Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this file which includes the original illustrations. See 47776-h.htm or 47776-h.zip: (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/47776/47776-h/47776-h.htm) or (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/47776/47776-h.zip) Images of the original pages are available through the Digital Library of the Falvey Memorial Library, Villanova University. See http://digital.library.villanova.edu/Item/vudl:353360 Transcriber's note: Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_). [Illustration: A FEW STROKES BROUGHT HIM ALONGSIDE THE FLOAT, AND HE SCRAMBLED UP ITS WET SIDES. Page 209] THE DREADNOUGHT BOYS ON BATTLE PRACTICE by CAPTAIN WILBUR LAWTON New York Hurst & Company Publishers Copyright, 1911, by Hurst & Company CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. A RED-HOT STOVE AND DESTINY 5 II. "WE'RE GOING TO JOIN THE NAVY" 17 III. UNCLE SAM GETS TWO RAW RECRUITS 28 IV. THE DREADNOUGHT BOYS HAVE AN ADVENTURE 42 V. TWO LADS WITH THE "RIGHT RING" 51 VI. A COWARD'S BLOW 62 VII. "WE ARE PART OF THE FLEET" 70 VIII. HERC TAKES A COLD BATH 83 IX. A NAVAL INITIATION 98 X. NED HOLDS HIS COUNSEL 106 XI. BREAKING TWO ROOKIES 116 XII. A BULLY GETS A LESSON 126 XIII. HERC LEARNS WHAT "THE BRIG" IS 136 XIV. A PLOT OVERHEARD 143 XV. ORDERED AFT 154 XVI. A BIT OF PROMOTION 163 XVII. JIU-JITSU VS. MUSCLE 171 XVIII. THE BOYS GET ACQUAINTED WITH BIG GUNS 183 XIX. IN THE MIDST OF PEACE 192 XX. HERC A LIVING TARGET 200 XXI. AFLOAT AND ASHORE 212 XXII. A MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE 223 XXIII. A JACKIE AGAINST WOLVES 231 XXIV. IN THE PULSIFERS' HANDS 242 XXV. THREE MINUTES OF LIFE 253 XXVI. A BLUFF CALLED 264 XXVII. A STRANGE RETURN 273 XXVIII. A HIT WITH CHAOSITE 282 XXIX. THE STUFF A JACKIE'S MADE OF 292 The Dreadnought Boys On Battle Practice. CHAPTER I. A RED-HOT STOVE AND DESTINY. "Isn't it a dandy picture--the real thing--just as I've always imagined it. Herc!"