The Battleship Boys at Sea; Or, Two Apprentices in Uncle Sam's NavyPatchin, Frank Gee
General
The Battleship Boys at Sea; Or, Two Apprentices in Uncle Sam's Navy
Patchin, Frank Gee
Battleships -- Juvenile fiction; United States. Navy -- Juvenile fiction
“Look,” whispered Dan.
The diver was none other than Bill Kester, his face swathed in plaster,
his eyes scowling menacingly as he recognized the Battleship Boys.
CHAPTER XXII—BURIED THREE FATHOMS DEEP
“Where does she lay, sir?” questioned the assistant who had come with
the diver and his apparatus.
“As near as we could determine the mine should be about fifteen yards to
the southwest of us. Bring your boat around to leeward and make a
sounding. We did not dare move over for fear of losing our location
entirely.”
“May I make a suggestion, sir?” questioned Dan, touching his cap.
“Certainly; what is it?”
“I got a quick bearing when the mine went over.”
“You did?”
“Yes, sir.”
“What was it?”
“Taking the bearing from our present position, a line drawn from the
lighthouse to the battleship, crossed by a line from our wherry to that
bluff yonder, would mark the location of the mine at the crossing point,
sir.”
The ensign glanced at the young seaman quizzically.
“Very well done, my lad. You have the making of a first-class navigator
in you. Keep on and you will do well. Always use your eyes, and your
head as well, as you have done this afternoon and there will be no doubt
about it.”
“Thank you, sir,” answered the boy, his face glowing with pride.
By this time the men were laying out the diving suit for the diver, the
hideous-looking helmet having been placed on the stern seat of the
cutter that had brought them over.
“Sound for that mine before you put the diver over,” commanded the
ensign. “No use bottling the man up until you are ready to send him
down.”
“This helmet is not fit to use, sir,” spoke up one of the diver’s
assistants.
“What is the matter with it?”
“It leaks. See?” He held up the helmet, which he had partially filled
with water, for the inspection of the officer.
“It has lain out on deck too long. The sun has checked it,” continued
the man.
“It should be your business to see that the sun did not check it. I
shall have to place you on the report,” replied the officer.
“I was ordered to get the apparatus on deck this morning, sir.”
“Davis, signal the ship to send out another diving suit. Tell them this
one is out of order.”
“Aye, aye, sir.”
“Ask them to send it out in a hurry, for the wind is coming up. I fear
we shall have some rough water. Hickey, sit up there. Don’t you know it
is against the regulations to lounge about in the small boats? I am
surprised at you.”
Sam’s face flushed. He sat up, gripping his signal staff half angrily.
He made no complaint, but saluted. Sam was not in the best of humor at
this moment. He took an instant and violent dislike for the young
officer who had rebuked him.
Dan, in the meanwhile, was wig-wagging to the ship, sending the request
for another diving suit.
A few moments later, as he peered through the spy glass, he saw a boat
starting off in their direction.
“Motor boat under way. I think she is coming with the diving suit, sir,”
Davis called.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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