“I hope they do,” grumbled Sam, brushing a hand across his freckled cheek. “I don’t see why they have to go through all this rigmarole. Reminds me of the time they tried a fellow up in our place for stealing a yearling heifer.” “It is well worth the rigmarole if we can get in,” answered Dan, ignoring the comparison. “I do not care how much they put us through. And, besides, it proves that everybody cannot get into Uncle Sam’s Navy. A fellow has got to be a real man if he wants to be a jackie these days,” added Dan somewhat proudly. “I wonder what they are talking about?” “We’ll know in a minute. There comes that quartermaster fellow,” answered Sam. The lads rose as he stepped up to them. “Have we passed?” questioned Dan, unable to repress his anxiety. “Your examination has been satisfactory, but the commander desires to speak with you. That is the commander at the roll top desk yonder. Step over, but be very respectful. Remember, he is an officer in the United States Navy, and——” “We are not likely to forget that we are young gentlemen, sir,” interrupted Dan, flushing slightly. The lads walked over to the commander’s desk, where Dan, with heels together, made a correct military salute, raising the right hand smartly till the tip of the forefinger touched the forehead just above the right eye, then dropping the arm smartly to his side. Sam did the same, but rather more clumsily. Instantly the commander’s right hand went up in a return salute, while the faces of the boys flushed rosy red. “You have had some previous military instruction?” asked the commander, with a twinkle in his eyes. “Nothing very much, sir,” replied Dan. “We belong to the village fire company at home—that is all.” The commander smiled. “You are a pair of very likely lads.” “Have we passed, sir?” “You have.” “Oh, I’m so glad!” breathed Dan, unable to conceal his delight. “Then—then we are in the Navy?” stammered Sam. “Not quite. You will be, very soon, providing you have fulfilled all the requirements.” “What are we to do?” “Have you the consent—the written consent—of your parents?” “Yes, sir. That is, I have my mother’s consent. My friend, Sam, here, has no parents.” “Has he a guardian?” “Yes, sir.” “And has his guardian given his written consent also?” “He has, sir.” “Let me have both of them.” The papers were handed to the commander, who perused them carefully. “How did you lads chance to come so well prepared?” “We had written to find out, so that we might not be disappointed when we got here. We could not afford to make the trip back home, so we did what we could before coming on.”