At eight bells in the second dog watch all hands were piped to the fo’c’sle. On the forecastle-head two screen cloths were rigged on a sliding gunther brace. Being drawn, these disclosed Master-at-Arms Perkins in the capacity of Neptune disguised as Santa Claus. By the heel of the bowsprit were the crosstrees, which had been sent down and rigged with rope yarns and stores from the canteen. Around the tree and along both rails packages were stowed facing inboard, made fast with marlin and manila. Pipes, matches and tobacco were served out and the smoking lamp was lighted. Then gifts were passed out. Dr. Beach received a box of pills, Coxswain Burns a masthead light, Master-at-Arms Perkins twin dolls, one young Benedict a toy baby carriage, and Watertender Lewis a slice bar. Gifts wise and otherwise were passed till the supply was exhausted. Skylarking such as this varied the serious work of the drill season. Although the membership of the command from time to time changed to some extent, the majority of the men had been in the division for years and were fairly proficient in seamanship as well as in the ordinary armory routine, and it must not be imagined that their fun interfered with their nautical work. The diversity of the fun is proved when allusion is made to a game between the division’s new basketball team and the Boston Bloomer Girls’. It was chronicled that not a member of the girls’ team lost a backcomb or displaced a “rat,” although their hair was coiled like the flemished-down end of the Elfrida’s topping lift. The indoor meet was the last held in the old armory. It was as creditable as any in the long and popular series and went as smoothly as desired. June 13 was observed as Memorial Sunday, the first which the division formally kept. The company reported at the armory to act as escort to the veteran company in a parade to Spring Grove Cemetery. ❦ COURSE FOURTEEN ❦ THE MACHIAS So near is the history drawing to the present that merely a bare outline is given here of the next two years. The cruise of the summer of 1909 was on the Machias and took the division to quaint old Provincetown. The Pilgrims’ Tower and the swimming linger in the men’s memory. [Illustration: ENSIGN FRANK H. BURNS ] Members of the company enjoyed three days’ duty at the Hudson-Fulton celebration in New York City. In December the company transferred to the new state armory and the indoor meet drew nearly three thousand spectators. COURSE FIFTEEN ❦ THE LOUISIANA