“Does he earn as much money as the president does?” “Oh, no; not by a great many thousand dollars.” “Then me for the presidency,” concluded the irrepressible Sam. “There’s the barracks.” A few minutes later the lads presented themselves at the door of the detention barracks. They were met by an officer wearing the insignia of a chief quartermaster. “Are you Mr. Broder, sir?” asked Dan. “Yes; who are you?” “My name is Dan Davis. My companion is Sam Hickey. We enlisted in New York yesterday. We have come to report for instruction.” “Where are your papers?” The lad presented them. After reading the papers, the quartermaster turned on his heel. “Come with me,” he said. The boys were conducted to a bathroom, where they were directed to disrobe and take a shower bath. After the bath, they were once more examined by a surgeon, who pronounced them to be in splendid physical condition. Sam’s face wore a smile. It was all highly amusing to him, but when the quartermaster finally conducted them to another room, where several uniforms were laid out on a table, the boy began to feel a keener interest. The petty officer glanced over the display of clothes, then picking out two suits, handed them to the lads. “Put these on,” he said, “then report to me.” It did not take the boys long to get into their new white uniforms. “I wish I had a looking glass,” grumbled Sam. “What for? I can tell you how you look.” “How do I look?” “Well, barring the freckles, you look as if you might be a jackie some day. But don’t stand there with your shoulders slouched forward. Stand up and act as if you were proud of the uniform you are wearing. Here, we haven’t put on our leggins yet.” “Leggins? Do we wear those things?” “Yes. Otherwise we shall be dressed just like the sailors on the war ships.” At that moment the quartermaster entered. He stood surveying them critically. “What shall we do with our citizen clothes?” asked Dan. “Leave them. I will have them taken care of. Do you wish them sent to your homes?” “No, sir; it is not necessary. I presume we shall be permitted to take them aboard ship with us when we leave here?” “That depends upon what ship you join.” “What are we to do now, sir?” “In the first place I will instruct you about your clothing. These bags here will answer for your trunks. All your belongings will be kept in them,” said the quartermaster, exhibiting two canvas bags, about three feet long, and on which the names of the boys had been stamped with a stencil. “Each piece of clothing must be folded neatly, rolled up tightly and secured with a white cotton stop two inches from the end of the roll.” Sam measured off what he thought to be two inches with his fingers. “The clothes are to be stowed in the bags in layers of three pieces, each layer at right angles to the one below it.” “What’s all that for? Why not stuff them in till the bag’s full?” interrupted Sam. The petty officer fixed him with a stern eye.