorry for his act now, and then there was no harm done, except that my uniform is slightly soiled."

The quartermaster turned to Sam Hickey. For a moment he eyed the freckled-faced boy steadily. Sam did not quail. He returned the quartermaster's gaze steadily.

"You were hit also?"

"Yes, sir."

"With the same piece?"

"No, sir; with a second piece."

"Then the first one must have been intended for you," decided the officer shrewdly.

"I think it was, sir, but it was not a good shot. I could beat that myself."

"Silence!"

"Yes, sir."

"And you know who threw the pie?"

"I could guess, though I didn't see much of anything when the pie hit me. I got a mouthful, too."

"Who threw it?"

Sam hesitated, s.h.i.+fted his weight from one foot to the other, twisting about as if seeking some means of escape from his present position.

"I can't tell you, sir," he said in a low, determined voice.

"You mean you will not?"

"I mean, sir, that I would rather not. If you will excuse me I'll take care of the fellow who struck me with the apple pie, all in good time.

He won't use my face for a target another time, after I get through with him."

The apprentices, forgetful of discipline, burst out into a roar of laughter.

CHAPTER IV-PIPING UP HAMMOCKS

The quartermaster eyed the two boys sternly for a moment. He did not ask any of the other men who had thrown the pie.

"Carry on!" he commanded, the suspicion of a smile playing about the corners of his mouth. But he hid the smile from them by pa.s.sing a hand over his mouth.

No one moved in obedience to his command.

"When I say 'Carry on,' it means that you are to resume whatever you were doing at the time attention was commanded. In this instance you were at your breakfasts. Continue it. Carry on!"

The boys sat down to finish their breakfasts which now proceeded without further interruption.

"I've changed my mind," Sam informed his companion in a low tone.

"How so?"

"I am going to quit."

"What do you mean?"

"I don't want to be a jackie."