"I guess we shall have all sorts of chores," laughed Ned, as he regarded Herc's rueful face; "but we didn't enlist to look pretty and pose becomingly in our uniforms. We're in the United States navy for four years, and whatever happens, we've got to stick to it." The lads' conversation had been carried on in an undertone, but Ned had unconsciously raised his voice as he spoke the last words. "That's the talk, shipmate," said old Tom, regarding him approvingly. "I never heard a boy talking like that yet who didn't come out of the big end of the horn before he'd served out his enlistment. The navy's the finest place in the world for boys of your cut, but it's no place for shirkers." The old man regarded Herc as he spoke, and the carroty-headed boy's eyes fell under the tar's keen, half-humorous gaze. To tell the truth, Herc was beginning to half regret that he had enlisted at all. The prospect of four years' service at the hard tasks at which the old sailor had hinted did not best please him; but Herc knew better than to make any complaint to Ned. The other lad, however, had noticed his companion's downcast looks and rallied him on them. "Come, Herc, cheer up!" he said heartily. "We're like young bears--all our troubles before us; but they'll lick us into shape, never fear." "Oh, crickey! there you go again," groaned Herc. "Go again--what?" demanded Ned, puzzled. "Why, talking about 'licking us.' Do they still lick fellows in the navy, Mr. Tom?" "No, my lad; the cat-o'-nine-tails was abolished in Uncle Sam's ships years ago," responded the old man, with a twinkle; "but we've still got the brig." "The brig--that's a kind of a ship, isn't it?" inquired Ned. "Not as I knows of," grinned old Tom; "but teetotal abstinence is the word when it comes to the brig, my lads. I hope you'll never form its acquaintance." "Attention!" The young midshipman shouted the order. The Dreadnought Boys straightened up, as did all the other tars. The landing parties had by this time all dispersed and were straggling up the hill, playing all manner of tricks on each other, more like a lot of happy boys just out of school than anything else. "Now, what's that young whipper-snapper going to do?" whispered Herc. "Hush!" rejoined Ned. "I expect we are going to get an order." He was right. Orders were given for the men to board the boats in a quiet, orderly manner. "Keep close by me," cautioned old Tom, "and never mind the joshing you are going to get." Ned had noticed for the past few minutes that the sailors assembled on the wharf had been eyeing them curiously, and that some of them had been whispering together. "Why, what's the trouble?" asked Herc. "I expect the boys will give you a bit of a hazing," replied old Tom. "But take it all in good part, and you'll soon be shipmates with all of them." The old sailor's prophecy came true.