So saying, he closed the door on the storm, and, seating himself on the edge of a lounge at one end of the cabin, began to remove his shoes. But Herc would not let the subject drop. "Well, _I_ noticed them," he continued in the same awed voice, "and I believe that we've got ourselves in bad right on the start." "Why, what's the trouble, Herc?" inquired Ned, interested despite himself in his red-headed companion's eager tone. "Well," said Herc impressively, "it said 'F. A. D., Commander U. S. N.,' on that suitcase, and it looks to me as if we had started our career in the navy by an act 'of gross insubordination,' as they'd have called it at Newport." "How do you mean?" asked the sleepy Ned, stifling a yawn. "Why, here am I, Herc Taylor, ordinary seaman, of Lambs' Corners, New York, butting commanders about as if they were ninepins and I was a bowling ball, that's all!" groaned Herc. "And that looks to me like a first-class way to get in bad." "Herc, you are incorrigible," groaned Ned; "and I agree with you. If this adventure of yours doesn't turn out badly for both of us, I shall be much surprised." CHAPTER V. TWO LADS WITH THE "RIGHT RING." It seemed to Herc that he had been asleep but a short time when he awakened with a start and an uneasy feeling that he could not account for. Gradually, however, as the semi-stupor that followed the opening of his eyes wore off and he became sensible of his surroundings, he was aware that something unusual seemed to be occurring on the ship. Shouts and the trampling of running feet were borne in to him, and his first sleepy impression was that it was morning. Suddenly, however, he became aware that the shouts formed a certain definite cry. What was it? Herc straightened up as well as he could in his bunk and listened. A thrill of horror shot through him, as, like a flash, he sensed the nature of the shouts that had aroused him. "Fire! Fire! Fire!" The terrifying cry echoed from bow to stern of the ship and Herc now recognized a fact which he had not in first sleepy stupor realized, and that was that their cabin was hazy with smoke, which was becoming momentarily thicker. The heat, also, was growing rapidly insupportable. With one bound, the boy was on the floor, and shaking Ned by the shoulder. "Ned, Ned, wake up!" he roared at the top of his voice. "Aye, aye, sir!" came in a sleepy voice from Ned, who was dreaming that he was still back in the training school and that reveille had blown. A minute later, however, Herc's shaking aroused him to his senses, and a few rapidly spoken words apprised him of the seriousness of the situation. "Tumble into your clothes quick!" gasped Herc, as breathing in the smoke-filled room became every moment more difficult. Ned needed no second telling. In a few seconds, thanks to their training, both boys were in their uniforms, and, grabbing up their suitcases, dashed out onto the decks.